In English.
A short summary for visitors from further afield. The rest of this site is in German.
The Bürmoos
Peat Bog.
A raised bog north of Salzburg that was cut for peat for two hundred years. Since 1983 a volunteer association has been giving it back its water — and its time. Peat grows about one millimetre a year.
What it is
A Natura 2000 site and nature reserve of about 400 hectares in the province of Salzburg, Austria. Industrial peat cutting ended in 2000 and left bare ground. Where the bog has been rewetted, peat moss, cotton grass and sundew have returned.
Who looks after it
The Torferneuerungsverein Bürmoos — a registered association, founded in 1992 and active since 1983. Around 635 members, roughly 70 of them out in the bog regularly. Nobody is paid.
The trail
The Moorerlebnisweg is a signposted nature trail with 18 stations. The short loop is about 2 km, the hut is 2.8 km from the car park, and the full network runs to 7.6 km. Free of charge, open all year, no guide needed.
The narrow-gauge railway
The Bockerlbahn once carried peat out of the bog. It still runs on open days, taking visitors through the former cutting area.
Before you go
Stay on the marked paths
The ground is wet and fragile, and many species nest close to the trail.
Dogs on a lead
Ground-nesting birds cannot tell a friendly dog from a fox.
Take nothing with you
Sundew, cotton grass and cranberry are protected. Photographs last longer.
Quiet pays off
Most animals show themselves only to those who wait — early morning is best.
Getting there
Bürmoos lies about 20 km north of Salzburg. The trail starts at the car park on Grundlose Straße; the association hut can be reached on foot or by bicycle only. The regional railway (Salzburger Lokalbahn) stops at Bürmoos.
Guided walks
The chairman, Reinhard Kaiser, is a certified nature guide and takes school classes and groups through the reserve, including the demonstration peat cutting. Walks are free of charge; donations are welcome. Write to us and we will find a date.
kontakt@torferneuerungsverein.at Visitor information (German)
Das Moor hat Zeit. Wir haben Sie.
Für zwölf Euro im Jahr werden Sie Teil einer Arbeit, die in Jahrzehnten gerechnet wird – und die schon heute sichtbar ist.