The Salzburger Sonnenterrasse region and surrounding Salzburger Land can look back on a long, highly variable history of settlement, which extends into the Copper and Bronze ages. Today, Geopark Erz der Alpen – a UNESCO Global Geopark – provides exciting insights into this unique realm situated between Bischofshofen, Hüttau, Mühlbach and the Sun Terrace town of St. Veit im Pongau.
The UNESCO Geopark is around 50 km from the city of Salzburg and links special rock realms with fascinating history. Virtually the entire Erz der Alpen centre is located in what is known as a greywacke zone, which is a Paleozoic rock with mineral deposits. In addition, small parts in the north belong to the Northern Limestone Alps and a little bit to the south to the Central Alps. Geopark Erz der Alpen predominantly consists of the following rock types:
They make – frequently in conjunction with Ice Age deposits (gravels, moraines, clays) – breath-taking shapes. On a stroll through the Geopark close to Salzburger Sonnenterrasse you will come across gorges, waterfalls, springs, earth pyramids, tarns, reef limestone, rock hummocks, rock slide deposits and – naturally enough – terraces.
What sets Geopark Erz der Alpen apart from many other Salzburg Geoparks and National Parks, is its mineral deposits. For over 5500 years, the mining of copper, iron and gold has characterised life in the region. In the Bronze Age for instance, Mühlbach’s Mitterberg was regarded as a European mining hub.
The copper of the Nebra sky disk – exhibited in the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle (Saale), is oldest known concrete depiction of the cosmos – and has been proven to come from Geopark mines. Today mining no longer takes place in the Geopark territory, yet its unique history lives on in the show mines and on the geo-trails at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
The declaration “World Heritage” by UNESCO indicates monuments, sites, natural formations and manifestations of extraordinary value that ought to be unconditionally protected and supported. World Heritage includes:
World Natural Heritage and World Cultural Heritage regions (e.g. the Old Town area of Salzburg and or the Hallstatt region)
Biosphere reserves (e.g. Salzburg’s Lungau & Carinthia’s Nock Mountains)
UNESCO Global Geoparks (e.g. Erz der Alpen)
Geoparks are areas with geological and/or agricultural special features which are of national and international importance. They ought to display the geo heritage, provide a more in-depth understanding about it to its visitors and preserve it for generations to come. It is not just specific geological features that are displayed, since as part of a holistic collection and sustainable tourism presentation, archaeology, history and culture are considered too. Currently, there are 147 UNESCO Geoparks spread across 41 countries. Three of them are in Austria: Steirische Eisenwurzen, Karawanken mountain range and Erz der Alpen.
The history of Geopark and the Copper Ore route
A Geopark doesn’t just appear overnight. The ‘Geopark Kupferlandschaft Pongau’ initiative started in 2009, with the aim of bringing together the prehistoric and historic mining hubs of St. Veit, Bischofshofen, Mühlbach and Hüttau. The Geopark application follows in November 2013 and was positively assessed in September 2014. Since 17th November 2015 Geopark Erz der Alpen has been an official UNESCO Global Geopark and was re-validated for the first time in 2018.
Hiking along the Copper Ore route
The Copper Ore route forms the backbone of the Erz der Alpen UNESCO Global Geopark. The attractively designed hiking path brings together museums and show mines. Experience the adventure-filled routes, natural play areas, relaxing oases, experience stations and picnic spots! The Copper Ore route is located at the jump area for the Bischofshofen ski jump. It is here that UNESCO Geopark Erz reveals its informative and variety-packed side. The route is vibrant, thanks to the numerous facilities which include historic mining geo-sites (museums, show mines, sinkholes, trenches, smelting sites, prehistoric and historic mining settlements etc.). Various display boards link individual excursions and providing exciting information about geology, settlement history, formation of the landscape and much more.
Several chapels and churches, theme-specific experience stations, nature-oriented play areas, relaxing oases, adventure-filled routes, picnic spots, Alpine farms and outstanding gastronomic businesses accompany you on your excursion in Geopark. Incidentally, it takes at least four days to walk the entire route. You can of course experience the UNESCO World Heritage site Erz der Alpen in several stages, and on request, even in the guise of guided hikes.
In any case, don’t miss this unique experience-filled landscape at the gateway to Salzburger Sonnenterrasse!
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