Sankt Johann is a city in the state of Salzburg and the capital of the Pongau region. The city has about 11,000 inhabitants.
The city's coat of arms is: "In the red shield, the figure of St. John the Baptist standing on a green floor, half to the right, with a yellowish undergarment and a brown, loden-colored upper garment, in his right hand holding a book with an Easter lamb with a flag on it."
St. Johann im Pongau benefits
from its alpine location primarily in the tourism sector. Not only
in winter is the Alpendorf district an important tourist center with
a large number of hotels and a cable car. A chair lift leads
directly from the center of the village to the Hahnbaum. The
Hahnbaum slopes are mainly used by locals and families. Annual
events (traditional parades, festivals) are an integral part of the
city's annual cycle. Many visitors flock to the big Krampus run in
winter, for which St. Johann is famous in the area.
In summer
there are numerous mountain tours and hikes, a swimming pool and a
bathing area.
1 Parish Church of St. Johannes: first documentary
mention of a church at this point in 924. Today's church is a
reconstruction from 1855, after the great market fire: neo-Gothic
with a tower, which however collapsed in 1871. The church was
rebuilt in the same style, but with two towers. The neo-Gothic
altars house several late Gothic figures. A major work of church
architecture in the Alpine region. The church is popularly known as
the Pongau Cathedral. This name is explained by the shape of the
building, but not by its history, as the parish church was never a
bishopric. From 2007 interior renovation with redesign of the church
windows.
Anna Chapel. Located to the left of the “Dom”, it is the
only Gothic sacral building in St. Johann that was spared from the
great fire in 1855. The Anna Chapel is characterized by two special
features: First, it is a two-story church. Since the original
building from the 9th century was slowly covered by soil, a second
floor (the church space used today) was added around 1340. Second,
from 1980 onwards, the Anna chapel was renovated jointly by the
Roman Catholic parish and the Protestant parish at a shared cost,
and is used by both religious communities for church services. The
lower church is now used as an exhibition space - from around May to
September there are annually changing exhibitions.
2
Liechtenstein Gorge. Tel .: (0) 6412 8572. The Liechtenstein Gorge:
The thundering waterfalls and the raging water masses of the
"Großarler Ache" have cut deeper and deeper into the mountain over
thousands of years, creating a gorge. In places the rocks are so
close and high that the sky can only be seen as a small strip. In
1875 some people from Pongau succeeded in making the gorge
accessible to the public through a donation from Prince
Liechtenstein - hence the name Liechtenstein Gorge). Open from May
to October.
3 Friedenskirche Hochgründeck Friedenskirche, private
chapel of the Heinrich-Kiener-Haus on the Hochgründeck.
Summer
Ghost Mountain. - Excursion destination for
families with children, reachable with the Alpendorf cable car
Hiking: numerous alpine pastures, Alpendorf gondola open in summer
numerous mountain bike trails
Running and Nordic walking in the
St. Johann running park
Rafting, canyoning, paragliding
Winter
Ski association "Ski amadé" (together with Wagrain and
Flachau, among others)
Cross-country skiing - 3 different
cross-country trails
Tobogganing - an illuminated toboggan run
Numerous winter hiking trails, snowshoe hikes, ice skating, curling
and much more.
Shop
Whether designer fashion, handcrafted
lederhosen and traditional costumes, whether jewelry, cosmetics or
books, regional specialties and handmade chocolate, whether flowers
or the latest smartphones - the shopping options in St. Johann have
a lot to offer. The many owner-managed family businesses convey the
feeling of an individual shopping experience away from mass-produced
goods and artificial "standardized worlds".
1 Sport
Wielandner, Hauptstrasse 74. Tel .: +43 (0) 6412 8413, E-Mail:
info@wielandner.at.
St. Johann im Pongau is located in the middle of
the Salzburg region, approx. 60 km south of the city of Salzburg.
By plane
The nearest international airports are Salzburg
Airport (approx. 60 km away) and Munich Airport (approx. 200 km
away).
