~~~~ Municipality Grundlsee ~~~~ Historical ~~~~

Prehistoric times

The so-called "Salzofenhöhle" ("salt-stove -hole") is situated in the "Totes Gebirge" in about 2000m height. Two hunters from Grundlsee found it in the 20ies, Ferdinand Schramel and Franz Köberl. It's probably not only the oldest populated place in Grundlsee, but in the entire country.
The occupants of this hole probably lived between 65.000 BC and 31.000 BC and went down during the last ice-age
No rests from the occupants themselves were found, but in 1951 Univ. Prof. Dr. Kurt Ehrenberg
and his research-team proved human activities in the hole as well as at least occasional population.
The bone findings of the hole (wolfs, bears, ibexes…) are exhibited in the Heimatmuseum in Bad Aussee.

The old "salt-road " along the Grundlsee

In the early middle-ages, when the salt still got boiled in Altaussee, the "salt-road" (or "Saumweg")
Must have leaded through Obertressen-Unterdressen along the lake to Gössel, over the "Schneckenalm" to the Salza-valley, from there over the Tauplitzalm (Saltzsteigjoch) into the Stoder-valley, Bad Mitterndorf and then it probably continued onto the south. As soon as the salt got boiled in Bad Aussee, it got transported over the Radling to Hinterberg and afterwoods to the Ennstal.

Celebrities and artists on the Grundlsee

The Grundlsee attracted prince Kinsky, who was lessee of the hunt at times, count Kesselstadt, count Meran and count Strachwitz. From 1872 onwards Franz count of Meran was lessee of the fishing-industry, the "Fischjörg" (Mosern 21) was his fishmaster for several years.

The list of artists and other celebrities who frequently visited the Grundlsee or decided to live there is endless. Burgtheater-actor Ludwig Gabillon bought the "Thomaseppngütel" in Bräuhof in 1875.
Later on he added another wooden house. His property became the meeting point for the artists around the Grundlsee.He soon attracted many more Burgtheater-actors, the majority of them used to stay at the
"Gasthof Schraml" or in several local farmhouses, but still the Gabillonhouse was the undisputed centre for cultural personalities. In its guest book you can find entries from Hans Makart, Max Deorient, Fanny Elsser, Hallenstein, Ernst and Helene Hartman,Josef Levinsky,Reiners,Hermann Schoene,Katharina Schratt, Adolf Sonnenthal, Hugo Thimig, Charlotte Wolter, Fux and Julius of Blaas,Viktor Tilgner, Alfred von Berger, Doezi, Karoline von Gomperz…and many more.
and many more.

It's interesting to remark, that today, the "Gabillonhaus" again belongs to a representative of the Burgtheater. Prof. Romuald Pekny and his wife acquired the beautiful property a couple of years ago and during summer it becomes THE cultural meeting point, just like it used to be.
The guest-lists of Grundlsee show as well, that the little country-town is still an extremly popular holiday destination for actors and artists.

In 1956 the famous movie-actor Paul Dahlke and his wife Elfe Gerhart bought the so-called "Hellervilla" close to the "Gabillonhaus". Both of them made a lot of publicity for the Grundlsee. After
Paul Dahlke passed away, he got buried at the little mountain cemetery in Grundlsee. His widow is not only a well-know actress, but also an excellent painter as well as sculptor. Her works can be seen in her villa at the lake.

Konrad Mautner (1880-1924) and his family (industrialists from Vienna) spent their summer-holidays at the Grundlsee throughout decades. Among other things Konrad Mautner become famous far beyond
The frontiers of our country with works like "Das steyrische Raspelwerck" and many more.
In the 30ies Viktor Hammer (1882 Vienna -1968 Aurora,USA) was Running a painting school in the so-called "Hammerhaus" in Archkogel. On of his students was the famous painter Emmerich Millim,
who's well known for his magnificent landscape paintings of areas around the Grundlsee.
Victor Hammer himself was a friend of Konrad Mautner and a splendid portraitist, illustrator and architect.

Dietrich Heinrich Volz (1901-1984), famous Dutch painter and graphic artist bought the beautiful "Stoeckelhansn Gütl" (Bräuhof 21). He moved in 1959 with his second wife Charlotte, after his parents, his first wife and their three children died during Japanese war-captivity in the 2nd world-war.
Dietrich Heinrich Volz lived in the "Ciccimarra Haus" until his death. About one year later, when his wife died as well, their children sold the house.

Academic sculptor Johann Mayer (3.9.1914) was born in Grundlsee and still lives here. After he attended primary school for eight years, he became student at the educational establishment for wood-working in Hallstadt, moved on to the school of applied arts in Vienna and finished his final-exams at the academy in 1942. He's been working as a professional wood and stone sculptor since then. Together with Dr. Herbert Seiberl, he got involved into restoring altars (among other things in Waldburg and Gebertsham). Mayer's countless profane and spiritual works are spread all over the world.

On the 26.July Hans Kobinger, the "painter of Grundlsee", was born in Linz as third of three children.
He showed a lot of artistic talent during his school days, attended the art-school of Matthias May and re met up regularly with other artists at the "Club Grille" leaded by Franz Kuhn.
A severe accident in 1928 ended his career as an administrator (which he started straight after finishing grammar school), but caused the start of an artistic career at the same time. After spending a couple of
years abroad (e.g. in Italy, Gemany and Dalmatien) he moved to Grundlsee (Archkogel 53,Zlaim) with his second wife Eva Kirstein-Josupeit, where he lived until his death on the 25.1.1974.
Among other things his works were rewarded with the "silver decoration of the republic Austria". Hans Kobinger is buried next to his wife on the cemetery in Grundlsee.

During the 2nd world war, the famous sculptor Prof. Robert Ullman used to live in Grundlsee.

At this moment in time, we shouldn't forget about remarkable people from Grundlsee itself,
like Anton Otter, farmer, born in 1833 (died in 1904). He was a very well read person, he taught himself how to write and read when he was only ten. Lots of people used to see him for legal-advise and writing petitions for them. In 1897 he founded the social-democratic party in Grundlsee,
together with five of his friends. He was a passionate beekeeper and invented a watering place for bees, which got rewarded with the "honorary bronze medal of the council of culture".

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