About 17 kilometers west of Hallstatt, the old market town of Bad Aussee has, for centuries, been the economic and cultural center of the Styrian salt-producing region.
This picturesque town on the confluence of the River Traun's three tributaries is noted for its modern health resort and saltwater spa with its Kneipp treatment, and is also a popular winter sports destination.
Historic highlights include the 13th-century Parish Church of St. Paul with its small sacrament house added in 1523, and the St. Paul Church Virgin Mary Statue, one of the region's most beautiful works of art, made in 1420.
