Salzkammergut is a name for this Austrian region of lakes and Alpine ranges near Salzburg. Natural ice formations fill the Ice Cave on Dachstein Mountain. Above Hallstatt town at Salzwelten there are illuminated underground exhibition of the thousands of years of history of the salt mine.
The Kammergut is a type of land holding, held and managed directly by the prince, also called a demesne, a variation of French domaine. It is a feudal management term, different from lands managed by sub-tenants, lands which have been sub-enfeoffed by the prince to a tenant.
Ischl and Hallstatt were considered separate Kammergüter. The Habsburgs managed the land from Wildenstein Castle near Ischl.
The salt mining was held directly by the Habsburg king of the Romans and was part of his regalia, his privileges.
