Werfen, province of Salzburg, market town in the district of St. Johann, alt. 548 m, pop. 3,181, area 153.99 km2, summer tourist resort (76,785 overnight stays in 1992) in the Salzach valley in the Pongau region, at the foot of the Hagengebirge and Tennengebirge mountains. - District court, forestry supervision office, forest arboretum of the Federal Forestry Directorate, "Eisriesenwelt" ice caves, cable railway to the Dr. Friedrich Oedl mountain refuge (1,582 m), private power stations on rivers Blühnbach and Imlaubach; ironworks, hat factory, sawmills, tannery. - One of the oldest market towns in the province of Salzburg, founded between 1190 and 1242, large-scale emigration of Protestants in 1731/32; Hohenwerfen castle towers above the city; parish church (1652-1657), simple one-aisled church with Baroque altars; Mariahilf Capuchin church (1737) with harmonious Baroque interior; St. Barbara filial church (1952-1954); late Gothic tracery window in the Brennhof house (1561-1565), court with pergola; factory housing-estate and "Windbichl" estate in Tenneck (documented mention in the 13th century, altered after 1614). Imlautal valley, Höllntal valley, Blühnbachtal Valley with Blühnbach hunting seat (1603-1607), Blühnbach chapel (1610, neo-Gothic annex from 1909-1912 with late Gothic winged altar, statues and carvings; north of Werfen, panoramic road leading through the gorges along the Salzach valley up to Lueg pass.
