The region of the Gesäuse National Park

Green forests, grey rocks and blue wild waters

"Gesäuse" or "Xeis", what does that even mean? The term Gesäuse is derived from wild waters carving their way through deep canyons and flowing over sharp rocks. Those who travel though the Ennstal Valley towards the East can hardly imagine how quickly the Enns River will change its appearance. But it does. After the municipality of Admont, the modulated river bed undergoes a drastic change. Once the river enters the Gesäuse, the gentle times are over. The increasingly narrow valley and the high rocks barring its way force the Enns river to play the game according to new rules.

A breathtaking landscape and ferocious thunder

And indeed, the river plays – with roar and thunder. As the German name for the Gesäuse region suggests, the Enns River “soughs and rushes” through the narrow valley, thereby creating not only a breathtaking mountain landscape, but innumerable natural playgrounds for alpine activities, sport and education. The Gesäuse became a National Park in 2002. Since then, it has offered a wide array of activities for the old, the young, the active, the calm, the curious and many others. Follow us and discover the beautiful natural landscape of the Gesäuse region. Why don’t we take a look at everything it has to offer?

The Willow Dome is located on the riverbanks of the Enns, right by the junction leading to the Johnsbach Valley. But what on Earth is the Willow Dome? The Willow Dome is a living construction made out of willows. It grows continuously and adapts to seasonal changes. In fact, it took root on this magnificent venue surrounded by the Gesäuse Mountains. Discover a fascinating world in the Willow Dome’s research workshop and everything it has to offer ...

The Gesäuse has been making alpine history for 200 years. It began with monks in the Admont Abbey, shepherds and hunters on the peaks of the Ennstal Alps. Under their leadership, soon the first tourists arrived, such as Heinrich Heß. They were pioneers who conquered the Kleinen Buchstein Mountain, the Planspitze or climbed the Peternpfad. To this day, the Gesäuse hasn’t even lost an ounce of its alpinist charm ...