The richest deposits of salt in central Europe are concentrated in at short distance from each other in the Eastern Alps, in the Salzburg and Salzkammergut areas.
The mines of Hallstatt, Hallein-Durrnberg and Bad Reichenhall are close together, with those at Bad Aussee further to the east.
Mining at Halstatt started in the later Bronze Age and reached its peak during the Hallstatt phase of the Iron Age (c750-480BC).
At Hallein-Durrnberg mining started later at the end of the Hallstatt period and the two mines co-existed for about 200 years.
Mining at Hallstatt at ceased suddenly around 400BC.
It is thought that some sort of natural disaster, possibly the flooding of the mines, stopped the salt-mining at Hallstatt.

The evidence of wealth from the Hallein-Durrnberg cemeteries suggest that for most of the La Tene period the mines flourished, but around 100BC the mines went into decline and production seems to have moved to Reichensall.

Salt mining was re-established at Hallein by 1198 AD when a salt pan is mentioned at "Meulpach" .
Under the Archbishops of Salzburg during the Middle Ages, Hallein became the major centre of production in the Eastern Alps and salt routes developed up the Salzach and particularly to Bohemia.
In the 18th and early 19th centuries Hallein lost its trade with Bavaria and Bohemia.
 In 1854/62 a new saline conditioning plant was built on Perner Island, which is in the Salzach opposite the Keltenmuseum.
Then in 1954/55 a new thermo-compression plant was added.
However, with the rationalization of Austrian Salt production in 1989, these plants were closed and salt extraction ceased.
 The Dürrnberg mine exists now only as a Tourist attraction, together with the Celtic Village Open Air Museum.
The richest deposits of salt in central Europe are concentrated in at short distance from each other in the Eastern Alps, in the Salzburg and Salzkammergut areas. The mines of Hallstatt, Hallein-Durrnberg and Bad Reichenhall are close together, with those at Bad Aussee further to the east. Mining at Halstatt started in the later Bronze Age and reached its peak during the Hallstatt phase of the Iron Age (c750-480BC). At Hallein-Durrnberg mining started later at the end of the Hallstatt period and the two mines co-existed for about 200 years. Mining at Hallstatt at ceased suddenly around 400BC. It is thought that some sort of natural disaster, possibly the flooding of the mines, stopped the salt-mining at Hallstatt. 
The evidence of wealth from the Hallein-Durrnberg cemeteries suggest that for most of the La Tene period the mines flourished, but around 100BC the mines went into decline and production seems to have moved to Reichensall.
Salt mining was re-established at Hallein by 1198 AD when a salt pan is mentioned at "Meulpach" . Under the Archbishops of Salzburg during the Middle Ages, Hallein became the major centre of production in the Eastern Alps and salt routes developed up the Salzach and particularly to Bohemia. In the 18th and early 19th centuries Hallein lost its trade with Bavaria and Bohemia.  In 1854/62 a new saline conditioning plant was built on Perner Island, which is in the Salzach opposite the Keltenmuseum. Then in 1954/55 a new thermo-compression plant was added. However, with the rationalization of Austrian Salt production in 1989, these plants were closed and salt extraction ceased.  The Dürrnberg mine exists now only as a Tourist attraction, together with the Celtic Village Open Air Museum.
Keltenmuseum