Schladming's old town square

Schladming is a town first and a resort second, and the Hauptplatz shows it: a small, enclosed square of painted façades, arcaded ground floors, a fountain, and the tall tower of the parish church on one side. It is a five-minute walk end to end, and the mountains close the view down almost every side street.

The square works when the light is soft. The buildings are pale and the space is narrow enough that midday sun splits it into hard blocks of light and shadow. Early morning is quiet and even; the hour before sunset puts warm light on the north side.

In winter this is where a ski day ends, so late afternoon is full of people, and in December the Advent market and its lights take over. In summer the terraces spread into the square and the middle of the day is its busiest.

Nothing here needs a ticket. The parish church is open outside services and the parish sets its own rules on photography inside, so check. Parking is in the garages just off the centre; the square itself is largely pedestrian.