By street
Arrival by car: Via the A10 -
Tauernautobahn) to the Pongau junction, then via Bischofshofen and
the B311 - Pinzgauer Bundesstrasse approx. 10 km further to St.
Johann.
By train
St. Johann im Pongau train station is an
intercity train station.
By bicycle
Tauern bike path:
leads from Krimml via St. Johann to Salzburg
Prehistoric and Ancient Periods
The area around St. Johann im
Pongau, situated in the Salzach Valley of Salzburg, Austria, has
evidence of human settlement dating back to the Bronze Age.
Archaeological findings indicate even earlier activity around 2000 B.C.,
with tunnel systems and wooden mine workings used for copper mining,
highlighting the region's early role in resource extraction. During the
Roman era, St. Johann was connected by a Roman road linking Altenmarkt
to the town via the Wagrainer Höhe, likely making it a key junction for
trade and travel in the broader region.
Medieval Period
The
first ecclesiastical reference to St. Johann appears in 924, marking an
early documented presence in historical records. The settlement was more
formally mentioned in 1074 as Sanctum Johannem in Villa in a deed, named
after John the Baptist. For centuries, it remained under the control of
the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, functioning as a possession of the
Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg and serving as an important
administrative and economic center in the Pongau region.
Early
Modern Period
The 16th century brought significant upheaval during
the German Peasants' War of 1525-1526, when large parts of the
population in St. Johann im Pongau adopted Protestantism amid the
broader Reformation movement. Following the suppression of these peasant
uprisings, the town faced challenges but continued to develop. By 1672,
St. Johann had established a district court, solidifying its
administrative importance in the region. Religious tensions persisted
into the 18th century; around 1730-1731, under Prince-Archbishop Count
Leopold Anton von Firmian, many Protestant inhabitants, known as
Exulanten, were forced to emigrate due to persecution. Many of these
refugees resettled in the Kingdom of Prussia, particularly in Gumbinnen
(now Gusev, Kaliningrad Oblast). The mid-19th century saw another major
setback with a devastating market fire in 1855 that caused extensive
damage to the town.
20th Century and World War II
In 1939,
after Austria's Anschluss to Nazi Germany, St. Johann im Pongau was
renamed Markt Pongau as part of the regime's administrative changes.
During World War II, from 1941 to 1945, the town hosted Stalag XVIII-C
(317), a large German prisoner-of-war camp operated by the Wehrmacht.
This camp held up to 30,000 prisoners from various nationalities,
including French, Serbian, Soviet (Red Army), Polish, Belgian, Dutch,
British, American, Hungarian, and Italian POWs. Tragically,
approximately 4,000 Soviet inmates died due to harsh conditions. The
camp was liberated by American troops on May 8, 1945. Today, a Russian
Cemetery and a monument commemorate this dark period on the north end of
the city.
Post-War and Modern Period
After World War II, St.
Johann im Pongau entered a prolonged phase of reconstruction throughout
the latter half of the 20th century, transforming it into a key tourist
destination in the Salzburg province. A pivotal milestone occurred on
June 24, 2000, when the Austrian government granted the municipality
official city privileges through the Stadtserhebung process, elevating
it from a market town to a city and recognizing its growth as the
administrative center of the St. Johann im Pongau District. This
district, congruent with the historical Pongau region, underscores the
town's enduring role in the heart of Salzburg's alpine landscapes.
Today, St. Johann im Pongau blends its historical legacy—visible in
sites like the parish church, which reflects events from peasant
uprisings to the Napoleonic wars—with modern tourism, including
attractions like the Liechtensteinklamm gorge and winter sports
facilities.
St. Johann im Pongau is a town located in the Salzburg state of Austria, serving as the administrative center of the St. Johann im Pongau District within the Pongau region. Geographically, it lies in the Salzach Valley of the Eastern Alps, approximately 50 kilometers south of the city of Salzburg. The town's coordinates are roughly 47°21′N 13°12′E, with exact values around 47.34892 latitude and 13.20419 longitude. It is nestled in a picturesque alpine setting, making it a hub for tourism, particularly skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The district encompasses a vast area of about 1,755 km², with a relatively low population density of around 44 people per km², highlighting its expansive rural and mountainous character.
