The Hintersteinersee, Scheffau

Scheffau's own lake covers an area of 56 hectares and is 36 metres deep.  Formed during the last Ice Age it lies 900 metres above sea level and is supplied by underground springs, which means crystal-clear pure water, ideal for bathing.

The lake is owned by the Tirolean Water Authority - Firma Tiroler WasserkraftAG - and is used for electricity production.

A public bathing beach is available at one end for those who want to swim in this most beautiful of mountain lakes.  The 60 minute stroll around it's shores is highly recommended, as are some of the traditional watering holes along the way.  The various weather conditions mean the lake's colour and nature is ever-changing and its' well worth a look at any time of the year.  During the winter months expect to see the beauty of a frozen landscape and in summer look out for the many fish and birds which make their home at the Hintersteinersee.

This is a very magical location and what's a bit of magic without a bit of mythical folklore.......

The Legend of the HintersteinerSee

Many years ago, where the HintersteinerSee now stands, there lived some cocky, wealthy farmers.  These men wanted for nothing and in fact they were so rich and arrogant they used butter to make the bowling balls for their favourite sport.

One particular evening, when the moon shone down brightly on the pastures, the farmers took their bowling balls and once again engaged in their favourite sport.   Suddenly the ground beneath their feet began to shake and they watched as their farmhouses and yards sank deeper and deeper into the earth.  The farmers, however, were only interested in their selfish game.  As a punishment for their crime they were spellbound to stand at the top of the Scheffauer Mountain, in the Wilden Kaiser range, and play their 9-pins as long as the Wild Emperors stand.  Their 'bowling alley' still stands under the summit of the Scheffauer, covered by a carpet of fine moss.

After this happened a terrible argument blew up amongst the farmers about a natural spring in the area.  The argument continued until the holy holiday of  Corpus Christi, when they respected neither the festival or anything else;  the battle raged all day. Early the next morning a dairymaid went to milk the cows up on the mountain.  She was an upstanding, pious girl, who tried hard to keep out of the farmers fight.  As she walked up onto their land she noticed a pool of water in front of the farmhouse where there had never been one before.  With a shake of her head she went off to find the cows.  After some time she found the beasts lying huddled together in a valley, much to her surprise.  Aware that she'd spent a long time looking for them the dairymaid swiftly milked the cows and set off once again to the farm to bring the milk home. Coming to the top of the valley where the cows had been hiding, the dairymaid looked over in the direction of the farmhouse - but the sight that greeted her was not what she was expecting.  The only thing left to see from where before there had been the fighting farmers houses was a single roof poking up through the surface of the water