Austria ranks high in the quality of environmental regulation. They also score high in safety and security, with very low crime and violence, and reliable police services. They hold the top two spots in the area of natural and cultural resources attributable to several World Heritage sites.
In the very heart of Europe, Austria is a country which could have been created with activity holidays in mind. It is a land of majestic mountains, tranquil lakes, fast flowing rivers and streams, deep forests, undulating meadows, charming village which cling fiercely to their architectural traditions and cultural heritage and cities which still reflect the artistic grandeur of the old Austro Hungarian empire.
A visit to Austria provides the opportunity to see stunning mountain vistas, explore beautiful pastoral landscapes, discover world-famous cities and walk in the footsteps of history.
Austria is a destination that has much to offer and like a good wine, is a destination that you should "savor". We recommend that you sample the local cuisine, try Austrian beers and wines, and attend the opera or a symphony to listen to the classical music for which this country is so well known (although all types of music are popular in Austria).
Austria Sightseeing
Baroque elegance
*
Wonder at the works of Hieronymous Bosch and more in the internationally renowned Akademie der bildenden Künste, and scores of other galleries in Vienna. The city also has more than 50 museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museumsquartier.
Famous Ferris Wheel
While in Vienna, see the Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) in the Prater amusement park, immortalised in the film The Third Man. Also worth a visit are St Stephen's Cathedral, the Chapel of the Hofburg, the Parliament and the Votive Church.
Graz
Explore Graz (www.graztourism.at) on foot. Must-sees include the Landesmuseum Johanneum, encompassing the Alte Galerie's gothic paintings, the Neue Galerie in the Herbenstrein Palace, the Cathedral, the Mausoleum of Emperor Ferdinand II, the old quarter, the Schlossberg (Castle Hill) with its Uhrtrum (clock tower), and the Glockenturm (bell tower).
Striking stallions
See the famous Lipizzaner stallions perform finely executed dressage manoeuvres to Viennese classical music in the Hofburg in Vienna, or at a stud farm in Piber, where they are looked after, trained and ridden.
Crystal-clear lakes
Take in the awesome panorama of some of Austria's beautiful lakes: they include Wörthersee, Wolfgangsee, Traunsee, Hallstättersee and Mondsee, one of the warmest lakes in the Salzkammergut; Carinthia's lakes reach temperatures of around 28°C (82°F) and have won several awards for their water quality.
Donau-Auen National Park
The last protected patch of European rainforest is a floodplain area of wilderness that nurtures a diversity of plants and animals.
Mozart's birthplace
Pay homage to Salzburg's most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His birthplace (Mozart Geburtshaus) is in the Getreidegasse, also the city's main shopping street, while the family residence (Mozart Wohnhaus) is on the market square. Both are now museums.
Ice caves
Witness the magical Eisriesenwelt in Werfen: ice caves, featuring wonderful ice sculptures all year round. These caverns are buried deep beneath the mountain wall that flanks the valley south of Salzburg.
Tirol
Explore the Tirol, Austria's most mountainous province, with forests, pastures, valleys, mountain lakes, alpine villages, churches and castles. Capital Innsbruck has numerous historical buildings including a 12th-century castle. For spectacular views, take the funicular to Hungerburg and then the cable car to Hafelekar at 2,334m (5,928ft).
No comments:
Post a Comment