The topography of St. Johann im Pongau is dominated by the rugged terrain of the Eastern Alps, featuring a mix of valleys, steep slopes, and high plateaus. The town itself sits at an elevation ranging from 565 to 618 meters (1,854 to 2,028 feet) above sea level, providing a relatively low base compared to the towering peaks that encircle it. This positioning in the broad middle course of the Salzach River (known as the Pongau section) creates a fertile valley floor ideal for settlement, agriculture, and transportation, while the surrounding mountains offer dramatic vertical relief. The area transitions from gentle riverine plains to steep, forested hillsides and alpine meadows, with ski resorts like St. Johann-Alpendorf extending up to higher elevations for winter sports.
St. Johann im Pongau is enveloped by several prominent mountain
ranges that define its alpine geography:
Salzburg Slate Alps to
the north: These form a natural barrier and contribute to the region's
slate-rich geology, influencing local building materials and landscapes.
Radstadt Tauern (part of the Niedere Tauern range) to the southeast:
This lower Tauern subgroup features peaks up to around 2,000-2,500
meters, with rolling ridges and valleys that support hiking trails and
pastures.
Ankogel Group (part of the Hohe Tauern) to the southwest:
Higher and more dramatic, this range includes glaciated peaks exceeding
3,000 meters, such as the Ankogel itself at 3,252 meters, adding to the
area's high-alpine allure.
These ranges create a natural
amphitheater around the town, fostering microclimates and biodiversity
while providing opportunities for outdoor activities.
The primary valley is the Salzach Valley, a wide, U-shaped glacial trough that has been inhabited since the Bronze Age due to its fertile soils and strategic location along ancient trade routes. The Salzach River, a major tributary of the Inn (and ultimately the Danube), flows northward through the valley, carving a path that supports ecosystems ranging from riparian wetlands to alpine streams. Tributaries like the Reinbach and smaller creeks feed into it, enhancing the hydrological network. While no major lakes are directly within the town, nearby alpine tarns and reservoirs dot the higher elevations, contributing to water resources for the region. The valley's orientation influences local weather patterns, channeling winds and precipitation.
Geologically, St. Johann im Pongau lies in a zone shaped by Alpine orogeny, with folded and faulted rock formations from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The Salzach Valley was historically a site of copper mining, evidencing mineral-rich deposits in the slate and schist layers. A standout feature is the Liechtensteinklamm gorge, located just south of the town—a 4-kilometer-long, narrow canyon carved by glacial meltwater and erosion, with depths up to 300 meters. Named after Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein, who funded its walkways in 1875, it features dramatic waterfalls, helical tunnels, and sheer rock walls, making it one of Europe's deepest gorges. The surrounding geology also supports nearby attractions like the Eisriesenwelt, the world's largest ice cave system, located in the Tennengebirge mountains to the north.
The region experiences a typical alpine climate, characterized by cold, snowy winters (average January lows around -5°C/23°F) and mild, rainy summers (July highs up to 23°C/73°F). Precipitation is abundant year-round, often exceeding 1,000 mm annually, with heavy snowfall in higher elevations supporting the ski industry. The valley's shelter from extreme winds provides a more temperate microclimate compared to exposed peaks, but föhn winds can occasionally bring rapid warming. Climate change impacts, such as reduced snow cover, are increasingly noted in alpine areas like this.
The municipal area includes several cadastral communities such as Ginau, Hallmoos, Maschl, Einöden, Plankenau, Reinbach, Rettenstein, St. Johann, and Urreiting, which extend into forested hills and alpine pastures. Beyond the town, the landscape opens to broader alpine vistas, with trails leading to viewpoints over the Salzach Valley. Nearby, the Gastein Valley to the south offers thermal springs and additional gorges, while the Hohe Tauern National Park borders the region, protecting diverse flora and fauna including chamois, ibex, and golden eagles. This geography not only drives tourism but also supports sustainable land use, blending human settlement with pristine natural environments.