Mariapfarr

Mariapfarr – one of the sunniest places in Austria

Mariapfarr is situated in the heart of the UNESCO Salzburger Lungau Biosphere Reserve.

In summer

At over 1,100 metres above sea level, cycling, e-bike and mountain bike routes as well as numerous hiking and mountain tours whet the appetite for an action-packed holiday. Quaint alpine huts serving regional specialities from the Lungau gourmet region turn a break into an experience and invite you to linger.
Nordic walking, numerous themed walking trails and fantastic hikes into the individual valleys round off the programme dedicated to healthy exercise.

Horse lovers – beginners and advanced riders alike – will feel at home on riding courses, trail rides or carriage rides with sure-footed Icelandic or Haflinger horses.

The ‘Silent Night’ community of Mariapfarr – the Christmas carol ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’
Mariapfarr is home to the ‘birthplace’ of the carol ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’. In 1816, Joseph Mohr wrote the lyrics to this now world-famous carol in Mariapfarr. His friend Franz Xaver Gruber composed the melody for it in Oberndorf in 1818. In the Parish, Pilgrimage and Silent Night Museum as well as in the Pilgrimage and Silent Night Basilica, you can learn a great deal about Joseph Mohr’s life and other cultural treasures.

Precious and natural: the Lungau Biosphere
Mariapfarr is one of 15 municipalities, almost all of which lie above 1,000 metres, that bring the Lungau high plateau to life. The Tauern and Nockberge mountains all around protect the Salzburg Lungau like a jewel. The best way to trace the history right up to the present day is through the castles and palaces, the numerous museums, nature trails and technical monuments.

Traditions, preserved, cherished and lived
In Mariapfarr, the annual cycle is marked by local customs and many cultural events. On festive occasions, but also in everyday life, one frequently encounters the Lungau traditional costume. An old Lungau custom is the Samson procession. The 6.8-metre-tall, 86-kilo giant from Mariapfarr is paraded on many occasions, carried by a single strong man. This Samson procession is also included on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Exploring winter sports

The most beautiful impressions of the winter atmosphere can be captured whilst snowshoeing, on horse-drawn sleigh rides, during tobogganing adventures or whilst ice skating.
The ski resorts in the Salzburg Lungau region include Fanningberg, Großeck-Speiereck, Aineck-Katschberg and Obertauern.
Our local mountain, “Fanningberg”, is the perfect family ski resort. It offers unlimited skiing fun with a wide range of slopes. Varied runs and a detour to the newly created fun park will set the hearts of winter sports enthusiasts racing in the crystal-clear mountain air. Whether children, beginners or those returning to the sport – the ski school at Fanningberg helps everyone get on their skis! Ski hire and ski service are, of course, available and professionally run.

The cross-country trail at the Mariapfarr-Lignitztal Cross-Country Centre is a snow-sure high-altitude trail thanks to a snow-making system, suitable for beginners, leisure skiers and professionals alike. When snow conditions permit, the trail is groomed from Fanning towards Weisspriach.
An additional attraction in the Lignitztal is the 700-metre loop*, which is floodlit daily from 4 pm to 9 pm.