Gold panning in Rauris

Gold panning in Rauris

In the Rauris Valley, you can pan for real gold flakes and experience the history of one of Austria’s most important former gold-mining regions.

In the Rauris Valley, the age of the gold miners still feels surprisingly close. For centuries, this valley was one of Austria’s most important centres of gold mining and, at times, even of international significance. Today, that history can be experienced in a hands-on way: children and adults alike can take up a gold pan themselves and search for fine flakes of gold in the water.

The appeal lies not only in the chance of making a find, but also in following the traces of a remarkable past. Equipped with a pan, shovel and rubber boots, visitors work directly in the water, just as people once did when searching for precious metal here. At the original gold panning site at Bodenhaus, the experience takes place in the Hüttwinkl stream itself, while the gold and mineral washing area at Heimalm adds wide views over the valley to the adventure. For families in particular, this creates an enjoyable mix of nature, movement and playful discovery.

At the same time, gold panning in Rauris opens a window onto an extraordinary chapter of Alpine history. During the height of mining, the valley was known far beyond the region for its wealth, and stories of Tauern gold continue to shape its identity today. What you experience here is therefore much more than a leisure activity. It is a small journey into the past of the “Golden Valley of the Alps” – with cold water, glittering finds and a real sense of adventure.