Alpbachtal

Rattenberg

Austria's smallest town, known for glass and Inn-Salzach houses

With just over 400 inhabitants, Rattenberg is the smallest town in Austria. It sits at roughly 514 metres above sea level in the Inn Valley, on the edge of the Alpbachtal, pressed against a steep rock face. First mentioned in 1254, it was granted town rights in 1393 under Bavarian rule and has belonged firmly to Tyrol since 1504. In the fifteenth century the place prospered thanks to silver and copper mining in the surrounding hills, and you can still see that in the stately merchant and townhouses lining the streets.

The buildings follow the so-called Inn-Salzach style, with tall, flat-topped facades that define the townscape. Above the old centre rises the Gothic parish church of Saint Virgil, given a Baroque makeover in the eighteenth century, with a striking Saint Anne altar and rich vault frescoes. Anyone wanting to learn more about the region can visit the Augustinian Museum, which since 1993 has displayed Tyrolean art from nine centuries, or the crafts museum in the former nail-smiths' houses, where nails were made until 1912.

Rattenberg is also known for its glass industry: several firms work glass and sell glass art and crystal in the town's shops. For families staying in Niederau it makes an easy half-day outing, combining well with nearby Kramsach.

• Drive from Niederauapprox. 35 min.
• Elevation514 m
• RegionAlpbachtal
• Best forSuits families interested in crafts and a gentle town stroll.