Kaiser Franz Joseph I – Lion Statue

About 1 kilometer outside Traunkirchen there is a small side road right at the far end of the Franz Joseph Tunnel on the road toward Ebensee and Bad Ischl. This road runs right along the water’s edge. It cannot be accessed driving toward Ebensee, so if that is your direction you must make a U turn at a safe place after exiting the tunnel. If you are coming from Ebensee, you enter the road to the right just before the tunnel.
As it was explained to me by the town locals: A local artist commissioned by the Kaiser Franz Joseph to cast several bronze lions was eager to present his first one to him. Upon inspection, the Kaiser commented that the lion had no tounge. The artist was mortified and later committed suicide by jumping into the Traunsee (at the spit of land that the the tunnel now bypasses). The Kaiser felt so bad about this that he vowed never again to criticize someone who had prepared something for him.
At this spot, the lion without a tounge now stands along with a plaque. The town of Traunkrichen hosts a wonderful little festival on October 26 to commemorate this event. Food, music and boat rides to the point!