Archaeology on the Mountain 2026: Experience 7,300 Years of Salt Transport in Hallstatt

On 12 and 13 September 2026, the Hallstatt high valley once again transforms into a vibrant open-air archaeology laboratory. Over this weekend, the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Salzwelten GmbH and Salinen Austria AG invite visitors to discover the history of salt and its transportation over a span of more than 7,300 years. At the heart of the event – fittingly timed with the opening of the new funicular railway – is the evolution of salt transport from prehistory to the present day.

From dugout canoes to modern logistics: experience 7,300 years of salt transport

How was the "white gold" transported from the Hallstatt salt mine down into the valley and out into the world thousands of years ago? At "Archaeology on the Mountain 2026" on 12 and 13 September 2026, the fascinating history of salt transport from prehistory to the present day comes to life. In the Hallstatt high valley, visitors can look forward to a varied open-air laboratory that brings together archaeology, the history of technology and modern logistics. The timeline stretches from transport by dugout canoe and pack animal, via horse-drawn carts, historic brine pipelines and the railway, all the way to the modern funicular and today's logistics systems operated by Salinen Austria.

Historical demonstrations, scientific presentations and numerous hands-on stations invite visitors not just to observe history but to experience it firsthand. Visitors can try out prehistoric tools, boil brine, watch the construction of wooden brine pipelines or step into the clothing of Hallstatt's miners. Experts from the fields of archaeology, mining history, forestry and heritage conservation share insights into current research and showcase the technical and organisational innovations that salt mining has produced over thousands of years. The exceptionally well-preserved finds from the Hallstatt salt mine tell stories of the economy, labour and everyday life of past societies.

In keeping with the opening of the new funicular, this year's focus is particularly on the development of transport routes. It reveals how the challenges surrounding the extraction, transport and distribution of salt have changed over more than 7,300 years – and what connection between the archaeological past and modern salt production still exists today.

"Archaeology on the Mountain 2026" is part of the UNESCO World Heritage region Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut and offers an exciting experience for the whole family – right at the very place where the story of Hallstatt salt began.

• Date: 12 and 13 September 2026
• Venue: Hallstätter Hochtal
• Free admission
• Organisers: Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Salzwelten GmbH and Salinen Austria AG
• Main theme: Salt transport from prehistory to the present day, timed to coincide with the opening of the new funicular railway
• Hands-on stations: try out prehistoric tools, boil brine, watch the construction of wooden brine pipelines, try on the clothing of Hallstatt's miners
• Programme: historical demonstrations, scientific presentations, insights into current research in archaeology, mining history, forestry and heritage conservation
• Transport timeline: dugout canoes, pack animals, horse-drawn carts, historic brine pipelines, railway, modern funicular and today's logistics systems
• Further information & prices of the Salt Mountain Railway: www.salzwelten.at