Cathedral in Vienna, Austria by Andrew Bossi

Alluring Vienna

Vienna is different from the other European capitals. The city is a perfect reflection of history and art in a modern backdrop. The city allures art lovers with its extensive range of majestic museums, stunning art galleries, dynamic operas and ballets. For those who want a peek into history, they can visit the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace and the Mozarthaus. After all, such museums are the perfect medium which can give you a sneak peek into the true culture and rich heritage of a country.

Delightful Salzburg

Every country has one must see tourist place and Salzburg is exactly that. Salzburg can be called the Mecca for music lovers. After all, it is the birthplace of Mozart and houses many exhibitions dedicated to him. Moreover, you can even take the “Sound of Music” tour, which is based on the world famous musical that was shot here in Salzburg.

Charming Hallstatt

Deemed as the World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, this place definitely lives up to its name. Hallstatt is known for salt production and has the oldest salt mine in the world. This snug town is well nestled in the Alps and offers many attractive places that will remain etched in your memory for years to come. If you are adventurous, you should explore the trails winding through the mountains. If you seek peace, then Lake Hallstatt is the place to be. If you want to be a little more indulgent, you can check out the ice and salt caves, the perfect ode to Mother Nature.

Hallstatt, Austria by pipimaru

Exciting Innsbruck

If you associate Austria with the snow-clad Alps, Innsbruck won’t disappoint you. It is the ideal place for tourists who want to enjoy some ski adventure and winter sports! The sparkling mountains are so tempting; you will definitely end up at some dandy ski resorts!

Stunning Hochosterwitz Castle

If natural beauty does not astonish you, this man made architectural marvel will definitely surprise you. The Hochosterwitz Castle was built in the Medieval times and looks exactly like a castle described in all fairy tales. It is grand by all means and the best part is, it is built on top of a 60 metre high Dolomite rock formation!

Elegant Krems an der Donau

If a place is making wine since 3000 years, it is obvious that they are the experts at it! Austrian wine is known all over the world and you can experience it first hand at the vineyards in this region. Also, if you are a photographer, you are most likely to find this place to be postcard perfect!

Krems an der Donau, Austria by Bauer Karl

Appealing Alpbach

For those who wish to enjoy the non-commercial side of Austria, Alpbach is the perfect slow paced village for you. Not only is it one of the most beautiful towns in Austria, it is also a great place for hiking. Imagine a hiker’s paradise spread over 900 kms that covers three distinct regions in the area.

Charismatic Mostviertel

Mostviertel is located in Southern Austria and is the heartland of Austria. There are interesting churches in this area that are located amidst charming landscapes. This region is a nature’s basket and is known for its pears. It is customary for tourist to enjoy perry while travelling in this region.

Austria is a goldmine for all those people who want to relish and revisit nature in its entirety. The various tourist places, villages and vineyards are the ideal gift for all those people who want to serenade themselves with the treasure of the European culture.

Author Bio- This post has been written by Anne Prantel. She loves to write about various issues related to Travelling. She recommends dcducks.com for organizing best washington dc duck tours.

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Already in 740, Salzburg’s monks founded a settlement at this place called Cella Bisontio, which ensured them prosperity mainly in salt trading. Local people were moving the salt on mules through Hochtor to the south, where they changed it with the wine. Hochtor is a place lying now on the high Alpine road Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, which was completed in 1935 and begin at Bruck, about 4 km from Zell am See. In 1348 the village acquired the right of market town, but the real boom came up with the railway which was built here in 1875. This developed a tourism and mountaineering here.

Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Salzburger Land (the Austrian state of Salzburg). It is situated at an altitude of 757 meters and has around 9700 permanent residents. The town is surrounded by massive mountain giants, reaching heights of about 3000 meters above sea level. This stunning surroundings not leave visitors rest and certainly not hiking lovers. Winding streets full of shops, restaurants and Zell am See hotels offer pleasant atmosphere. Also history lovers can admire many sights in Zell am See.

