Tourism ·
New Badehaus spa: €39 entry fee draws criticism
A public indoor pool with a sauna area opened in Werfenweng in May. The mayor wants a rate for local residents, and the operator says a solution is on the way.
Since May 2026, Werfenweng has had a new indoor pool that is open to the public: the Badehaus, with five pools and a sauna area. According to ORF Salzburg, the roughly €10 million build was paid for entirely by the company group that also built the JUFA hotel and the Berghotel in the village.
One price for pool and sauna
The criticism is about the entry fee. An adult day ticket costs €39 and covers both the pool and the sauna. Local residents and senior citizens currently pay the same.
The municipality welcomes the Badehaus in principle as an extra facility for visitors and locals. Mayor Kurt Daxer (ÖVP), however, would like a rate for residents. On rainy days families with small children often just want to swim and don't use the sauna at all, so he suggests a pool-only ticket for them.
Operator reviews prices
Operator and hotel director Markus Buchhagen says the single price is meant to keep both areas well used. The prices will nevertheless be reviewed, and he says there will be a solution for senior citizens and residents of Werfenweng in the near future.
Guests staying at the group's own hotels can use the pools, children's pool and sauna for free. Buchhagen says the company is also open in principle to offering discounts to guests of other hotels.