The village of Forstau in Pongau, with around 500 inhabitants, is known for its hospitality. A chat on the house bench is always an option. And when the locals start telling you about the country and the people, the hours pass like minutes…
Located on the high valley between Radstadt and Schladming, Forstau is known for its unspoilt landscapes surrounded by impressive nature. Forstau is popular as a recreation area for the citizens of Salzburg for hikes, walks and mountain biking – active recreation in the midst of this magnificent nature.
Attractions in Forstau
The parish church of St. Leonhard (built in 1742) with baroque high altar and the Lourdes Chapel with stones from the French Lourdes are definitely worth a visit. For refreshment on the way, the Leonhardsbründl provides cold, clear water. Forstau is also on the Leonhardpilgerweg, this leads through the entire province of Salzburg! It begins its 130 km at the cathedral in the city of Salzburg, through Forstau and over the Oberhüttensee to St. Leonhard near Tamsweg in Salzburg’s Lungau region. Pilgrimage on the Leonhard Trail through unspoiled nature, beautiful valleys, over impressive mountain passes and past many sights makes you forget everyday life.
c TVB Forstau Church of Hl Leonhard
An abundance of hiking trails
Forstau offers over 50 km of beautiful hiking trails in summer. Forstau’s mascot presents his own fitness trail – “Forsti, the hiking dwarf”! Along a beautiful forest trail (approx. 2.7 km long) children, parents, grandmas, grandpas and guests will find 12 fitness stations explained by “Forsti, the hiking dwarf” and his friends!
The Bachweg is not only a beautiful hiking and walking trail in Forstau, but also features a varied Kneipp trail with many different Kneipp stations and an extremely interesting and educational medicinal herb trail. With the Schladming Dachstein Sommercard and the SalzburgerLand Card, you can make your vacation especially eventful, relaxing and with cultural diversity. Especially families save with these bonus cards!
Salzburger Almenweg
The „Salzburger Almenweg“ long-distance hiking trail offers enjoyable hiking from alpine pasture to alpine pasture along 350 km – from the Niedere and Hohe Tauern to the Bischofsmütze and the Hochkönig. Impressive landscapes and inspiring views, accompany hikers on the stage via the Oberhütte, to the center of Forstau and on to Radstadt.
Mountain bike adventure
The “Stoneman Taurista by Roland Stauder” powered by Bike24 inspires fit mountain bikers! The mountain bike adventure “Stoneman Taurista” leads over 123 kilometers and with a massive 4,505 meters of altitude along green alpine meadows, rustic mountain huts and to the most beautiful summit crosses of the Salzburg region. The spectacular Tauern massif is always in view. The stage through Forstau leads from the Brandscharte in the direction of Forstauwinkl to the Königsanstieg up to the alpine idyll of the Oberhütte am See – located at 2,110 meters above sea level.
Winter in the family paradise Forstau
Whether vacationing on a farm or staying in an apartment, families with small children in particular feel right at home here. Fittingly, the ski area Fageralm is known and popular as a family ski area with mostly natural snow slopes. The wide, gently undulating slopes and the small cozy ski huts invite you to enjoy skiing in the middle of the “Ski amadé” region. Even non-skiers can experience unforgettable hours on the Fageralm – while winter hiking or resting on one of the cozy hut terraces. A special treat is the “Goliath giant swing” – the most beautiful viewpoint in the region. There are also numerous children’s trails with self-painted figures, such as the Indian trail, the trail with the animals from the Fagerwald and the Viking land. Our winter hiking trails in and around Forstau with over 20 km invite you to walk and enjoy. The weekly lantern hike with our hiking guides is one of the most popular activities and leads through the illuminated Bachweg.
