Description
If you are on holidays in St. Johann im Pongau, you definitely should pay a visit to Liechtensteinklamm. It is one of the longest and deepest gorges in the Alpine area. The roaring waterfalls and torrents of water, constantly getting deeper, have cut into the lime-like gorge slate for million of years. Due to the high rocks one has even partially trouble to see the sky. At midday, one may witness a special spectacle: The rays of the sun create a rainbow when meeting the drizzle of the Schleierfall.
You may explore the gorge on a 1.5 km long hiking path using little footbridges, bridges and steps. The tour may take up to 1 ½ hours. The name of the gorge is derived from the fact that Prince Johann II von und zu Liechtenstein was fascinated by its natural spectacle to that extent that he made it accessible to the public in 1875 by donating money for the necessary construction of bridges and footbridges.
Part of the path system was destroyed in a severe rockfall in May 2017. The consequences were so far-reaching that not only many paths had to be rebuilt but also three tunnels, four galleries and 60 rockfall nets. The work took three years, which also included the construction of the impressive, 30-metre high spiral staircase "Helix". Since 11 June 2020, visitors can now discover the gorge again.
Interesting facts
- Liechtensteinklamm in St. Johann is among the 15 best rated Tourist Attractions in Austria.
- The day pass at Liechtensteinklamm in St. Johann is €14 making it one of the 3 cheapest tourist Attractions in Salzburg.
How to get there
By car
The gorge is only half an hour away from Salzburg by car. You can easily get here by using the A10 Tauernautobahn (exit at motorway intersection Pongau – Bischofshofen – St. Johann). From the driveway St. Johann Süd you continue on the Großarler Landesstraße in the direction of Alpendorf and Großarl. Just after 700m turn left and then left again into the Liechtensteinklammstraße. After 3km you'll arrive at the car park of the gorge.
By public transport
St. Johann is connected to the IC (InterCity train) railway network. Via Salzburg one can also get to St. Johann by train from Vienna or Munich. Afterwards, you may take the Citybus and get off at the last stop “Plankenau Wirt”. From there you can comfortably walk within 20 minutes to the gorge.