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Vienna
Vienna lies in the far east of Austria, just one
hour away from the border with Slovenia, and sits on the banks
of the mighty Danube. Vienna was the seat of the Habsburg
dynasty, rulers of the massive Austro-Hungarian Empire, for
over 600 years. It is a convenient starting point for exploring
the other well-known Central European cities of Budapest,
Bratislava and Prague. It's an elegant city rich in history
such as the Hofburg palace, literally hundreds of museums
and epitomises the home of the Golden Age (end of 19th century)
when Vienna was the home of artistic and intellectual masters
like Freud, Schonberg and Klimt. It's perceived
as being a European home of artistic excellence, especially
music, where you can experience anything from contemporary
opera to techno. The easiest way to arrive is by air, as Flughafen
Wien-Schwechat is just 8kms from the city centre.
Salzburg
Although small, Salzburg is a city that can boast
many things: breathtaking Baroque style architecture,
easy access to lakes and mountains, the birthplace of Mozart
and the set of that well-loved film 'the sound of Music'.
There is a laid-back, slow paced feel to the area, and sights
are close enough together to walk. For the Sound of Music
lovers, there are fun guided tours that take you to see the
Castles, buildings and famous gazebo immortalised in the film.
Don't expect a rendition of 'Edelweiss' though - it was invented
for the film and most Austrians have never heard of it!
Werfen
About an hour and a half from Salzburg in Salzburg province,
Werfen is a small town dwarfed by a huge castle that
bears its name. You can climb up to the spire for a breathtaking
view of the surrounding valley, and take part in a special
falconry show.
For information on Werfen Castle contact: Peter Michael
Tel: 00 43 6468 7603
Hallstatt
This gorgeous quiet village nestled among mountains and lakes
is a traveller's delight. Located in the Salzkammergut
region, it is close to Werfen and is definitely worth
a visit. Here you can go canoeing in a crystal green lake,
its colour the result of glacier water, and visit the church
charnel house - viewing a spooky collection of skulls
from Hallstatt inhabitants.
The town is famous for its nearby salt mines, and above
the town you can visit the pipeline that used to run the salt
to the lake. In fact, the word 'Salz' means salt, hence the
region's name. It's also a site for scuba divers, as the lakes
were a dumping site for Nazi treasures abandoned at the end
of WWII.
To arrange a trip canoeing contact: Tel: 00 43 664 344
1486
For more info on the area contact: Tel: 00 43 6134 8208
For scuba diving contact: Tel: 00 43 6134 8286
Innsbruck
Innsbruck is the regional capital of Tyrol,
and the city is based on attractive medieval architecture.
Despite it's old world feel, it has some of the best nightlife
in the country and is a great spot for exploring the many
Tyrol peaks.
Graz
The regional capital of Styria and Austria's second
city houses a fantastic collection of fine art and is a good
base to explore rural vineyards for wine lovers.
Tux - Vorderlanersbach (The Tux
Valley)
This area is near the Italian border, and a mecca for ski
resorts and winter sports.
In fact, if you don't fancy yourself a skier or outdoors person
then there is little else to do, such is the focus here. It's
a great place to go canyoning - the latest craze that
combines rock climbing with going in water under waterfalls
- not for the fainthearted! In the evening the local entertainment
is traditional Schluplattler dancing in lederhosen!
Neustift
Another area that caters to winter sports, particularly skiing
and snowshoeing up the Stubai Glacier, where
you can be rewarded with fantastic vistas after a gruelling
5 hour trek. |
