“How can resilience, community and sustainability be strengthened in rural areas?” A good question on important topics that this year’s second edition of the open air art exhibition Kunstroas in Salzburg focuses on. At the heart of the dialogue is change: The village, the community, our working environments, even the typical crafts of the past – everything is subject to change at a very rapid pace. So what does it take to achieve sustainable community development?
Initiator and curator Alexandra Viehhauser and her team of artists have come up with some really interesting ideas. With a lot of support and pride in the Grossarl valley for the individual works of art of the Kunstroas (literally translating to “art journey”), I had the pleasure of also going on an “art journey” with my family and attending the exhibition opening in Grossarl.
Kunstroas reloaded: You may visit the free open-air exhibition until November 2025.
The Kunstroas 2025 exhibition is about “living well together”. In Grossarl, as well as elsewhere.
As soon as I arrive, I see the first works of art by artist Angela Andorrer along the cycle path in Grossarl. A noticeable difference to the Kunstroas 2023, where we first had to hike to the artworks in five different stops at the head of the valley.
This time, it’s easy to encounter the Kunstroas in Grossarltal and reflect on “living well together”, the exhibition’s motto. Angela’s Gallery of Travelling Leaves tells of mindfulness and effervescence – check this out.
I’ve met Angela before thanks to a mutual friend from Salzburg. It’s thus all the nicer to listen to her explanations of her so-called leavescapes here again.
She has printed a total of 12 motifs of artistically decorated leaves on flag fabric and skilfully staged them in the landscape of the Grossarl Valley.
Great interest in the opening of the Kunstroas, here at the “Balance” stop, a very special bench by the artist duo heri & salli.
Another work of art that I really like is called “Volle Wäsch – Transparent”. The young Austrian artist Marlene Hausegger, herself a mum of twins and visiting with her whole family, gives new meaning to discarded sheets from the Grossarl Valley and skilfully stages the often unnoticed care work of women in the valley. A visible sign of recognition, mounted on a large scale on the Bretteiweg Palfen, just above the Grossarl cycle path.
Can’t miss it: Marlene Hausegger and her work of art “Volle Wäsch – Transparent” in the Grossarl Valley.
Finally, there are two more artists whose artworks I already know from 2023 and which have now found their place right inside the Grossarl village. These include Clemens Bauder’s “Heustadel-Reloaded”, a haystack shelter sculpture which is exhibited once again on the Fischbacher meadow in Grossarl (complete with a new catwalk!), and Ingrid Schreyer’s artwork “Gläser Äugen Lichter” (Glasses Eyes Lights).
In conversation with the artist, we both remember the encounter from two years ago; I also learn another charming detail about her: Ingrid not only creates fantastic looking glass engravings, she is also an absolute fan of … goats!
Angelika Entacher (on the left) with artist Ingrid Schreyer, with her glass sculpture work of art next to her.
Heustadel-Reloaded pays testimony to the many haystack shelters that once existed in mountain valleys such as the Grossarl Valley.
Last but not least, you have until the end of August to admire further art exhibitions as part of the Kunstroas at the Berg-Schule Grossarl. Ingrid Schreyer has created a Silent Seasons #Diorama there (well worth seeing!); just as exciting is “Reliquie Natur 02”, in which textile monastic work techniques from the group of monastic works by women from the Grossarl Valley find their way into the contemporary art practice of Angela Andorrer.
From cycle path to mountain school: Kunstroas 2025 creates many points of contact for visitors to Grossarl Valley. Many thanks, dear Alexandra Viehhauser, to you and your team for the great organisation!
When visiting the Kunstroas, you can stay at the Hotel Roslehen in Grossarl.
Grossarl offers a wide range of accommodation options. This time, we stayed at the Hotel Roslehen, which caters to the needs of children for fun and entertainment just as much as those of adults for relaxation and retreat (yes, both are possible!).
The kids either went go-karting in the garden, took a quick dip in the natural swimming pond and then spent a lot of time in the beautiful playroom, which appeared as if made just for them. I think every hotel should have a creative retreat like this for the little ones: The adults can finish their meal in peace (mmmh for half board at the Hotel Roslehen!) and / or take turns in the wellness area while the children “build trains”, play Lego, and so on and so forth.
Hello, Grossarl Valley! A view from our bus as we arrive.
Hotel Roslehen with its natural swimming pond.
The boys and I went inside for a while, lovely kids bathrobes were handed to us for the occasion.
And then, we found it- the wonderful playroom of the hotel!
Thank you so much for having us, dear Hotel Roslehen team!
Travel tips for families: Gaudi-Alm playground and mountaintop vistas.
The newly built Kieserlbahn cable car has opened directly behind the Hotel Roslehen. It takes my dad, the two boys and me up to almost 2,000 metres above sea level in just a few minutes, to a new hut fittingly called “Cloud 7”. That’s the name of the new summit restaurant, which has a fun ball track for the children and lots of nice places to sit and relax.
But first, we have to go see the Rucki-Zucki Gaudi-Alm, as we remember it from a previous visit. In the centre of Grossarl, you can enjoy a really great alpine playground. Check this out.
Out and about in the mountains: This is what Grossarl can look like on a sunny summer morning!
Gaudi-Alm playground reloaded: Now, we visit it with both kids!
I think I have the same picture still, of when my older son was his age …
… while he is already taking the go kart for a ride on his own.
The Kieserlbahn gondola offers scenic mountain views far beyond the Grossarl Valley in Salzburg.
Up top, the kids only have eyes for the fun ball track.
What a nice souvenir from our trip to take home with us.
Back to the roots: Kaspress-Knödel cheese dumplings again, finally!!
More lovely mountain vistas all the way to Gastein, the neighbouring valley, and beyond.
Cloud No. 7 (and Grossarl), we’ll be back!
PS: As with every previous visit to the Grossarl Valley, we are travelling by public transport – in just three and a half hours from Vienna by bus and Railjet.
Check out even more travel tips from Grossarl Valley here:
- Golden autumn and hiking dreams in Grossarl, Salzburg with our two-year-old son
- Salzburg Mountain Christmas Market in Grossarl: Weekend trip with the whole family.
Disclaimer: We have been invited by the local tourism association to visit the Kunstroas as well as the Grossarl Valley. All opinions are my own.