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Scandal at Mondsee: Owner terminates lease in the middle of summer!
Termination of leases at Mondsee is causing unrest among tourists and providers, while sustainable management is being pursued.
Scandal at Mondsee: Owner terminates lease in the middle of summer!
Mondsee, one of Austria's largest and most popular lakes in the Salzkammergut, is currently at the center of a controversial dispute. Owner Anna Mathyl has decided to terminate all leases for buoys, jetties and boathouses. She made this decision in the middle of the high season and caused considerable uncertainty among tourists and local providers. Around 500 lease holders received the termination letter, which prohibits any private or commercial use without their permission. This situation is leading to widespread speculation about the future management of the popular tourist destination.
Anna Mathyl, who took over Mondsee from her mother Nicolette Waechter a year ago, invokes her “legal special right of termination”. According to Mathyl, the desire for sustainable management is the natural space that is important to her.
Criticism and insecurities
Mayor Andreas Hammerl (ÖVP) assured that access to the lake will remain secured for both locals and tourists and that general rights for activities such as swimming, sailing and diving will remain in place. Nevertheless, the uncertainty over future maritime governance is seen by many as worrying. Mathyl offers new negotiations on lease prices, but the tenants fear drastic price increases that could put a strain on the tourism sector.
The previous rental prices at Mondsee were below the level of similar regions. For example, a buoy at Mondsee cost about a quarter of the price at Wolfgangsee. Therefore, there is speculation that Mathyl may seek higher rents to improve financial conditions.
History of Mondsee
The Mondsee has been privately owned since 1809, after it was gifted to Carl Philipp von Wrede by Napoleon Bonaparte. This historical heritage could take on a whole new meaning in the future, as there is already an offer of three million euros to buy the lake, while Mathyl is asking for a price of 16 million euros.
Media coverage of the termination has already led to an increase in visits to the tourism homepage, and it remains to be seen how the situation will develop. The Mondsee, which recorded 5.56 million overnight stays in 2024 and thus recorded an increase of 3.41% compared to 2023, is not only a popular meeting place for holidaymakers, but also an economic center for the region.