Werfen
On our last full day in Austria, we decided to go to Werfen. There isn't much in Werfen except for some ice caves and a fortress, but that was enough to pique our interest and get us on a train headed to Werfen!
We really wanted to go to Werfen to go to the ice caves. We had to walk quite a ways to get to the ice caves but it was totally worth it. Unfortunately, photography wasn't allowed inside the ice cave, but it was still really cool to experience that. We may have not taken any photos inside the ice cave, but the view was spectacular on the way up to the ice cave.
We ended our last day back in Salzburg and decided to take some photos of the orange and pink sunset. It was a perfect ending to our last day in Austria.
Tenneck
The ice caves that we went to may have technically been in Werfen, but we took a bus that went pretty far North to get to the ice cave entrance. So far North that you couldn't even see Werfen anymore! This is the city of Tenneck.
Sketchy Bridge
Once we purchased our ticket, we had a lot of walking to do. All up hill... There were several spots with overhangs made from wood that looked like it was going to fall apart.
Austrian Alps
The city of Werfen was in a valley between two very large mountain ranges.
On the Path Up
Like I said, we had to hike up quite a ways. We took a gondola for most of the trip, but there was still quite a bit of walking!
Eisriesenwelt
You can see the entrance to the Eisriesenwelt ice cave, as well as the path that leads up to it. We have a lot of walking to do!
Covered Path
It was a pretty foggy morning. you can see the fog through the gap in the mountain.
Foggy Morning
We made it to Eisriesenwelt in the mid-morning. The sun had barely risen to hit all of the valley, so the fog was starting to lift. Luckily, some of it was still there by the time we got to the cave and I could take a photo of it.
Carbide Lamp
One of the cool things about the ice cave tour was that we got carbide lamps. Highly unsafe, but somewhat of a tradition for the tours through the cave. Katherine got to hold the lamp, and it appeared to be leaking something which didn't seem very good! We found out that the way the lamps work is by combining calcium carbide with water to form acetylene fuel. This was the last photo I was allowed to take before we entered the cave.
Late Morning Sun
By the time our tour was over, the sun was significantly higher and the valley had cleared up.
Salzach River
The valley that Werfen and Tenneck are is also share the same river that Salzburg chares, the Salzach River.
Leaving Eisriesenwelt
Of course I take the photo of the place that we went after we leave. But the lighting was much better in the late morning.
White Tip
I took this photo because of the colorful aspens.
Hohenwerfen Castle
The second part of our day was dedicated to going into Hohenwerfen Castle in Werfen.
Elevator
The Hohenwerfen Castle didn't have a funicular, but rather an elevator that was at a 45 degree angle.
1826
This is one of the clocks in Hohenwerfen Castle in Werfen.
Canons and Canon Balls
Old Staircase
This is one of the staircases that we went down in Hohenwerfen Castle in Werfen.
Thick Walls
Just like all of the prisoner cells in all of the castles, the Hohenwerfen Castle also had very thick walls.
Flail
This is a flail, a medieval weapon.
Werfen
This is the city of Werfen, as seen from the Hohenwerfen Castle.
The Castle Walls
This photo is taken from the bell tower in Hohenwerfen Castle in Werfen. The large mountain has the Eisriesenwelt ice caves that we visited earlier in the day.
Hohenwerfen Bell
This is the bell that is in the bell tower in Hohenwerfen Castle in Werfen.
Old Window
This is looking out of the bell tower in Hohenwerfen Castle in Werfen. You can see the Salzach river on the left of the city of Werfen.
Back to the Train Station
We headed back to the train station, but before we did, I stopped and took a panorama of the Salzach River.
Back in Salzburg
We made it back to Salzburg with the intent on watching the sunset from somewhere. We had a lot of time between now and the sunset, though. We sat on a park bench along the Salzach river and rested until dinner time.
Beer on the Hill
We went to a super market and got some snacks and I grabbed a beer. It was less than 1 Euro, so I figured, why not? We went back up to the hill that the Monastery was on and we sat and waited for the sunset.
Through the Leaves
The leaves were all changing in Austria while we were there. This is a photo of Hohensalzburg fortress through the leaves.
Waiting
Katherine looking over the defense wall in Salzburg waiting for the sunset.
Selfie
We had quite a bit of time before the sun went down, so I decided to set my camera on some rocks and take a few selfies.
Warm Light
Finally the lighting started to change as sunset started approaching. This is a photo of the Defense wall in Salzburg.
Lookout Tower
This is a picture of the defense wall's lookout tower which looks out over the city of Salzburg and the Hohensalzburg fortress
Pink
We made it back down to the city before sunset, mostly because Katherine had to use the bathroom. But I think it turned out for the best. The colors along the river were more magnificent than anything we would have seen from the hill.
Pink Castle
As the sun was setting, I snapped a photo of Hohensalzburg Fortress in Salzburg.
