Locals in stunning European town with anti-selfie fence block roads to tourists
Residents of a photogenic Austrian village have blocked the road in in a bid to stop tourists.
The tiny Alpine settlement of Hallstatt in north Austria has become a huge destination on the tourist map in recent years, for one specific reason. It is widely believed to have been the inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle in Frozen, providing a backdrop that will be recognised by Disney loving children the world over.
The much-photographed spire of the lakeside Pfarrkirche has also appeared on computer screensavers as well as in South Korean TV dramas and more than a million Instagram posts, making it one of the best known places in the country.
It seems that not all publicity is good publicity however, at least in the minds of some of the 700 or so people who live in Hallstatt. Every day tens of thousands of visitors arrive in the village to check out the famous view, which causes chaos in the small settlement.
On Sunday around a sixth of the village's population turned out to block the main access tunnel in a protest against over-tourism to the area.
Chanelle Hayes posts tear-soaked selfies as she shares mental health battle
The town's residents are sick of so many people visiting (APA/AFP via Getty Images)Protest organisers Bürgerliste Hallstatt claim that those living there are “regularly insulted and threatened by illegal parkers” and that traffic is clogging access through the town. Residents of the village claim that they are outnumbered by annual tourists 1,800 to one.
“Nobody can handle the masses. Hallstatt is too small for the many people who come,” said the town’s mayor Alexander Scheutz, the New Zealand Herald reported. A cap on the number of tour-buses has been suggested as a potential solution, as has a curfew of 5pm for visitors.
Located on the shores of Lake Hallstatt itself, the UNESCO World Heritage listed village of Hallstatt boasts 16th century architecture, cosy lodges and charming cafés and shops. Earlier this year, in a bid to protect everything that makes the town good, the mayor had two fences erected in the middle of Hallstatt to obstruct the most famous vistas.
While this was only meant to be a temporary fix to highlight the problem, Mayor Scheutz is reportedly intent on constructing a permanent barrier to drive and drive the tourists away. “The only thing that would help is if the photo point is no longer a photo point," he said.
A fence was erected to block tourists from photographing the view (APA/AFP via Getty Images)The town has previously set limits for vehicles coming in, but officials claim they regularly reach the daily limit for 450 cars and 54 busses. It is not clear how well received the fence policy was within the Hallstatt community, given that it also blocks the lovely view for the people who have decided to live there.
Mayor Scheutz is not the only local government figure in a tourist hotspot to make moves to stop the atmosphere of the place being ruined by too many visitors.
Earlier this year the Italian town of Portofino started slapping people with a hefty fine if they're caught taking a selfie. The community on the Italian Riviera is one of the many incredibly beautiful towns in the boot shaped country which attracts heaving throngs of tourists each year.
It is a perfect place to visit with its many pastel-coloured houses, high-end boutiques and seafood restaurants. Such is its popularity the local government has introduced no-waiting zones to stop tourists from 'lingering' for too long in popular beauty spots.
Thousands of tourists visit the village every day (Getty Images)If you are caught with your phone turned face-wards in certain spots you could be fined up to 275 euros (£242). Mayor of Portofino, Matteo Viacava, said selfie takers had been causing "anarchic chaos", including massive traffic jams and blocked streets.
The rule was introduced over the Easter weekend and will remain in place until the holiday season ends in October. If you are desperate to snap a photo of yourself in the forbidden zones, the ban lifts at 6pm each day.
Jonnie Irwin will record video messages for wife and kids to watch after he dies
Portofino is not the only place where taking selfies is banned. The railway network across Japan has forbidden the use of selfie sticks for fear that people will touch overhead wiring and electrocute themselves, From Japan reports.
In the UK photographing yourself in parts of the Tower of London is banned due to security reasons connected to the Crown Jewels. Inside the Jewel House taking photos or videos with these royal gems is strictly forbidden as it’s seen as a security risk.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
