Our Partner: Gastein – Welcome to the Off!
Welcome to the OFF – the Gastein region invites you to leave everyday life behind and enjoy your very own time-out. Its three villages – Dorfgastein, Bad Hofgastein, and Bad Gastein – cover the full spectrum, from rustic cosiness to urban flair. Whether gentle walks on the adventure mountains, extensive tours through the Hohe Tauern, or relaxing hours in the soothing Gastein thermal water – here, everyone finds their own way to switch off.
Hiking. Once the snowmelt opens up the mountain world of the Hohe Tauern, a vast hiking paradise unfolds, with around 600 kilometres of waymarked trails. From a leisurely alpine walk to a high-alpine tour, the Gasteinertal offers countless ways to discover nature – passing more than 60 managed mountain huts, crossing biodiverse landscapes, and following the historical traces of gold mining.
Adventure Mountains. Four modern cable cars open up the adventure mountains Stubnerkogel, Schlossalm, Graukogel, and Fulseck, taking guests comfortably up to dizzying heights. There, a varied range of attractions awaits: family-friendly circular hiking trails, spectacular via ferrata routes, the idyllic Spiegelsee lake, a Swiss pine themed trail, and one of the highest suspension bridges in Europe.
Thermal Experiences. After an active day, tired spirits find rest again in the soothing thermal baths. Both the Felsentherme in Bad Gastein and the Alpentherme in Bad Hofgastein welcome hikers with weary legs to recharge their batteries.
The Alpentherme Bad Hofgastein – Thermal Indulgence for All. Whether enjoying a peaceful retreat for two or eventful days with the whole family, the diversity of the Alpentherme in Bad Hofgastein leaves nothing to be desired. Sauna, Family, Thermal, and Ladies World offer time for the essential. The two thermal bathing lakes and the sports pool invite guests to long bathing pleasures and athletic swimming. And the Sea Aquarium at the Alpentherme Gastein offers a fascinating underwater experience with 800 Mediterranean fish in 300,000 litres of water – while also raising awareness for environmental protection.
The Felsentherme – Reaching New Heights. The Felsentherme in Bad Gastein is embedded in the impressive mountain world of the Hohe Tauern. At 1,100 metres above sea level, visitors are met not only with a stunning view but also with the clear alpine mountain air. The spa was built directly into the rock, giving it a uniquely distinctive architecture. The Felsentherme is particularly well suited for couples, but families, active athletes, and those seeking relaxation will find everything they need here, too.
Sustainability. In Gastein, sustainability is not a trend, but a lived responsibility. Operations such as the Alpentherme and the Gasteiner Bergbahnen consistently invest in environmentally friendly innovations: at the Alpentherme, heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, and the use of thermal water enable almost CO₂-neutral operation. The cable car company reduces its emissions by 72 percent through HVO fuel made from recycled cooking oil and is driving forward the expansion of photovoltaics – more than 4,500 m² of installations with over 1,000 kWp already cover around 25 percent of the energy demand of the main cable cars. „For us, sustainability is not lip service, but a long-term promise to the region and to our guests. We invest specifically in projects that combine ecological responsibility with a modern holiday experience“, says Andreas Innerhofer, CEO of Gasteiner Bergbahnen AG. The Dorfgasteiner Bergbahnen are also setting a strong example for sustainability and guest service with a photovoltaic system (72 kWp) and ten EV charging stations. The 158 PV modules save around 35 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
Healing Gastein. At the foot of the Graukogel, healing Gastein thermal water emerges from 17 springs – around five million litres flow out of the mountain every day. Under high pressure, and enriched with valuable minerals as well as the natural noble gas radon, the water rises to the surface. Its applications are used in particular for complaints of the musculoskeletal system as well as for conditions of the respiratory tract and the skin. Three well-established forms of therapy are applied: the radon bath, the world-unique Gasteiner Heilstollen healing gallery – which is also the largest treatment centre for ankylosing spondylitis (Morbus Bechterew) – and the steam bath, in which radon is absorbed through the water vapour of the Elisabeth spring. The effectiveness of the Gastein radon therapy is scientifically proven and is continuously accompanied by ongoing studies in collaboration with the Paracelsus Medical Private University Salzburg. The wealth of specialised therapy centres and decades of medical expertise make the valley the leading health region of the Alps. With the European Health Forum Gastein, one of Europe’s most important health-policy platforms is also anchored here.
History & Summer Retreat. The Gasteinertal looks back on a long and eventful history – from the earliest traceable signs of settlement in the Neolithic period, to Roman crossings over the Tauern passes, the medieval gold and silver mining, all the way to the discovery of the thermal springs that founded its rise to becoming a world-famous spa town. Water has always played a central role here. Summer retreats have a long tradition in the valley: high-profile guests such as Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, Emperor Wilhelm I, as well as numerous European noble houses, came to the longest side valley of the Salzach river to find cool refreshment and healing. And the region’s unique natural jewels still invite visitors to do the same today: cool mountain lakes, thundering waterfalls in the heart of Bad Gastein, and the mighty Gasteiner Ache river flowing through the valley.
Our Hosts: Bad Hofgastein & Gastein
Our Partner: Jürgen Bess
Welcome to the OFF – right in the moment.
Film has a long tradition in Gastein. For decades, national and international productions have used the landscape of the Hohe Tauern as a filming location. But Gastein is more than just a backdrop: the valley’s distinctive atmosphere shapes what comes to life here – the stories, the images, the encounters. This is where nature and culture meet, where an environment emerges that inspires and slows you down at the same time.
That is why we are particularly delighted that the team around Christina Zapella-Kindel and Elisabeth Sereda has decided to bring the CALL Film Festival to Gastein. For us, this choice is anything but a matter of course – and at the same time it is a great confirmation of what the Gasteinertal stands for: a place that offers room for new perspectives, for dialogue, and for content that truly moves us.
With the CALL Film Festival, a format comes to Bad Hofgastein that fits this character precisely. Its two pillars CALL for Peace and CALL for Nature take up themes that are also deeply connected with Gastein: the search for inner peace, for balance and clarity – as well as the immediate power of nature, which can be experienced here at every turn.
It is precisely the combination of mountains and thermal water, which makes Gastein unique, that creates the perfect setting for all of this: movement in the alpine landscape meets relaxation in the healing thermal water. This combination enables a conscious break from everyday life – and opens up space for new thoughts, perspectives, and encounters.
We look forward to welcoming the national and international film industry, media representatives, and all festival guests to Bad Hofgastein – and invite you to consciously step away from your daily routine during the CALL Film Festival, gain new perspectives, and experience this very special place in all its diversity.
Jürgen Bess
Managing Director
Gasteinertal Tourismus GmbH
