Place of power Steinberg am Rofan
Experience peace and connect with the power of nature in Steinberg am Rofan, where a "place of power" has been created. A viewing platform made from local larch wood now stands on land owned by the Österreichischen Bundesforste (ÖBf), a state-owned company dedicated to the protection and management of Austria's natural resources.
While inspecting the waterfall bridge in Steinberg, ÖBf area manager Gerald Siebenhofer spotted a path leading to a rocky outcrop. "The view from this ledge was incredible," recalls Siebenhofer. "To the east, you could see a triple waterfall; to the south, a towering rock with a 60-metre-long tunnel and a lonely pine tree at the top, and nearby, the Steinberger Ache plunging into a gorge."
The Österreichische Bundesforste is a state-owned company responsible for the conservation, protection and management of natural resources such as forests, lakes and mountains, which cover about a tenth of the country. Their core principle is sustainability, ensuring that they only take from nature what can regenerate itself. For more information, visit bundesforste.at.
The area manager often visited this place to enjoy its unique natural beauty and to recharge his batteries. This inspired the idea of making the area accessible to the public. Siebenhofer reached out to Achensee Tourism, which immediately supported the idea. Construction began in the spring of 2024, and within four months, a team from the Bundesforste had built a viewing platform with two places to sit and relax.
The Steinberg forest district is part of the Oberinntal forestry operations of the Bundesforste and includes parts of Brandenberg, Achenkirch, and especially Steinberg am Rofan. Covering an area of about 7,500 hectares, the equivalent of 10,000 football fields, the district encompasses a varied landscape including commercial forests, protection forests, and approximately 2,900 hectares of rocky areas and mountain pines. The Steinberger Ache, which drains the Rofan mountains, is an important natural resource for the district.
