The best time for mushroom picking in Austria is from late summer to autumn, usually from August to October.
In Austria, you can find 4,450 large mushroom species in nature; 200 of them are edible.
The five most common ones are Porcini (Steinpilz), Chanterelles (Eierschwammerl), Parasol (Parasolpilze), Chestnut Bolete (Maronenröhrling), and Coprinus Comatus, or the shaggy ink cap (Schopftintling).
Best spots for mushroom picking
You can find mushrooms all over Austria, but four regions are especially known for offering a lot of mushrooms during the season.
Carinthia is one of those regions. Its mixed forests and alpine areas are rich in a variety of mushrooms, with porcini and chanterelles being the most typical.
Due to the region's favourable climate and diverse vegetation, chanterelles and porcini are also common in the Styrian forests.
Tyrol is also a great place for finding mushrooms. The alpine meadows and forests of the region are great spots for mushroom picking, especially the Ötztal and Zillertal valleys, which people travel long distances to reach.
The mountainous and forested areas around Salzburg and Salzkammargut are also great for mushroom picking, especially the Berchtesgaden Alps, which are known for their many mushroom species.
Close to Linz, in Mühlviertel, Upper Austria, you can explore another good spot for mushroom picking. Here you find a great variety of species, porcini being one of the most common.
In general, chanterelles are often found in forests with both leafy trees and pine trees, often near oak, birch, and pine trees. Porcini grow in forests with both leafy trees and pine trees, usually near beech, oak, chestnut, and pine trees. And if you want to find Parasol mushrooms, you should look for open grassy areas and forest clearings.
You can use this mushroom finder to see where you should go next for some successful picking.
READ ALSO: Four of the best hidden villages in Austria's Salzkammergut region
There are many good spots for mushroom picking in Austria. Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on UnsplashWhat to think about when picking
It is important not to take any risks while picking mushrooms. If you cannot identify a mushroom, it is better to leave it in the forest than risk getting sick from eating it.
While searching for your treats in the forest, it is also important to respect nature. Do not leave litter behind, and only pick mushrooms that you actually need and eat. In Austria, a maximum of 2 kilos per day per person is allowed.
If you want to know if there are some specific rules applying to the area where you plan to pick, it is a good idea to talk with local authorities. You can, for example, ask a tourist information centre or a mountain hut in the area; they usually know what the deal is.
It is also good to plan your equipment. Sturdy shoes are essential, and bringing something to drink, something to pick, a knife, and a brush for cleaning the mushrooms are great ideas.
Comments