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Golden Mountains: On horseback on the trails of the “Säumer”
What is a “Säumer” exactly? To answer this question we have to go back a long time in history. For more than 600 years, to the 14th century to the time as gold and silver was mined for the first time in the Gasteiner Valley. In the middle of the 16th century the Hohe Tauern region was centre point of European gold and silver mining. Within one year on the Salzburger side of the Hohe Tauern 830kg gold and 2,723kg silver was mined. The job of the “Säumer” was to take the mined precious metal down to the valley with the help of horses. The art of tying and the safe transport of the precious freight, was a job that needed a lot of skill and experience. It was the only possibility over hundreds of years to transport goods within the Alps and was especially important during the epoch of the gold mining era.
“Via Aurea” – discover the old gold digger trail on horseback as part of the countrywide project “Via Aurea – the street of gold”, the old “Säumer” trails that joined the gold mining territory together have been revived for walkers and those interested in history. A unique chance to follow the trails of the “Säumer” and the routes of the Tauern Gold round the Goldberggruppe (Gold Mountain Group) is on horseback. One week on horseback along the gold mountain trail – in exactly the same way as the “Säumer” did a very special experience indeed.
Under the guidance of an experienced rider and mountain guide, who also has a vast knowledge about the Säumerei, enjoy a week of wandering with horses through the mountains. The over 300km round trail leads out of the Gasteiner Valley on the Carinthian side, to Mallnitz and Obervellach, further on to Flattach and Großkircheim, and then back to the Salzburger side to Rauris. See and experience the unique countryside of the Hohe Tauern National Park from a completely new perspective, from out of a saddle. Untouched high alpine countryside, varied fauna and flora, also the now native again Bearded Vulture, or the magnificent mountain panorama of the Tauern Mountain range with its rugged 3,000m high mountain tops accompany horse and rider every step of the way. The highlight of this tour must be without a doubt when crossing over Tauern at the Hochtour and the Mallnitzer Tauern. But of course a lot more comfortable when staying over night than the “Säumer” had to in the past. Stops will be made at stables and guesthouses, where the modern “Säumer” is well looked after and cared for.
You can book this 7day riding tour for Euro 560.00 (p.p. incl. overnight stays, breakfast, tour with an experienced guide and horse).
Reservations and bookings:
Mathias Schock
Reiterhof Oberhaitzinggut
Weinetsberg 32
A-5630 Bad Hofgastein
Tel. +43(0)6432/6770
Email: info@reitzentrum.at
Internet: www.reitzentrum.at
Gasteinertal Tourismus GmbH – Tauernplatz 1 – A-5630 Bad Hofgastein
Tel.: +43/6432/3393-0 – Fax: +43/6432/3393-120
email: info@gastein.com - Web: www.gastein.com
Gold washing in the Gasteiner Valley: Clondike gold fever & feeling lucky along the Gold Mountain Trail but riders also have the chance, to visit historical mines and museums. What one has to try is gold washing. As a quite considerable amount of the gold from the Hohe Tauern was probably also “washed” – for instance in the Alten Pöck in Bockstein. One could also try ones luck at the end of the Anger Valley in Bad Hofgastein. Here, in the centre of the gold mining region near the old melting stoves, there is a very special idyllic gold washing place, taking one back in thoughts to the time of Clondike. But gold washing is not only a question of luck: naturally only, when one knows, where exactly in the river to look. Gold is known to be very heavy (19,3g/cm3) therefore does not lie in sand, but is only found where there is a strong current and large pieces of gravel. And who knows perhaps you will find a lump of gold – and even if it is small. It is an experience that you will remember for a long time. But be careful – all that shines is not always gold…