NEW IDEAS BEHIND ANCIENT WALLS

A small setting for big stories. A castle, a parish church and a handful of handsome houses around a picturesque lake. Goldegg in Salzburg’s Sun Terrace region is 850 years young and full of history. 

• Idyllic location in the Salzburg Sun Terrace region high above the Salzach River Valley.
• Renaissance castle built on a rock ledge overlooking the north shore of Goldegg Lake.
• Romantic natural lake below the castle.
• Historic farmhouses and burgher houses in the village centre.
• Gently rolling hills formed during the last Ice Age. 
• The jagged peaks of the Hohe Tauern range on the horizon.

Photo: Andrea Rachensperger

At home with the aristocracy: The castle once lay on the only connecting road between the Pongau and Pinzgau regions of Salzburg. Goldegg was the seat of the feudal lords and noble family of Goldecke, a powerful ministerial dynasty. The well-preserved Great Hall from 1536 is one of the greatest treasures from the early Renaissance in the German-speaking world. 

• Eastern wall: frescoes with the Heraldic Eagle from the Order of the Golden Fleece and the coats of arms of the Graf and Goldegg families.
• Northern wall: oil painting of the Adoration of the Magi from the 16th century. One of the oldest paintings of Goldegg and one of the oldest and best-known landscape paintings of the State of Salzburg.
  Panel paintings with scenes from the Bible. Resurrection of Christ with one of the earliest views of Salzburg. 
• Western wall: frescoes with St. Christopher, David and Goliath.
• Southern wall: frescoes of choirs of musicians, hunting scenes
• Ceiling: 144 coats of arms of the cathedral chapter and different noble families painted on wood.

Virtual tour of the Great Hall and the local history museum >

The smithy in the village of Altenhof dates back to the 14th century and was once the workshop of the castle blacksmith. After being lovingly restored in minute detail, it has been open to visitors since 2016. Much of the equipment is in its original state. Just as in centuries past, the forging hammer is driven by a water wheel. The wooden mill race is also worth a look.

• Address: Altenhof 38-98, 5622 Goldegg
• Open: for open hours see sonnenterrasse.at (in German).
• What to do afterward: Hike up to Rohrmoosbauern farm and down across the fields back into Goldegg.

Photo: Christoph Hettegger

An ancient settlement. A Celtic-Roman hilltop settlement was found on the hillside terrace above the Salzach River south of the village. The castle and church date back to the 14th century, when Goldegg was an important trading centre and residence of an influential noble family. Several buildings are hundreds of years old. Here are a few examples:

• Goldegg Castle from 1323. Built as a castle by the Lords of Goldegg. Starting in 1526, rebuilt into a habitable castle with an inner courtyard and a representative Great Hall under Christoph Earl of Schernberg. Hofmark 1 >
• Parish Church of St. George. First mentioned in 1339, the core is early Gothic (crucifixion fresco from ca. 1330 behind the left side altar). Rebuilt after the fire of 1747. Single-nave, open-roof truss construction, crucifix and ceiling painting from the 18th century.
• Judenhof Residence. A typical archiepiscopal knight's fief, first mentioned in 1429. Round oriel windows (originally with conical roofs). The Swiss pine parlor from 1606 in the Renaissance style is exhibited in the Salzburg Museum (in German). March 1 (Road to Goldeggweng).
• Moarhof. A large farm for the area dating back to 1582, buildings partly brick, partly log structures – Maierhof 1 (Golf Course).
• Old Presbytery with a late-baroque façade. Hofmark 17
• Old Town Hall or Barber Surgeon’s House, wooden structure from 1755. Hofmark 15.
• Jagabauer farm. Housebarn with attached stable. Hofmark 7
• Gesinger Bathhouse from 1898. Goldegg’s first pre-fab building, where warm mud baths were once offered in wooden tubs. Hofmark 41 (next to the swimming area).