Description of the attraction
The Sigmund Tun gorge is located in the Austrian federal state of Salzburg, southwest of the Kaprun commune. The length of the gorge is 320 meters. The rocks that form it rise 32 meters. The Kapruner Akhe river flows along the gorge, forming a low but picturesque waterfall.
About 14 thousand years ago, the territory around the town of Kaprun was covered with ice, which formed the deep Zygmund-Tun gorge. In 1893, a wooden staircase was built here, which made the gorge accessible to tourists. This miracle of nature got its name in honor of the Salzburg governor Sigmund, Count Thun-Hohenstein.
In 1934, the gorge was declared a protected natural monument. Four years later, a walking trail was laid through the gorge, and in 1946, tourist raids had to be forgotten here, as a hydroelectric power station was opened nearby. They started talking about the restoration of the gorge in 1991. On August 29, 1992, the wooden footbridge was restored, and tourists can once again enjoy walks over one of the most beautiful mountain falls in Europe. Wooden ladders and paths are attached directly to the rocks. They are slippery and moist from dampness and lack of direct sunlight, so you need to walk on them carefully. The entrance to the walking trail above the gorge is paid. At the end of the hiking trail the path is blocked by a gate, which is blocked when tourists leave the trail.
In 1954, a cable car was built, which runs directly over the Sigmund-Tun gorge. Its lower station is located at an altitude of 835 meters above sea level, near the lower entrance to the gorge. The upper station is located at 1545 meters. The cable car, 1585 meters long, overcomes a height of 710 meters.
