Mauterndorf grew around a toll point on the route across the Radstädter Tauern. Its castle still controls the approach visually, while the village below preserves a short street of historic houses and the parish church of St. Bartholomew.
The castle is the main reason to stop, but Mauterndorf also works as a base for exploring Lungau. The center is small, walkable, and far quieter than Austria’s major resort towns.