The oldest building is a tower Vogturm built probably at the end of 10th century. Tower is also sometimes called Kastnerturm, according to trader Johann Kastner, who bought the tower in 1866. In its interior there is now a small museum of local history Heimatmuseum. A major monument of Zell am See is also a parish church of St. Hippolyte from 11th century, which was rebuilt several times over the centuries and in 1770 to its current Baroque style. Inside the church there is a Gothic altar and the frescoes from the 13th and 14th century.

City Hall can be found in the Rosenberg Castle, built in the late 16th century. It has the four corner towers and a circular central tower. The town is located not far from the another castle Prielau from the 15th century, which currently operates as a luxury hotel.

Nearby mountain Schmittenhohe (1965 meters high above sea level) is also a popular tourist site. You can climb up on your foot, a hike will take about 3 hours, or take a lift and then enjoy the view of the snowy peaks of the Hohe Tauern. They are around 3000 meters high – e.g. Grossglockner and Großvenediger. Mountain Schmittenhohe is ideal starting point for hiking and in the winter it is a great place for skiing.

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Today Hohensalzburg Castle is open to the visitors during the whole year. Particularly interesting is the medieval royal room and the castle museum. For a tour around the castle complex from 11th century you will need more time. There is also a palace Hohe Stock, Church of St. Georg or several different towers. In the local Gothic rooms you can join the unique concert with candlelight. Since 1892 there is a cable car (Festungsbahn) in operation, which can help you to get up to the castle easily and quickly.

During 20th century Hohensalzburg Castle became one of the most visited attractions in Austria.

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The National Park includes the Central Alps with the highest mountain ranges of Austria, including Mount Großglockner (3798 metres high) and Mount Großvenediger (3666 metres high). The “Großglockner Hochalpenstraße” is an alpine road to near the mountain top and offers spectacular scenery. On the way upwards (or downwards), several museums tell the story of its construction in the 1930ies (mostly to fight unemployment and support tourism), the ecology of the region and other aspects of the “Tauern” mountains.

The Großglockner Hochalpenstraße is Austria′s second most popular attraction after Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Beyond this busy part of the park, there are plenty of areas that offer excellent hiking opportunities. The Krimml Waterfalls are another famous sight in the Hohe Tauern.

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Perhaps the biggest reason why the Liechtenstein Gorge has become so popular, is that it is one of the deepest and easily accessible ravines within the entire mountain region. While there are countless gorges that are just as deep, if not deeper, many of them are not as easily accessed.

Liechtenstein Gorge, Austria by Heather (Gruber) Williams

It was back during the last Ice Age that towering glaciers more than 3000 meters above sea level sat above the location of the Liechtenstein Gorge. As the Ice Age came to an end and the glaciers began to recede and melt, the torrential water began to cut a narrow slit into the sides of the Alpine mountains as the water made its way to lower altitudes.

In many places, the Gorge is so narrow, and the walls are so tall that light is almost nonexistent within the Liechtenstein Gorge. Due to the dangers of crossing the Gorge, countless bridges have been built over the centuries to make access to the Liechtenstein Gorge much easier. Many of which can be accredited to the Prince of Liechtenstein who ruled over the region back in 1875.

A view from Liechtenstein Gorge, Austria by Heather (Gruber) Williams

For hundreds of years the Liechtenstein Gorge has been attracting people from all over Europe and the world. Today, it is estimated that more than 10 million people from around the world have visited the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the Liechtenstein Gorge.

And while there are countless gorges and regain second be found throughout the Alpine region, not one of them has been visited as much over the centuries. Millions of people have made their way to Austria in order to walk the length of the Liechtenstein Gorge and stare in awe at its breathtaking beauty.

You can visit the gorge from early May to end of October, openning hours vary on the season and the basic admission is €4,50. For more information visit liechtensteinklamm.at.

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