Rauris: history of gold
The golden past of the Rauris Valley
The Rauris history tells the tale of valuable treasures in the depths of the Tauern Mountains, legendary wealth and the tradition of the merchants crossing the Alps.
The merchants crossing the Alpine passes were the first guests who stayed in Rauris. The alpine village was an important passing through point for merchants who brought valuable goods from the north to the south and back. Silk, salt and fur were transported on the backs of mules through Rauris. Woerth the neighbouring village of Rauris, was one of the most important trading places for these merchants. The Seidwinkl Valley, the eastern entrance into the Rauris Valley had the benefit of being free of snow for longer and therefore was open.
Merchants did not only bring expensive goods from various different countries to the village, but also stories from the world. The small alpine village was characterized through its open mindedness at an early age. Visit the Rauris Tauern House, where merchants took shelter many years ago and witness how time has stood still there.
Rauris: history of golden times
Nearly 4.000 years ago gold was found in Rauris. During the 15th century the high time of the gold mining began. Varlets came to the small alpine village to mine gold for the Salzburg prince archbishops. The Tauern gold brought legendary wealth to the clerics.
The gold found in the High Tauern Mountains and in the Lungau district was enough for the areas own coinage. The alpine village of Rauris experienced its golden age in the 15th and 16th centuries: 3000 people were located in Rauris back then – a small town! Take a look at the hold houses with their gothic archways and the oriels, which still stem from the golden times of the villages.
If archways are not really your thing, but you would like to dig for gold instead you can still try your luck at the gold panning places. And if you would like to know what kind of weather you should expect during your gold panning sessions, will receive the latest weather information from the highest located metrological weather station in Austria at the Hohe Sonnblick Summit. This weather station was built in 1886 by the alpine pioneer Ignaz Rojacher and his workers under very difficult conditions in 3.000 metres above sea level.
Rauris: history worth discovering – during your next holiday in Austria in the Rauris Valley. With the online enquiry form you are one step closer to your very own gold panning adventures in Rauris, Austria.
