Der Wolfgangsee

Der elf Kilometer lange und bis zu zweieinhalb Kilometer breite See liegt am nördlichen Alpenrand in einer Höhe von 539 Metern über dem Meeresspiegel. Er ist bis zu 114 Meter tief und bedeckt eine Fläche von 13,5 Quadratkilometern. In der Seemitte verengt der Schwemmfächer des Zinkenbaches den Wasserspiegel stark und gliedert den See deutlich in zwei Hälften. Das vielbesuchte Gewässer ist auch unter dem Namen Wolfgangsee, seltener unter der Bezeichnung Abersee bekannt. Letztgenannter Name bezieht sich im Allgemeinen auf den nordwestlichen Teil des Sees.

Hier sehen Sie eine Panoramaaufnahme des Wolfgangsees aufgenommen vom Gipfel des Sparbers.

Machen Sie sich nun doch selbst einen Eindruck vom See indem Sie sich unsere für Sie zusammen gestellten Photos und Impressionen zu den Themen "Genießen und Entspannen", "Aktiv und Events" sowie "Schifffahrt" ansehen!

Der Wolfgangsee lädt Sie ein sich zu entspannen und das Wasser und die Natur am und im See zu genießen. Spazieren oder wandern Sie am See entland zu Nachbarorten, tauchen Sie ein in einen der reinsten und wärmsten Seen Österreichs und genießen Sie traumhafte Sonnenuntergänge an einer der vielen Seeterrassen, einem Strandcafe oder einem der vielen Badestrände.

Der Wolfgangsee bietet Ihnen eine Vielzahl an Möglichkeiten um in Ihrem Urlaub aktiv zu sein. Rund um den See werden alle denkbaren Wassersportmöglichkeiten wie Segeln, Surfen, Wasserski, Wakeboard, Kite-Surfen, Tauchen uvm. angeboten und in den Sommermonaten finden viele weltklasse Events wie z.B. Scalaria Air-Challenge, Red-Bull Klippenspringen, wöchentliche Wasserski-Shows uvm. statt.

Am Wolfgangsee verkehren die sechs Schiffe der Wolfgangseeschifffahrt täglich mehrmals zwischen den sieben Schiffstationen rund um den See (siehe Rubrik "Wolfgangseeschifffahrt"). Die Schiffahrt bietet Ihnen eine einmalige und entspannte Möglichkeit den See und die Nachbarorte zu erkunden.

Für detaillierte Informationen zu Sportanbietern und Sportmöglichkeiten rund um den See besuchen Sie bitte die Rubrik "Sport und Freizeit"!

The 11 kilometers long and up to two and a half kilometers wide lake is located on the northern border of the Alps at 539 meters above sea level. The lake is up to 114 meters deep and covers an area of 13,5 square-kilometers. In the middle of the lake the outwash plain of the river Zinkenbach narrows the lake drastically and separates it quite obviously into two halfs. The much visited lake is commonly known as Lake Wolfgangsee, but for locals also known as Lake Abersee which referes to the northern part of the lake.
      
Here you can see two Panorama photographs of Lake Wolfgangsee taken from the top of mountain Sparber and mountain Zwölferhorn. One shot was edited so it shows the routes of the Wolfgangseeschifffahrt ships as well as of the mountain Schafberg train.

Please get you own impressions of lake Wolfgangsee by enjoying our photos and impression shots of the topics "Enjoy and Relax", "Active and Events" as well as "Ships"!

Lake Wolfgangsee invites you to relax and enjoy the crystal clear water and nature on, around and in the lake. Walk or hike  along the lake shore to neighbouring towns, dive into one of the cleanest and warmest lakes of Austria and enjoy amazing sunsets at one of the various lake patios, lake cafes and beaches.

Lake Wolfgangsee offers many possibilities to be active during your vacation. Around the lake, all kinds of water sports like Sailing, Wind-Surfing, Waterski, Wakeboard, Kite-Surfing, Diving etc. are offered. During the summer months, various world-class events such as the Scalaria Air-Challenge, Red Bull Cliff Diving, weekly Waterski-Shows and much more take place.

On lake Wolfgangsee, six ships of the Wolfgangseeschifffahrt cruise several times every day between the seven ship docs around the lake. (see Topic Wolfgangseeschifffahrt"). The ships offer you a relaxed and unique way to travel the lake and the neighbouring towns of St.Wolfgang.

For detailed information about Sport and Activity Providers  as well as sport and leisure time activities see "Sport und Freizeit"!

Go on a short tour through town ...

