Art theme trail

A leisurely walk in the footsteps of great artists who lived and visited Steinbach and Weißenbach.

Gustav Mahler, Friedrich Gulda, Franz von Schönthan, Charlotte Wolter, Hedwig Bleibtreu, and Gustav Klimt —they were all inspired by Lake Attersee and its fascinating surroundings. Along the 2.5-kilometer-long, easy-to-walk loop trail, informational signs provide interesting facts about notable artists from the region.

Walking time only: approx. 45 minutes
Time required with audio guide: approx. 2 to 2.5 hours

The accompanying audio guide from Hearonymus is available as an app in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Searching for “Steinbach” will take you directly to the correct audio guide.

Artists on the Artists’ Trail

Heimito von Doderer
Heimito von Doderer is considered one of the most important Austrian writers of the 1950s and early 1960s. After the war, from February to May 1946, he lived in the home of his uncle, the entrepreneur Richard von Doderer, in the Forstamt district of Steinbach am Attersee. During this time, he wrote a significant portion of his novel *Die Strudelhofstiege*, one of the most important works of Austrian literature.

Otto Tressler
The actor Otto Tressler spent many summers on Lake Attersee. He remained particularly devoted to sailing and swimming well into his old age. Even at the age of 90, he would jump into Lake Attersee from his sailboat, the “Halunke.”

Friedrich Gulda
Friedrich Gulda lived in Weißenbach on Lake Attersee from 1962 to 2000. Surrounded by mountains and the lake, he found peace and seclusion here for his artistic work. In his studio at the “Meierhof,” he composed and performed music ranging from classical to jazz to experimental music.

Charlotte Wolter
Together with her husband, Count O’Sullivan, Charlotte Wolter purchased two old farmhouses right next to the Hotel Post in Weißenbach am Attersee. She had them converted into stylishly furnished summer villas. The celebrated actress of the Burgtheater spent her summer vacations here.

Gustav Mahler
In the summer of 1893, Gustav Mahler found the peace and seclusion he sought for his work in Steinbach am Attersee. Here, he also fulfilled his wish for his own little work cottage, which he moved into in 1894. At Lake Attersee, he completed his Symphony No. 2 and composed his Symphony No. 3.

Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt, one of the most important Art Nouveau painters, sought rest and inspiration at Lake Attersee from 1900 to 1912 and again from 1914 to 1916. Many of his landscape paintings were created here. He lived in the forester’s lodge, while his partner, Emilie Flöge, stayed in the guesthouse of Villa Brauner in Gmauret.