St. Johann im Pongau (there's a larger St. Johann in Tyrol) is 61km (38 miles) south of Salzburg on a sun-drenched terrace on the right bank of the river.

The winter-sports season here lasts December through April, and there are more than 52 lifts and cable cars in the tri-resort area, plus some 97km (60 miles) of prepared runs. This well-known ski-lift network in the Salzburg Mountains is called Drei-Taler-Skischaukel (Three-Valley Ski Swing).

If you're a nature lover, St. Johann is a good base for visiting the Grossarilbach Valley to the south of the town and the mouth of Wagrainer Tal to the north.

The town's twin-towered Pfarrkirche (Parish Church) was built in 1855, but a house of worship has stood on this site since A.D. 924.