Austrian Town That Inspired ‘Frozen’ Village Asks Selfie-Takers To ‘Let It Go’ By Building Fence

An Austrian town that is said to be the inspiration behind Arendelle from Disney’s animated hit Frozen took a drastic measure to curb over-tourism. The town erected a temporary wooden fence to deter people from snapping selfies. 

Hallstatt, a UNESCO-protected locale, has a population of 800 but has been inundated with up to 10,000 tourists a day. According to Mayor Alexander Scheutz, people turn up in droves to snap Instagram-worthy selfies of picturesque Lake Hallstatt and the snowcapped Dachstein Mountains. 

Scheutz had temporary wooden fences built to block the view in an effort to deter the hordes of people. He told an Austrian news outlet that he was left with no other choice but to obstruct the breathtaking scenery. 

After receiving backlash from locals, the fences were removed and replaced with banners that ask visitors to be mindful of the people that live in the town.