Sankt Johann im Pongau is an Austrian town in the heart of the Federal state of Salzburg, the capital of the region of Pongau. The city is home to more than 10 thousand people and it is the most populous city in the region. The city lies in the valley of the Salzach river.

Studies show that the first settlements in the area appeared around the second Millennium B. C. the First written mention dates back to the year 1074.

During the Peasant war 1525-26, the city was destroyed. After the expulsion of the Protestants from the Archbishopric of Salzburg, which reached its apogee in 1731, 2,500 people left the city.

In the 19th century there were raging fires, and from the old buildings of the city is almost nothing left. The neo-Gothic Cathedral. John the Baptist was built in 1861 under the direction of architects Georg Schneider and Joseph Vescina. Nearby preserved chapel. Anna, where you can see a carved altar from the 16th century and the late Gothic wooden sculptures of saints.

From 1941 until the end of the Second world war on the territory Pongau housed a pow camp. Camp construction was completed in the winter of 1941, he held the territory of 8 hectares and was divided into zones (North camp, South camp). The camp housed up to 30,000 people, which was guarded by about 1,000 employees. Inmates of the Western powers, for example, the French, were held in South camp and North camp for Soviet prisoners of war were housed. Still there is the "Russian cemetery", where the rest of about 3700 people. The cemetery is on the slope near the highway North of the highway and interchanges W.

Sankt Johann im Pongau is very popular among tourists due to its proximity to the Alps. In winter the resort is an important tourist destination with many hotels and restaurants. In the summer there is the opportunity to make Cycling along designated routes, and relax on the lake.

Five kilometers South of the city along the picturesque gorge of Apartments mountain stream.