Hallstatt

This is the final part of the trip that we took a few weeks ago and now I am finally posting the pictures.  We went to a small town in Austria called Hallstatt.  Some of Hallstatt's oldest archaeological finds date back to 5000 BC.  The area was initially developed around a salt mine.  

This tree grew right up the side of this house.

We saw this inscription at the top of this door 20+C+M+B+08.  The letters have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the Three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also abbreviate the Latin words “Christus mansionem benedicat.” “May Christ bless the house.” The letters recall the day on which the inscription is made, as well as the purpose of blessing.The crosses represent the protection of the Precious Blood of Christ, whom we invoke, and the holiness of the Three Magi sanctified by their adoration of the Infant Christ. The inscription is made above the front door, so that all who enter and depart this year may enjoy God’s blessing. 

At one of the churches there was a small side building full of hundreds of skulls.  There was so little room in the cemeteries that every ten years the bodies were dug up and placed in this room with the owners name on it.  Since the Catholic church has now ok'd cremation they no longer do this.

Yes, these are really mounted fish heads!

Enjoying lunch by the lake.

View of Hallstatt from above.

Earlier in the day we took a cable car up the side of one of the mountains near Hallstatt.  We toured some ice caves.  The tour was all in Austrian so we really had no idea what the guide was saying, but we still had a great time.

Tomorrow we are going to Venice, Italy for the weekend so more pictures are soon to follow.