This is the nineth time that “Sprachsalz” takes place. Already it has made a name for itself among authors and lovers of literature throughout Europe. More than 3000 visitors gathered last year to listen to the voices of twenty well-known or newly-discovered authors.

Sprachsalz is an international festival geared mostly towards German-speaking readers and audiences. Therefore our website (www.sprachsalz.com) is in German, but we would like to try and translate for you the most important points so that you can form an impression of our Festival.


What is there to know about “Sprachsalz”?

•    In total twenty authors are invited to “Sprachsalz” for an entire weekend to give several readings from their published books.
•    All readings are free of charge: Our idea was to make literature accessible to all. As the past two years have shown, many of the people who attend our Festival listen to readings for their first time in their lives.
•    Some of the authors are invited to bring along a young author of their choice who might not be as well known as they themselves. We call these “godfathers of literature”. Their younger colleagues are invited to give one reading where they will be introduced by their “godfathers”. This year we do not have such an invitiation.
•    Most readings take place in the Park Hotel, where the authors are staying. The atmosphere of our Festival is almost family-like. Hall in Tyrol is a small town of 13 000 inhabitants steeped in medieval traditions and surrounded by mountains. some few special readings find place outside the hotel.
•    Most of the readings will be in German (with actors reading the German translation). But some of the readings will also be in the original language or mixed.
•    The events of the Festival will be covered by numerous journalists for a variety of media.
•    Saturday night is our special literature night in the big hall of the “Parkhotel”, with a festive dinner during which a number of authors will be reading short pieces.
•    Festival Office: You will find our Festival Office just next to the Parkhotel’s reception desk. We will endeavour to assist with all your queries: travel, questions about the Festival, any problems you might have.
•    SAGe: Last year Sprachsalz established a fund for “authors in need”, SAGe. As Sprachsalz does not charge admission fees, we ask the audience for voluntary donations (you will find little boxes all over the place). The money thus collected will be used for authors who encounter financial problems. We established this Fund because we know that some authors find it difficult to survive financially. Feel free to donate some coins yourselves …

The organizers are a experienced team of six people, some of them authors themselves: Magdalena Kauz, Heinz D. Heisl, Urs Heinz Aerni, Elias Schneitter, Max Hafele and Valerie Besl (press).

A list of our supporters/sponsors you finde here:
A list of all Authors of the first 8 years yo find here: