Traunsee

Traunsee is a lake in the Salzkammergut region of Upper Austria, noted for clear water and steep mountain shores. It is one of the deeper lakes in Austria and a central landscape feature around the town of Gmunden.

Visitors come for lakeside promenades in Gmunden, boat trips on the water and walks or climbs on the surrounding peaks, especially the prominent Traunstein on the eastern shore. The small island castle Schloss Ort near the northern shore is a frequent photographic subject and local attraction.

The shoreline settlements developed in the medieval period and later became part of the Salzkammergut leisure and spa region. The lake has long been used for fishing and transport and more recently for tourism and recreation.

Traunsee lies in Upper Austria’s Salzkammergut, immediately south of the town of Gmunden and about an hour’s drive from the city of Linz, set among steep wooded hills and limestone peaks.

• Depth: One of Austria's deeper lakes with a maximum depth of about 191 metres; visibility and steep shores create dramatic reflections of the surrounding mountains.
• Town and access: Gmunden on the northern shore is the principal town and gateway for visitors, with boat services that operate on the lake in the warmer months.

What to See #

• Schloss Ort: A small medieval castle sitting on a tiny island near the northern shore that dates in its present form to the 12th century and is a landmark of Gmunden.
• Traunstein (mountain): The steep limestone mountain on the lake's eastern side rises prominently above the water and is a familiar landmark visible from much of the shore.