Although it may seem that all road routes in summer lead south to coastal destinations, it is enough to drive to Austria and see that many European tourists of all ages actually prefer to go in the opposite direction, to higher altitudes for their vacation.
Indeed, although it is not ski season, the slopes of the Austrian Alps, especially in the unique and fairy-tale valley of Gastein, are bustling with tourists and day-trippers who struggle only with choosing from the numerous daily activities offered and putting together a schedule. And these are not uneducated or undemanding tourists, quite the contrary.
The Gastein Valley, located at 1000 meters above sea level, situated in the province of Salzburger Land, is literally crowned even in summer with white, snow-covered peaks, some of which reach 2500 meters. In this one valley, three villages are nestled, primarily dedicated to winter skiing tourism, but also to summer tourist pleasures. These are Bad Gastein and the nearby Bad Hofgastein and Dorfgastein, just a ten-minute drive away. From almost all slopes, on both the left and right sides of the valley, streams flow from melted snow, underground and thermal waters, around which the basic framework of the summer tourist offer of this valley is designed.
What Gastein is most famous for, at least among Austrians and Germans, is the old mine Gasteiner Heilstollen, now transformed into a true little health factory. It is a unique experience because after you get comfortable and change into a swimsuit, wrap yourself in a robe and have a brief conversation with a doctor, you board a mining train and embark on a ten-minute ride to the center of the Radhausberg mountain. The freshness and cold at the beginning of the ride are gradually replaced by an increasing warmth of the air, visible even through the damp windows. At the first gallery (there are four), passengers exit the train and look for their lounge chair in several hot corridors, equipped with ambient lighting and speakers playing relaxing music. And this is where the real sauna begins, as the rocks and air reach up to 41.5 degrees Celsius, and humidity ranges between 70 to 100 percent. The heat, humidity, and the mild, healing radiation of radon from the rocks are a combination attributed with beneficial properties for various pains, especially in bones and the spine, immune diseases, respiratory organ issues, and various dermatological problems.
Gasteiner Heilstollen has the status of a spa, so visits and treatments are covered by both Austrian and German health insurance. However, if you are claustrophobic, completely healthy, or simply uncomfortable with hyperthermal treatment underground, you can sweat it out in the saunas that almost every hotel has. After all, each of the three villages has its own pool complex, with numerous pools and spa treatments, so you will not lack for swimming and enjoying saunas, fitness centers, and wellness.
However, it would be a real sin to come to the Alps and not force your pampered muscles to walk the mountains. After each step, you expect Heidi and her goat to come running to you. The greenery of the pastures and forests is literally unreal, and an additional bonus is the rich world of plants, especially mountain flowers. Some of the most beautiful flower heads are sources of minerals and vitamins, while others are sources of poison, which should not worry you as there is an absolute ban on picking. On one mountain path, you can rest by an artificial lake, created at the top of a hill, which is used in winter for making artificial snow. In summer, you can walk barefoot along a path made of various natural materials, from stones of different shapes to mulch, and finish this active foot massage with a similar short walk along the edge of an ice lake.
