Hall in Tirol
Hall with its narrow streets and well-preserved medieval old town was high on my list for years since I bought Kurt Hielscher's photo album about Austria. It included five stunning photos of Hall. In April 2026 I managed to rephotograph four of them so later more.
Nagglburg at the Waldaufstraße and Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus in the distance, 1928. Photo: Kurt Hielscher.
Nagglburg at the Waldaufstraße and Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus in the distance, 23rd of April 2026. Photo: Casper Molenaar.
From the Nagglburg you can also go to the right, to the Salvatorgasse where we find Kurt Hielscher's secodn photo, but we didn't know that when we entered the city center yet and we chose to go left into the Waldaufstraße.
Salvatorgasse, 1928. Photo: Kurt Hielscher.
Salvatorgasse, 23rd of April 2026. Photo: Casper Molenaar.
Really love that the car by accident stands on the exact same place as the horse-cart on the old photo. It was a bit of a search but got some great help to find the right street. For sure this was the photo for me to want to explore Hall in Tirol and it did not disappoint.
Kim exploring Hall.
The town's history dates back to the Middle Ages, when it grew wealthy through salt mining—"Hall" itself derives from a word for salt. In the 13th and 14th centuries, it became an important center of trade. Around 1477, the Tyrolean mint was established in Hall, where the famous "thaler" coin was first minted, giving rise to the word "dollar." The town declined somewhat after the mint moved to Innsbruck in the 16th century, but it remained regionally significant and has preserved much of its historical character to this day.
Oberer Stadtplatz with the Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus seen from the Rosengasse, 1928. Photo: Kurt Hielscher.
Oberer Stadtplatz with the Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus seen from the Rosengasse, 23rd of April 2026. Photo: Casper Molenaar.
When we walked into the Oberer Stadtplatz, the light of the setting sun was amazing. Also, it was dinnertime and we found a very nice place to sit on the terrace of the Gasthaus Goldener Löwe with nearly the same view as on Kurt Hielscher's photo with the sun just behind the 67 meters high tower of the St. Nicholas' Church, that dates back to 1281. The church repeatedly expanded as the town grew with the salt trade what made Hall in Tirol famous. Between 1420 and 1440 the church was transformed into a three-aisled Gothic church, giving it much of its present appearance. Damaged by an earthquake in 1670 and a fire in 1875, the church was rebuilt and renovated several times, its historic character well preserved with some Baroque additions, but since 1928 not so much was changed here I guess.
The ceiling of the Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus.
View on Hall with the surrounding mountains.
Finishinh dinner at the Oberer Stadplatz on the terrace of the Gasthaus Goldener Löwe at sunset. It was a beautiful day in a beautiful place.
Below: View on the characteristic facades of the Salvatorgasse.
