Every year a different region in SalzburgerLand has the honour of hosting a lavish Alpine Summer opening event. The event is a fun get-together of musicians and hikers who can enjoy regional cuisine and typical mountain hut delicacies, watch traditional craftsmen at work or partake in lively alpine dancing. The ringing of the large alpine summer bell echoes across rolling mountain pastures and meadows, officially announcing the new alpine summer season.
Official opening on June 15, 2025
The mountain pastures took center stage, with the lake in view: Salzburg’s Alpine summer was officially welcomed on Sunday with a festive celebration at the Lärchenhütte, high above Lake Wolfgang. On June 15, hundreds of visitors enjoyed perfect early summer hiking weather, savored handmade mountain specialties, and experienced traditional music with a modern twist.
Kicking off Almsommer at the Lärchenhütte on Zwölferhorn (c) SLTG, Franz Neumayr
Alpine enjoyment and music: from the Mozarteum to the Lärchenhütte
At nine o’clock in the morning, they had already hiked together from Tiefbrunnau in the Fuschlsee region via Kühleiten up to the Lärchenhütte, which sits enthroned on a sunny plateau on the Zwölferhorn high above the picturesque Wolfgangsee. Once there, the focus was on handmade specialities, refreshing drinks, including iced tea from Teekanne and the Almsommer beer from Stiegl and, of course, lots of music: a little different than usual and yet wonderfully suited to the ambience from the quintet Alauda and very traditional from the Hinterberger Soatnmusi. The five Mozarteum students chose the melodious name Alauda for their quintet after a species of lark – which made their performance at the Lärchenhütte on the Zwölferhorn even more harmonious.
Alpine cuisine, shaped by the changing tides of time, took center stage, with an emphasis on regionality and quality. Visitors had the chance to sample a variety of local specialties, including sheep’s milk products from Seegut Eisl, game meats from Florian Kroissl of Oberwang, fresh bread and pastries from the Frauenlob bakery in Fuschl am See, schnapps from the Primushäusl distillery in Abersee, and many other regional delicacies.
The Hinterberger Soatnmusi provided the atmosphere and of course the authentic Alpine culinary delights- both presented with a blend of tradition and modernity. More Almsommer events and traditional crafts
More Almsommer events and traditional crafts
Crafted Treasures: The Butter Mould
When the cows, horses, sheep, and goats move up to their lush summer pastures in the Salzburg Alps following a successful alpine drive, it marks the official start of the alpine summer. Alongside the main opening ceremony, numerous other celebrations take place throughout SalzburgerLand to welcome the season.
In addition to celebrations marking the start of Alpine Summer, many events are held in the mountains in all regions during the summer months that feature enchanting walks between mountain huts, the sound of music, cultural readings, creative workshops, culinary delights and most of all, sociable exchanges at rustic mountain hut tables. Traditional skills are demonstrated throughout many alpine summer events including building a Pinzgauer-fence, fine wool spinning or carving butter moulds.
Ornately crafted and frequently passed down over generations, butter moulds are used as part of the butter making process. The intricately carved design at the base of the mould reveals the alpine butter’s origin to the knowing eye. A multitude of patterns end up adorning the butter, such as florals with edelweiss or gentian, religious symbols, chamois, deer or the hill farm’s name. Not many farmers still master the craft of butter mould carving any more, but one can observe this old traditional stone pine wood carving at Alpine Summer in Salzburg events.
Alpine Summer Start with Stallions
In June the magnificent stallion drive in Rauris Valley is a particularly impressive spectacle which has been taking place for decades. The precious Noriker stallions initially have to establish their rank and determine who will be lead stallion to ensure a peaceful summer in the mountains. Only afterwards can they join the mares to spend 100 days of summer grazing in the lush meadows of Rauris Valley. The traditional Noriker stallion drive in Rauris Valley takes place at Alpengasthof Bodenhaus every year during the last weekend in June. This legendary performance in front of 5000 spectators is an important prerequisite to ensure a relaxing alpine summer for the horses without subsequent fights. The hierarchy of the stallions for each group is determined after about one hour of wild demonstrations of power, kicks and bites, and once the lead stallion has become ‘boss’, the others subordinate themselves peacefully and the mighty animals can unwind.
Ornately crafted and frequently passed down over generations, butter moulds are used as part of the butter making process. The intricately carved design at the base of the mould reveals the alpine butter’s origin to the knowing eye. A multitude of patterns end up adorning the butter, such as florals with edelweiss or gentian, religious symbols, chamois, deer or the hill farm’s name. Not many farmers still master the craft of butter mould carving any more, but one can observe this old traditional stone pine wood carving at Alpine Summer in Salzburg events.
Pinzgau: Alm:Kultur – Tradition meets Modernity is the motto in Saalfelden Leogang
Throughout the alpine summer, weekly arts and culture projects will be held on pastures around Saalfelden Leogang. Featuring the slogan Tradition meets modernity, musical delights, readings, craft and painting workshops lead by artists are on offer. The romantic landscape surrounding the rustic mountain huts provides the ideal setting to free creative minds.
