Splash—a dip in the cool water—is possible in many places in Salzburg. The Salzburg region, with its beautiful lakes and majestic gorges featuring thundering waterfalls, attracts increasing numbers of locals and tourists alike, especially in the summer. Water, as a fundamental element, contributes to human well-being in a wide variety of ways. It soothes—whether drunk as healing water or inhaled as a fine mist—alleviates ailments, or simply brings joy and fun through swimming and diving.

In the first part of the exhibition, we show you where and how the people of Salzburg make use of the healing and relaxing effects of water in both the city and the countryside. Colored postcards, historical engravings, drawings, and photos from the collections illustrate places such as the Leopoldskroner Bad (Lepi) and the Paracelsusbad in the city, which has since become a thing of the past. In the countryside, our journey takes us from Pinzgau, through Pongau, to Flachgau. Here we visit Garstenauer’s Felsentherme in Bad Gastein, Lake Zell, and the beach in Mattsee. In addition to Salzburg’s local bathing and spa resorts, the second part of the exhibition features images of waterfalls from the Salzburg region, as well as Hubert Sattler’s “Kosmoramen” on the theme of water. In the second half of the 19th century, the Salzburg artist traveled the world to paint impressive bodies of water from the USA to Norway. In his large-format paintings, he brings us the calm sea off Lisbon, cascading waterfalls in America, and cool lakes in Austria. All of these Kosmoramen radiate power and tranquility, both qualities inherent in the nature of water.