Gustav Mahler
The Composer and his Adopted Homeland
Gustav Mahler, a distinguished Austrian composer and conductor, was counted among the most famous adoptive members of Attergau’s community. His favourite holiday location was Steinach am Attersee, where he wrote his 3rd symphony between 1893 and 1896. Gustav Mahler shut himself away from the rest of the world in his small “composing house”, which was built especially for that purpose, and he performed his work with an astounding level of productivity. Hardly any other composer has ever managed to write so many pieces - especially pieces of such quality - in such a shot time.
Mahler had professional engagements in Hamburg, Berlin, Budapest, Vienna and London and could definitely be considered a cosmopolitan. He had quite an eventful life and Attergau was a welcome temporary home, where he found peace and tranquillity. Here he was able to fully concentrate on his work – to the disappointment of his young wife, Anna Schindler, who gave birth to his two daughters. The composer only gave his wife and children a small fraction of his time and his love, because his passion for music consumed the lions share. Numerous monuments and landmarks in Attergau remind us of the great composer and are ideal tourist features and places of interest for culturally interested tourists. Send your non-binding online inquiry to Hotel Winzer in the Salzkammergut region near Attersee.
