Farmers’ Fall Festival: The hills are alive with local heritage and crafts
The entire province of Salzburg celebrates harvest time with a revival of local heritage
events and crafts. Adorned with festive decorations, seventy-three communities will
celebrate the traditional drive of livestock from high-mountain pastures to the towns
with concerts and culinary delights from the region.
Fall-time specialties and crafts
Every year, local clubs, craftspeople, and farmers show their products at the Salzburg
Farmers’ Harvest Festival. Visitors can look forward to a colorful event with folk songs,
homemade cheese and bread, and people dressed in dirndl dresses and lederhosen. The
entire province focuses on preserving traditional customs from different regions.
“Luck up” at the Show Mine
Thrill-seekers won’t be disappointed in the Saalfelden Leogang region. “Luck Up!
Welcome to Austria’s oldest mine,” says tour operator Hansi Pichler at the entrance to
the gallery dedicated to St. Barbara. “Watch your heads: we are descending into the
mine.” As Pichler’s torchlight casts shadows on the moist gallery walls, visitors explore
an intricate web of underground tunnels. “As early as the 14th century, miners dug for
silver, mercury, cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel in this hand-carved mine,” explains
Pichler. Visitors march single file on a narrow footpath, an activity that is also suitable
for children. He leads his little visitors on a treasure-hunt adventure, where they also
learn some history. A visit to the show mine is an ideal bad-weather option for families.
After an exciting walk through the medieval mine, manager Heidi welcomes guests to
the rustic and cozy miners’ restaurant.
Herbal remedies from Pinzgau
Pinzgau locals garnered worldwide recognition when UNESCO included their knowledge
of herbal remedies in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. This honor would
not have been possible without the efforts of nutritionist Karin Buchart, president of the
Traditional European Healing Association (TEH). For years, Buchart collected recipes for
ointments and lotions handed down through generations, thus saving them from
oblivion. Her archive of knowledge relies on thirty-five multi-hour interviews with
women living on remote farms. “I was able to browse through old cookbooks that
included recipes for remedies,” she says. Supported by Salzburg University, she wants to
make this valuable knowledge accessible to the general public.
Quality label: ECHT.GSUND.GUAD. (authentic.healthy.good.)
Saalfelden Leogang puts a premium on the quality of local products. “Since 2014, we
have used the quality label authentic.healthy.good.,” says Katharina Auer, project
manager at Saalfelden Leogang Tourism. “A six-person panel of experts decides which
locals producers may use this label. It guarantees that these products really hail from
the Saalfelden Leogang region.” Visitors to local dairies, distilleries, and apiaries find out
what goes into making these delicacies.
“Ranggeln” match on Spielberg
“Ranggeln” is one of the most traditional sports in the Alps. Comparable to wrestling,
this peaceful trial of strength can be traced to ancient communities of mountain
shepherds. The ultimate goal of the match is to bring down the opponent in a tackle by
pinning both shoulder blades to the floor. The winner is honored with the title
“hogmoar.” Now in its 46th edition, the ranggeln match on Spielberg has had a long
tradition. The Hundstoa Ranggeln Contest will again take place on Hundstein Mountain,
one of the most impressive summits in the Pinzgau Grasberg Mountains.
The 2015 local heritage highlights include:
 June 20, 2015: Mountain in Flames, solstice festival
 June 27, 2015: Second Regional Fair
 August 30, 2015: Farmers’ Fall Festival in Hütten
 September 13, 2015: Kehlbach Cattle Drive
 September 19, 2015: Traditional sheep drive at Anderlhof Farm in Leogang
 September 20, 2015: “Einheiger” haymaking festival in Saalfelden
 May–October 2015: Guided tours through the Show Mine (except on Mondays)
 October 2 to 4, 2015: World Beard Championships and 125th anniversary
celebration of the Leogang Band
 November 11, 2015: Leonhardiritt Horseback Procession
For further information, please contact:
Saalfelden Leogang Touristik GmbH
Selina Hörl
+43 (0) 6582 70 660-22
Mittergasse 21 a
5760 Saalfelden
presse@saalfelden-leogang.at
www.saalfelden-leogang.com
Rich in contrast, the tourist destination of Saalfelden Leogang offers a unique blend of
pastoral and urban flair, tradition, and innovation. Guests engage in a wide variety of
sports and cultural activities, take advantage of shopping opportunities and the region’s
conference facilities. Authentic Pinzgau hospitality and top-notch amenities help draw
many visitors, who make up 800,000 overnight stays a year.