Traditional Samson Parade

Guests who check in at the Ski & Hiking Hotel Steffner-Wallner will experience a hiking vacation of a special kind. Here in Salzburg's Lungau region, time passes a little differently. Experience the traditional Samson parade in medieval Mauterndorf, hike to ancient castles and sun-drenched alpine pastures, or go stalking with host Hans to observe wild animals.

Samson parade is UNESCO cultural heritage

Samson has been documented since 1635 and dates back to the Old Testament figure of the biblical hero who was said to have superhuman powers hidden in his long hair. In Salzburg's Lungau region, this developed into a unique tradition: a giant figure up to six meters tall and weighing around 80 kilograms is carried through the village by a single Samson bearer, accompanied by two dwarf figures. Originally, the procession served to represent the strength, protection, and identity of the communities; to this day, it remains an integral part of church and secular festivals. In 2010, Samson carrying was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in Austria.

Guests staying at the Wanderhotel Steffner-Wallner can experience this lively tradition up close: the grand Samson parade takes place every year on the first Sunday in August and captivates locals and guests alike. At the same time, the quiet, unspoiled nature of the Lungau region opens up around the hotel – an exciting contrast between powerful customs and the tranquil mountain landscape.

Ode to hiking vacations in Lungau

"Imagine, Hermi, I've found another place where foxes and rabbits say good night to each other," Hans, the owner of the Steffner-Wallner hiking hotel, tells his wife enthusiastically. He loves to roam through the woods, observing the flora and fauna, and always finds wonderfully secluded places where the animals can roam undisturbed. Mauterndorf in Lungau is not a tourist hotspot, but a tranquil, medieval village surrounded by endless pure nature. Perhaps "delightful" is one of Hermi's favorite words because there is something delightful about the entire Lungau region. Playfully romantic, lovingly timeless, and heartwarmingly imperfect. The small roads through the hilly landscape seem to make a few more turns than necessary. They gently force you to shift down a gear and slow down. Only when you have found the right pace does the whole magic of the area open up to you. Small farms adorn the lush green hills. You also have to slow down for free-range chickens. Dark green forests give way to sunny alpine pastures at higher altitudes. Misty moorland lakes, on the other hand, bring shuddering memories of witch burnings in the Middle Ages. Is the Middle Ages so evident here because the clocks seem to tick differently? Or do the clocks tick more slowly because history is so present? That's something to discuss with hostess Hermi over a glass of gin – in the dining room of the Steffner-Wallner hiking hotel, where hikers, jugglers, travelers, mysterious figures, charlatans, and nobles have been served food and drink for a millennium (!!!).

Mauterndorf as a jewel for a holiday in Salzburger Land. That's where the Wanderhotel Steffner-Wallner is located.

The traditional Samson parade in Lungau is colorful and loud.

The youth of the Lungauer Schützen stand with wooden rifles, wearing lederhosen and traditional jackets, in Mauterndorf during the traditional Samson parade.

Hermi and Hans, the hosts at the Wanderhotel Steffner-Wallner, are right in the middle of the action at the traditional Samson parade in Mauterndorf.

Alpine roses show their beauty at their best while hiking in Lungau.

Vacation between history and nature

When hiking here in Lungau, you can feel tradition at every turn—from the legendary Samson parade to the medieval streets of Mauterndorf—and immerse yourself in a hiking vacation that uniquely combines history, nature, and quiet magic. Welcome to the Ski & Hiking Hotel Steffner-Wallner.