… and they do not stop resisting the intruders
This spirit of resistance naturally has historical roots. The harsh landscape, the very unique living conditions in salt production, and close family ties led to a strongly developed sense of community and a special mentality – people had to be able to rely on each other. When the Salzkammergut was taken from the incredibly wealthy local salt stewards and placed directly under the control of the imperial house in Vienna, it caused centuries of resentment and anger. Due to its remote location, the region was largely spared from acts of war, and the residents were exempt from any taxation and military service until World War I. Their skills and specialized knowledge were simply too lucrative and valuable for the state treasury. Entry and exit were also prohibited and strictly controlled. Moreover, the local population was kept on a very tight leash and often had to. endure deprivation and hunger.
BILD © book cover “Das Ausseerland” © Kulturfux
Johanna Countess zu Eltz, née Countess Schönborn-Wiesentheid, reports in her book "The Ausseer Land" about the development of the legendary noble family of the Hallingers and the self-confidence of the Ausseer people:
"It seems that the Hallbergs [...] were a native noble family. The first name probably derived from the Hallingers. Even the Greek historian Ptolemy speaks of the Halanes, Helones, a people who lived near inland lakes in the Noric Alps. [...] The root 'Hal' refers to salt. Hallingers later became owners of salt deposits, salt mines, and salt springs. They were united in this cooperative and managed the operation of the salt mines and pan houses. The position of the Hallamt was hereditary in the male line, while the pan houses could also be passed on to daughters and collateral relatives. [...] Documents from around 1500 indicate the great wealth of the Hallingers. Among the oldest of these Hallingers are the Khalß or Khälß. But times changed. In a noble letter from 1449, it states: 'At this time, due to a great shortage of salt, Emperor Frederick III took away the salt industry from the Hallingers.'
"Today, you can still see in some people of Altaussee that their ancestors were Hallinger. Their self-assured demeanor reveals it. They themselves know nothing about it."
Johanna Gräfin zu Eltz: Das Ausseer Land.
Österreichischer Verlag für Belletristik und Wissenschaft, Linz,1947.
Reprint published by Erhard Beuchl/Peter von Kuczkowski. Altaussee, 1981.
More information and a few tips:
https://www.salzkammergut.at/magazin/auf-den-spuren-des-salzes.html
https://www.kammerhofmuseum.at/
VZDOROVITOST
... a nepřestávají klást odpor vetřelcům. Tento duch odporu má samozřejmě historické kořeny. Drsná krajina, velmi specifické životní podmínky při výrobě soli a úzké rodinné vztahy vedly k silně vyvinutému pocitu sounáležitosti a zvláštní mentalitě – lidé se museli na sebe navzájem spoléhat. Když bylo Salzkammergut odebráno zdejšímu – neuvěřitelně bohatému – solnímu správci a jako komorní statek přímo podřízeno císařskému dvoru ve Vídni, způsobilo to po staletí trvající nespokojenost a zášť. Díky své odlehlé poloze zůstala tato oblast do značné míry ušetřena válečných konfliktů a obyvatelé byli až do první světové války osvobozeni od všech daňových povinností a vojenské služby. Jejich dovednosti a odborné znalosti byly pro státní pokladnu zřejmě příliš výnosné a cenné. Příjezd a odjezd byl rovněž zakázán a přísně kontrolován. Místní obyvatelstvo bylo navíc drženo na krátkém řetězu, a často muselo snášet nedostatek a hlad.