Visit the following historic plazas, romantic alleys and walking paths along the lake and learn and experience more about St.Wolfgang, it's sights and the amazing lake Wolfgangsee.

History of St.Wolfgang at lake Wolfgan

... writen by Adele Sungler

St.Wolfgang takes up a brilliant position in the cultural history of the state of upper austria. The community is situated at the foot of the famous mountain Schafberg (since 1893 train to the top of the 1783 meter high mountain) on the northern edge of the 13.5 square-kilometers large lake Aber- or Wolfgangsee.

Shipping starts

1873, with the first paddle-steamer "Kaiser Franz Josef " the technical age of  public shipping on lake Wolfgangsee started.

The Legend of Holy Wolfgang

The town owes it's name to holy Wolfgang who was looking for refuge in the area more than 1000 years ago. (Holy Wolfgang: bishop of Regensburg came to lake Wolfgangsee around 976  from his own monastery on lake Mondsee which was founded 748 by Odilo the duke of bavaria from the dynasty of Agilolfinger). Many legends ("Throwing Axe" und "Source Miracle" on hill Falkenstein) mention Wolfgang's construction of the first small church on lake Abersee by his own hands including the associated miracle healings. After Wolfgangs canonisation 1052, the numerous miracles and healings contributed drastically to the spreading of the peoples religionisation and the Wolfgang cult.

The monastery of Mondsee

... which was the owner of this area at that time, advertised and propagated the rite in and around St.Wolfgang. Construction of first romanic church was approved by Papst Lucius III 1183. 1291 documentary reports of pilgrimage to the small church of St.Wolfgang. 1314-1318, construction of first large pilgrim house. Since the countless pilgrims from different countries did not fit anymore, it was extended splendiferous in the 15th century.

Brisk construction efforts supervised by abbots Simon Reuchlin, Benedikt Eck and Wolfgang Haberls, who built the art history significant pilgrim fountain in front of the church in 1515. The church became famous over the centuries due to it's magnificent arrangements.

The Michael Pacher Altar

The impressive winged altar, finished by Michael Pacher in 1481, the gorgeous baroque altar by Thomas Schwanthaler (1676) including relics of holy Wolfgang as well as the three altars and the pulpit of the great baroque sculptor (1706) make the pilgrim church to an extraordinary art jewel.

The culmination of pilgrimage

was in the 15th and 16th century which influenced the creation of art dramatically. St.Wolfgang was besides Rome, Aachen and Einsiedeln one of the most outstanding pilgrimage towns. 1506, bought emperor Maximilian I the Mondsee area. 1567 bestowed emperor Maximilian II the market and township right including emblem to St.Wolfgang. In the course of the counter-reformation the pilgrimage was revitalized but the importance of St.Wolfgang was heavily restricted by emperor Josef II. 1791, the monastery Mondsee was terminated.

The economic boom

Another revival and an economic boom for St.Wolfgang was initiated by the near by summer residenz of the emperor in Bad Ischl (1829-1916). The lake, it's public shipping and mountain Schafberg attracted visitors from near by and far away. Famous painters from the 18th and 19th century carried the charm of St.Wolfgang out to the world and left their traces in town. On Nov. 8th 1930 the comedy play "Im weißen Rössl am Wolfgangsee" (In the white Horse Inn) celebrated it's premiere in Berlin. It lead to a world success and St.Wolfgang became world-famous and attracted film stars from all over the world. In 1930, this brought forth a regular flight service between St.Wolfgang and Berlin which was carried out with water planes that landed in front of the Grand Hotel in St.Wolfgang on lake Wolfgangsee.

Der Wallfahrtsort und die Region

The St.Wolfgang area had economically always been a farmer area with a craftsmanship oriented town center that was developed around the church due to the pilgimage. Later, the town experienced an economical boom through tourism as well as land and infrastructure development. St.Wolfgang including the towns and area around became an outstanding vacation destination and extended it's prominence in Austria by building generous hotels and resorts.

The, once art historical influental, pilgrim town situated at this outstanding and beautiful location surrounded from that amazing lake, forest and mountain sceneary, is, today, one of the most considerable tourism towns in Austria.
The great achievements over the last years, the traffic reduction in the center due to the tunnel and the construction of the parking facility next to the impressive and attractive Congress-Building "Michael Pacher Haus" contributed to the fact that the historic heritage of the past can still be experienced by all visitors that know that one should travel with heart and mind!

... begeben Sie sich doch nun auf einen Rundgang im Zentrum von St.Wolfgang >>