“ Five Fingers“ viewing platform on the Krippenstein with view of the Hallstättersee
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München
Linz
Wien
St. Pölten
Salzburg Eisenstadt
Innsbruck Graz
Klagenfurt
Squeezed between lake and mountain – living space in Hallstatt has always been quite tight
THE Salzkammergut- noble PEOPLE AND REBELS
Part of life in the mountains of the Salzkammergut is the classic tradition of poaching. As a child and young man in the fifties, I was always surprised that there were farm kids involved in illegal poaching activities, and who were regularly sentenced to jail time, yet at the same time were held in high regard by the locals, especially the girls. The poacher was seen in the Salzkammergut as a rebel, as the hero of the“ little people” who is not willing to play the“ normal” role associated with poverty. He rebels against those who appear to him to be oppressors and exploiters. And he does everything possible to battle against them for his own“ freedom” and that of the other“ little people”, using those means available to him as a child of poverty: strength, bravery, cunning, decisiveness and loyalty. And it is precisely these characteristics that are glorified and romanticized in the poaching songs sung in the Salzkammergut. And for the poacher, the dairymaid played an important role, for she was often his beloved.
In times of need especially, such as after wars, poachers were very active in the Salzkammergut. The old gamekeepers were angered and, together with local police, battled against the poachers. Poachers were as much a part of life in the Salzkammergut as was the emperor in his villa at Bad Ischl.
Hiking in Salzkammergut: the“ Goiserer”, a famous hiking boot, was also invented here.
The Salzkammergut is the heart & soul of Austria, with an exciting culture and an array of remarkable people who grew up on its soil. The people of today’ s Salzkammergut are heirs to an exceptional tradition, one we hope they continue to revere, since this region is something special. Dauntless men and wonderful women adorn its history. These include, in addition to poachers and salt miners, the old dairymaids who hid the poachers in their mountain huts, and yodelers, who still delight hikers. To all of them, I raise my glass of Salzkammergut cider and say“ Cheers!”.
Prof. Dr. Roland Girtler is associate professor at the University of Vienna’ s Sociology Institute, contributor to and author of numerous books about rascals, fine people, ladies of the night, and other“ unconventional careers”.