Rauris is a Salzburg Tauern valley town defined by two things: medieval gold mining history and the Rauriser Urwald, one of the last primeval forest sections in the Eastern Alps. The forest sits within the Hohe Tauern National Park, and the valley above it offers some of the best bearded vulture watching in Austria. The bearded vulture, locally called Bartgeier, was reintroduced into the Alps in 1986 after going extinct in the region, and the Krumltal valley above Rauris is a reliable sighting location. Getting here requires a car or bus from Zell am See (30-40 minutes). Accommodation is small-scale, with mountain huts and guesthouses. For nature-focused travelers who want to get off the main Salzburg tourist circuit, Rauris is a genuine alternative.