Surrounded by mountains, forests and alpine lakes, the town of Ebensee is nestled in a picturesque landscape. It is a place where outdoor activities can be pursued and where there is a reminder of a dark chapter in its recent history. Go on long hikes through the mountains, ice skate on a frozen lake and visit the site of a former Nazi concentration camp.
Experience the simplicity and beauty of the natural scenery on a hiking trail. There are lots of routes around the town, and whether you trek in the mountains, through forests or by lakes you are bound to find a trail to suit. Travel to nearby freshwater lakes for more outdoor activities. Enjoy watersports and boat cruises on Traunsee. Go mountain biking by Lake Offensee then swim in its crystal-clear water. During the winter, ice skate on the natural ice rink that forms on the Vorderer Langbathsee Lake.
Come into contact with more wonders of nature at the Salzkammergut Natural History Museum. Then get around to other museums in Ebensee, including the Ebensee History Museum, which is dedicated to local culture and history.
While you are in the mood for learning, gather insights into the town's World War II past when you go to the Ebensee Concentration Camp Memorial. The Nazis erected a concentration camp here, just outside Ebensee, where prisoners worked as slave laborers building huge underground tunnels to house rockets and tanks. While much of the camp was destroyed after the war, the entrance gate survives. In one of the large tunnels, find an exhibition in English and German on the camp's history. Nearby is the mass grave where the victims of the camp are interred.
At night, unwind in one of the town's cafés or restaurants.
Ebensee is easily accessible to visitors from other countries with international airports in Salzburg and Linz, about 48 miles (78 kilometers) and 50 miles (80 kilometers) away respectively. Then travel by car or public transportation to your vacation destination of breathtaking alpine scenery, outdoor adventures and history.
