Annegret Ritzinger - Austria Guide

Unterach Cultural Walk
We begin at the picturesque complex of the “church and former schoolhouse,” made famous by Klimt’s painting. We’ll take a look at Saint Bartholomew, who was not only roasted but also had to watch as the married librettist Viktor Leon made a pass at the lovely Risa right before his eyes in 1897.
It is also little known that in 1892, Unterach gave a triumphant welcome to the lovers Eduard Boulenger and Philipp von Ferrari, the richest man in Europe—with the pastor and the mayor in attendance—at a time when Franz Joseph’s homosexual brother, Ludwig-Viktor, had vanished into obscurity in Salzburg. You can learn more about the background of this incident on our cultural walking tour. The most famous work ever created within Unterach’s walls is Hugo Wolf’s “Feuerreiter,” and —irony of fate—set to music in the foggy, hard-to-heat giant villa that the then-owner, Friedrich Eckstein, graciously made available to Hugo, who was seeking peace and quiet. At the nearby Berghof, Wolf hosted Brahms—both of whom were bitter enemies of Wagner. And between the Berghof and the Eckstein Villa stands the Katzenlotte House, where for generations, small-scale farmers with large families, fishmongers, and tanners struggled to survive!
This coexistence and tension between the wealthy, artists, intellectuals, brooding souls, “eccentrics,” and locals inspired Thomas Bernhard to write his beautiful novella *Die Mütze* (*The Cap*), which is set in Unterach and accompanies us on our hike.
But the pre-tourism era has also left behind interesting traces that are easily overlooked; for example, how did the coat of arms of the Salzburg-based Alt family—from which the famous Salome Alt hails—come to have the honor of adorning the Unterach coat of arms?

Meeting point at the Unterach municipal office every Friday at 10 a.m.
Adults €10 and children €5
Registration required by 4 p.m. the day before
Phone: +43 681 20392151 or a.ritzinger@gmx.at
Tours can be booked at any time upon request

Unterach Time Travel Hike
Explore Unterach’s rich and varied history.
Visit to a traditional local business
Duration: 2 hours; price: €12; €10 with the Salzkammergut Summer Card

Nordic Walking Tour: Unterach from Above
Easy hike to Lake Egelsee, 4.5 km away.
Stop for refreshments at Gasthaus Stadler
Duration: 4 hours, Price: €25; €23 with the Salzkammergut Summer Card

Photo and Puzzle Rally
Explore Unterach on your own using a list of tasks and take photos.
Award ceremony with a certificate in a cozy setting
Duration: 2 hours, Price: €12; with the Salzkammergut Summer Card: €10

Unterach from the Water
Explore Unterach by electric boat
Fascinating and little-known stories about the villas and their residents
Duration: 1.5 hours, Price: €45 per tour
This tour accommodates up to 3 people and can be booked at any time upon request.

All guided tours require a minimum of 4 people and are scheduled upon request.

Annegret Ritzinger, a certified Austria Guide, shares her expertise on tours to Mondsee, Salzburg, around Lake Attersee, and to the most beautiful spots in the Salzkammergut.

Together with a nature and landscape guide, Annegret Ritzinger also offers bike excursions or hikes with a special focus on nature.

Explore the Attersee from all sides with Annegret Ritzinger, hikes, boat trips with a swim stop at historically interesting places.

Prices vary depending on duration and group size.
Please request a quote.