Sonnberg between the Ore Trail and Mining History
Accommodation in Sonnberg
Three themes can help you plan a trip connected with Sonnberg: the Ore Trail and its Hüttau section, mining history at Larzenbach, and the Hüttau-Niedernfritz hiking landscape. This can help you decide whether to focus your stay on cultural history, a longer route or mountain hikes.
The Ore Trail and its Hüttau section
The Ore Trail connects Hüttau, Bischofshofen, Mühlbach am Hochkönig and St. Veit im Pongau along a route of about 60 kilometres. It starts at the Larzenbach show mine in Hüttau. The first stage is approximately 13 kilometres long and takes around four hours. These stage details should be distinguished from the length of the entire Ore Trail.
The Hüttau section runs from the Kupferzeche (Copper Mine) to the municipal office in the town centre. The “Ores, Gold and Minerals†museum is located there. Information panels along the Ore Trail provide details about the landscape, the region’s history and mining. So, along the route, you can explore both natural and regional history and the history of ore mining.
Show Mine and Mining History
The “Ores, Gold and Minerals†museum displays thousands of exhibits that demonstrate the historical importance of mining in Salzburg. It is housed in the former mining company building from 1594, once home to the operators of the Kupferzeche (Copper Mine). The collection and the building thus offer different insights into mining history: the exhibits illustrate mining, while the building itself is connected with the former mine.
The Kupferzeche at Larzenbach is believed to have been in operation as early as the 13th century. Ore mining resumed in a second period of extraction from 1853 and ceased in 1869. Guided tours of the show mine offer insights into the medieval working world of the miners, which developed over centuries. Visits are always accompanied by guides; check with the operator for tour dates before visiting.
From the centre of Hüttau, the access road to the Kupferzeche leads towards Larzenbach. After about 650 metres, you will reach the entrance hut for the show mine. Parking for cars and coaches is available right next to the show mine. If you plan a visit, note the access route and check local conditions before setting out.
Hiking Trails and Mountain Landscape
The Hüttau-Niedernfritz area has around 100 kilometres of well-marked hiking trails. They lead to scenic heights and popular alpine pastures. Hüttau is considered a starting point for mountain hikes to idyllic natural spots. Check local trail conditions before planning a hike; the destinations mentioned and the length of the trail network do not describe the conditions on any particular trail.
Hochgründeck reaches 1,827 metres and, together with the Tennengebirge and the Fritztaler Berge, shapes the mountain landscape of Hüttau-Niedernfritz. These names place the hiking landscape within a broader mountainous setting. Sonnberg is one of the four cadastral communities you can discover while hiking in Hüttau; Hüttau and Niedernfritz lie in the Fritztal.
Townscape and Rail Travel Information
The parish church in Hüttau also adds a historical touch: it is a late Gothic, three-aisled building dating from 1472. Together with the museum and the history of the Kupferzeche, it forms a cultural highlight distinct from the hiking trails. If you are interested in local history, you can consider these themes separately from the mountain landscape and trail network.
For rail travel, note that passenger services no longer stop at “Hüttau Terminal†in the Sonnberg district. Trains now stop at the new station close to the town, which opened on 15 December 2024. Check the current timetable before travelling and plan your journey using the new station.
When planning, it helps to keep the different scales in mind: the Ore Trail connects four municipalities, its first stage has its own approximate length and duration, and the hiking trails cover the Hüttau-Niedernfritz area. This lets you plan your stay around what matters to you without treating the route, stage and hiking area as the same thing.
Discover more destinations: Großarl, Mühlbach am Hochkönig, Hüttau, Lammertal, Goldegg, Altenmarkt Im Pongau, Eben Im Pongau, Sankt Martin Am Tennengebirge
For the broader travel overview: Sankt Johann im Pongau District.
