MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN THE LUNGAU

The Lungau

Source: Lungauer Volksleben | Manners and customs, stories and descriptions from the Lungau by Michael Dengg 3rd ed.

In the south-east of the state of Salzburg there is a Gau surrounded by high mountains, which in its seclusion almost forms a world of its own, the Lungau. It is only open to the east and there it also sends its waters, which the Mur, which rises in one of its side valleys, the Murwinkel, absorbs, in order to then become the main river of Styria.

When in the year 14 to 15 BC Drusus and Tiberius, the step-sons of the emperor Augustus, set out with a significant army towards the north and subjugated everything up to the Danube, the land of the Tauris came into Roman possession and was incorporated into Central Norikum. The Lungau gained greater importance when the Roman Emperor Septimus Severus (193-211) built a new road, the new Roman Army Road, for the rapid transport of the Roman legions from south to north, from Italy to the Danube, the then Roman border Rich, let create.

A strong military occupation of the northern border of the Roman Empire was necessary because the Germanic peoples always tried to invade the Roman Empire by force. During one of these campaigns against the Teutons, the Roman Emperor Markus Aurelius (161-180) died in Vindobona (Vienna).

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Slavs came and lived here for several centuries until they were ousted by the now resident Teutons, the Bavarians.

The Lungau saw its heyday in the Middle Ages. Trade and mining flourished in the Gau, richly blessed with natural treasures, and for centuries the trade caravans that traveled between Trieste and Salzburg passed through it. Nobility and chivalry held numerous castles and noble residences, citizens and farmers could enjoy a certain wealth on all sides.

But this heyday passed, trade gradually took a different direction after the finding of the East Indian sea route and the discovery of America, the blessing of the mountains subsided, most of the castles and palaces were largely destroyed, especially in the bloody battles of the 15th century, and so the Lungau was gradually abandoned and forgotten. Even the Napoleonic Wars did not leave the Lungau unscathed; it was occupied several times by the French.

That was a bad time for the Gau. But despite the unfavorable conditions, the Lungau has not lagged behind in development, but has kept pace with the development of the time and has made particular use of the achievements of the time.

Tourism is also increasing more and more, with numerous townspeople spending their summer holidays in Lungau. Lungau's mountains are also becoming more and more accessible for skiing.

The Lungau is not only rich in natural beauties and natural treasures, it also has many old monuments, especially from Roman times and many ancient castles, which despite the changing times have survived to our days, proudly looks down from their heights as a memory of the iron-armored Middle Ages.

The Lungau also has many original folk customs and traditions that have been preserved here better than anywhere else. I have tried to describe these preferably and have put some of them down in this booklet.

Into Lungau's legendary land,

Where does the Mur river's silver ribbon originate,

Where the miner's house that guards the treasures

Woll legendary magic and fairytale splendor.

Up to the heights that shone with light

On the sunny mats, the flowers wreathed,

In the valleys lovely meadows,

To look friendly, surrounded by mountains.

Towards the calm alpine lakes,

Charming and beautiful with their sparkle of colors,

Where rock entwined with alpine rush

The edelweiss greets you lightly and fine.

Into the deep, shady darkness of the woods

With her emerald lights twinkling

Inside the little waters rustle as bright as silver:

There you will heal in body and soul.

Michael Dengg

Extract from the book "Lungauer Volksleben" by Michael Dengg , which you can purchase from us. Heimathaus Dengg - holiday home in Lungau .