I live in a quaint village that was the inspiration for the popular Disney film – it’s ruined by countless tourists wanting to take selfies
RESIDENTS living in a quaint village that served as inspiration for a popular Disney film report it is being vandalized by tourists.
Hallstatt in Austria is a fairytale alpine town that was apparently the inspiration for the kingdom of Arendelle in the hit film Frozen.
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Nestled on the beautiful shores of Lake Hallstatt and with the soaring Dachstein mountain range as a backdrop, the magical view is truly breathtaking.
But locals are upset that over a million tourists flock to their quaint village every year.
With a population of just about 750 in the narrow streets, the village of Hallstatt is swamped with tourists taking selfies, Mayor Alexander Scheutz says.
Reportedly up to 7,000 people visit the site daily at peak times, which served as the real-life setting for fictional Princess Elsa dying to take a picture The times.
Andrea Zimmermann, who lives directly above the selfie hotspot, told ORF that the noise was affecting her and her husband’s health.
She said: “I am very worried about my husband. He had to go to the doctor again because he now has heart problems.
“And my gastritis is coming back. So psychologically, we’re really bad.”
The problem has gotten so bad that the mayor put up two wooden fences in the very spot where visitors like to be photographed.
This popular selfie post features the lake, mountains, pastel-colored houses and charming church tower in the background.
Scheutz told the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten website that finding a way to eliminate the photo spot altogether would be best.
The mayor then erected wooden “privacy screens” in a desperate attempt to reduce the number of tourists.
His move quickly sparked a backlash on social media and from some locals.
And the fences have since been taken down.
Scheutz said: “It was just a trial session. We discussed it in the council.
“But the plan has now been discarded, there will be no such privacy screen in Hallstatt.”
Instead, the village will now use a banner that says “We live here.” Please enjoy the view in peace.”
Halstatt owes its existence to its rich salt deposits and mighty salt chambers, which were discovered more than 4,000 years ago.
It comes as locals, who live in a village that inspired one of Britain’s most famous painters, say the area is being ruined by hordes of tourists.
Meanwhile, locals at a seaside resort said the rental apartments even left locals homeless – and made their streets look like a ghost town.
Another city said second home owners are ruining their city and they are being forced to take desperate measures.
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