A Hidden Gem on Lake Traunsee
On our way back from Hallstatt, we made a spontaneous stop in Traunkirchen and honestly, it ended up being one of the best parts of the entire trip. We hadn’t planned it, hadn’t even really heard anything about it. But as we were driving along Lake Traunsee and saw the cliffs rising dramatically out of the water, we just knew we had to pull over and take a closer look.
The village of Traunkirchen is small and quiet, almost like it’s been frozen in time. It’s nestled perfectly between the mountains and the lake, with a charm that’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there. Right away, the place had a calm, peaceful feel to it. No crowds, no noise, no tour buses just stillness and the raw beauty of nature. A simple wooden dock stretched out into the water, and the lake itself was so calm that the towering cliffs around it were mirrored almost perfectly on the surface. For a moment, it didn’t even feel real. The only sounds were the soft lapping of the water and the occasional bird in the distance. You don’t get that kind of atmosphere in more popular spots.
After spending the morning navigating the packed streets of Hallstatt, this was exactly the kind of break we needed. Hallstatt is beautiful, no doubt but it’s also crowded, busy, and constantly buzzing with people. Traunkirchen, in contrast, gave us something Hallstatt couldn’t silence, space, and the kind of calm that makes you take a deep breath and just be present. It was the perfect reset.
We didn’t have a plan, so we just wandered through the village, following paths and instinct. One short trail took us uphill to the Johannesbergkapelle, a small white chapel perched on a rocky outcrop above the lake. From up there, the view was breathtaking. You could see the entire village below, the endless blue of Traunsee, and the mountains stretching far into the distance. It felt like we had stepped straight into a storybook illustration.
What really stood out was how easy everything was. There were more than enough parking spots close to the lake without searching much. It made the stop completely stressfree, which added to the sense of peace. And despite its beauty, the village felt almost untouched by tourism. No gift shops, no crowds, no selfie sticks. Just a few locals, a quiet street or two, and the surrounding nature.
There was something grounding about Traunkirchen, something deeply still. It’s the kind of place that invites you to pause, slow down, and just exist for a while. No expectations, no schedule just you and the landscape.
If you’re ever exploring the Salzkammergut region, especially if you’re traveling between Hallstatt and Gmunden, take a detour and stop in Traunkirchen. Even if you only have half an hour, it’s worth every minute. Sometimes, it’s not the big destinations that make a trip memorable it’s the places you stumble upon without meaning to. For us, Traunkirchen was exactly that, a quiet surprise that gave us what Hallstatt couldn’t.
