Fritztal

The Fritztal is a valley in Salzburg carved by the Fritzbach, a tributary of the Salzach. It links the Salzach Pongau and the Enns Pongau, with the upper stretch called the Schattbachtal or Oberfritztal. The valley sits in the Fritztaler Mountains of the Salzburger Schieferalpen, while its lower end belongs to the Tennengebirge and its source lies on the southern slopes of the Dachstein massif. The valley has been important since the 13th century for copper mining, especially around Hüttau where the Larzenbach once yielded ore. In 1074 Archbishop Gebhard gave the Fritztal to Stift Admont, marking its place in early Salzburg history. Today it carries one of the country’s main transport routes: the Tauern Autobahn, the parallel B 99 and the Ennstal railway, all running from Bischofshofen north-eastward. Visitors find a narrow gorge between the Gerzkopf and the Tennengebirge, with villages such as Hüttau and Eben strung along the river. The Fritzbach itself flows for more than thirty kilometres, fed by side streams like the Iglsbach and the Larzenbach. At the mouth near Bischofshofen it meets the Salzach after passing through the Kreuzberg district. The valley’s geology exposes the boundary between the Grauwackenzone and the Werfener Schichten, creating rugged scenery of slate, limestone and quartzite.