The Hallstatt ossuary can be found in St Michael’s Chapel next to the Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.

A single small room houses 1,200 human skulls, 610 of which are adorned with paintings, names or dates. The ossuary itself will take you about 10 minutes to explore; allow 30–45 minutes for the whole site, including the church, the cemetery and the view.

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Is the ossuary worth a visit?

For the admission fee 2 eur it’s a quick and truly unusual stop.

The ossuary consists of just one small room, so don’t expect extensive catacombs like those in Rome, nor a long tour.

If human remains don’t appeal to you, it’s worth at least making your way up to the church and cemetery. From the terraces, you’ll see Lake Hallstatt, part of the historic centre and the surrounding mountains.

Younger children may be frightened by the sight of real human skulls. The site also continues to serve as a place of remembrance.

I found the ossuary, as well as the church with its unique double altar, really interesting, and I’d definitely choose them as the first place to visit in the centre of Hallstatt. A truly unique place with an interesting story!

Why are the skulls painted?

In the small Hallstatt cemetery, graves were reopened after 10–15 years and the remains were moved to the ossuary to make way for new graves.

With the removal of the grave, any visible reminder of a particular individual would also disappear.

Paintings and inscriptions therefore preserved the identity of the deceased. A name, initials or date of death identified the deceased, whilst flowers, wreaths, ivy and crosses replaced the decorations of the original grave.

The family thus had a lasting memorial to their loved one in the ossuary, even after the grave had been reused.

This tradition began in Hallstatt in 1720. The most recent skull was placed in the ossuary in 1995 at the express wish of the deceased woman.

The Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Right next to the ossuary stands the Catholic parish church, whose present appearance dates mainly from the late Gothic period. Inside, take note of the large winged altarpiece by Leonhard Astl.

The smaller Marian altar has an interesting story behind it. Four of its paintings were stolen in 1987; after 30 years, they were successfully recovered and subsequently returned to Hallstatt.

Entry to the church is free. During services, please wait until they have finished before viewing the interior.

The cemetery and the view of Hallstatt

The small cemetery is situated on several terraces between the church, the rock face and the lake. It is an active burial ground, so please stay on the paths and respect the privacy of the local residents.

The climb is well worth it even when the ossuary is closed. From the church, you can return the same way to the Marktplatz or continue along the upper path via the Marienruhe viewpoint.

If you’re also planning to visit the Skywalk or the Salzwelten, continue past the cemetery along the route that runs above the rooftops of Hallstatt. You’ll reach the lower station of the Salzberg cable car in about 30 minutes.

Admission to the ossuary

• Adults: 2 eur
• Children aged 6 to 15: 0,50 eur
• Catholic church and cemetery: free
• Payment at the ossuary: cash only

Opening hours of the ossuary

• November–March: Wednesday–Sunday 11.30 am–3.30 pm
• April: daily 11.30–15.30
• May–September: daily 10.00–18.00
• October: daily 10.00–17.00

How do I get to the ossuary?

From Marktplatz, follow the signs for ‘Beinhaus ’ or ‘Katholische Kirche’.

A covered staircase leads up, or alternatively there is a steep path called Kirchenweg. The address of the church and ossuary is Kirchenweg 40.

From the harbour in the centre, allow about 7 minutes’ walk; from the bus terminal or car park P2, about 15 minutes; and from car park P1, about 20 minutes.

The final section is uphill and involves climbing steps. The Kirchenweg path partly bypasses the steps, but it is still quite steep. If you are pushing a pram or have limited mobility, please consider the route in advance.

 

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