Small Towns of Austria

About Vienna

Everybody wants to visit Vienna. Not only is it the capital city of Austria, it is an exciting metropolis with a rich background in history, art and especially music. The city is known for its grand Ring Road, lined with impressive buildings including museums such as the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. If you want to be witness to the opulence of the Habsburg dynasty then make sure to tour the former residences of the royal family at the Schönbrunn Palace and the magnificent gardens as well as the Hofburg Palace and the Belvedere Palace, with its baroque architecture.

Everybody wants to visit Vienna. Not only is it the capital city of Austria, it is an exciting metropolis with a rich background in history, art and especially music. The city is known for its grand Ring Road, lined with impressive buildings including museums such as the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. If you want to be witness to the opulence of the Habsburg dynasty then make sure to tour the former residences of the royal family at the Schönbrunn Palace and the magnificent gardens as well as the Hofburg Palace and the Belvedere Palace, with its baroque architecture.

Vienna (Wein) has 23 districts (Wiener Gemeindebezirkein) and each district offers diverse attractions including art galleries, café, museums, palaces, restaurants etc. each with its pros and cons. Starting in 1850, as the city kept growing and including the surrounding communities the city gave them numbers for easy clarification and reference.  The 1st District (Innere Stadt) is the old town and is encircled by the Ringstrasse (The Vienna Ring Road) which is about 5 km long. It is divided into nine sections; each has a ring extension. In 2001, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is much to see in the inner circle including St. Stephan's Cathedral (Stephansdom), Hofburg Palace, the Natural History and Art History Museum, Wiener Rathaus (Vienna City Hall) the State Opera House and much more. Did you know that there are over 100 museums in Vienna! Besides the museums there are theatres, dance and music halls, restaurants, bars, exhibitions, restaurants, bars, cafes and lots of nature trails. Renowned artists whose works are hung in museums around the world and musicians whose music is played by international symphony orchestras were from Vienna. For example - Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) a symbolist painter and important influential member of the Vienna Secession movement (is there anyone who hasn’t seen his painting “Judith and the Head of Holofernes”; Egon Schiele (1890-1980) the Austrian expressionist who painted powerful personal paintings and Oskar Kokoschka the Expressionist, as well as Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) whose startling works can be seen in what used to be his home in the 3rd district. Note: The family was Jewish, their original name was Stowasser and to save themselves during WWII they disguised themselves as Catholics and the young Friedrich even joined the Hitler Movement to avoid being targeted. It was only after the war that he then decided to change his name.  Just saying and just mentioning a few of the most renowned Austrian composers, in alphabetical order (feel free to add to this list): Anton Bruckner, Joseph Haydn, Franz Liszt, Joseph Haydn, Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert; their compositions can be heard around the world. in opera houses, theaters, concert halls and churches. Hofburg Imperial Palace which was built in the 13th century was the former main residence of the Habsburg monarchy. The palace contains 2600 rooms and some of them are spectacular museums on various themes and exhibitions. The various collections are housed in separate rooms and include musical instruments, weapons and armor, the ceremonial room (State Hall) in the Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) one of the most impressive in the world, with more than 12,000,000 books and item. The Imperial Treasury (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer) includes two imperial crowns as well as the Burgundian treasure and the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Sisi museum in honor of Empress Elisabeth and so much more. On the outskirts of the palace is the famous Spanish Riding School where to this day they continue the training of Lipizzaner horses. Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) which was the summer “vacation” home for the Habsburgs is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered Austria's most popular and most visited tourist attraction. It is of great importance for its architectural design and its spectacular neoclassical colonnade and manicured gardens which includes the palm house (Palmenhaus) from around 1880 is home to exotic plants growing in 3 pavilions in this huge greenhouse and the Maze (a terrific place for children as well). St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. It is also one of Austria’s most prevalent attractions with about one million visitors a year! Architecturally it is a very important building in the Gothic style, although it has been added to, altered and redecorated over the many decades or more accurately centuries! However, if it is that “Kodak Moment” you are yearning for, then you will have to climb up over 300 steps to the bell tower for a magnificent view of the city with its colorful tiled rooves. Belvedere is actually two palaces in the Baroque style - the Orangery and the Palace Stables. As well, the Belvedere is home to the Austrian Art Museum with works by leading Austrian artists such as Egon Schiele and Kokoschka Oskar, Gustav Klimt (“The Kiss” is on view, in the Lower Belvedere Museum). The Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), considered one of the top museums in the world, was built near the Imperial Palace in the late 1800’s. There just wasn’t enough room in the Imperial Palace for the incredible huge art collections of the royal family, as well as the most extensive collection of Bruegal art anywhere. Today they also exhibit the works of top artists from the Middle Ages to the 19th century including paintings by Johannes Vermeer, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) and Titian (Tiziano Vecelli).  The Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper) was one of the first of the monumental buildings to be built on the Ringstrasse and is renowned throughout the world. If you are a real opera buff you will be excited to know that the acoustics have been improved (with great difficulty because the building is under a preservation order). There are daily ballets and operas and visitors are welcome to view the impressive building. The Vienna Prater is a fantastic large public park in Leopoldstadt and the amusement park (The Wurstelprater) usually referred to as "Prater" is on one side of the park, with over 200 attractions including the iconic Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad) from the late 1800’s.Note: For easy access, an underground railway now stops near to the entrance of the Prater. Traditional dishes of the Viennese cuisine: Wiener schnitzel (veal coated in breadcrumbs and fried), Tafelspitz (boiled beef), Beuschel (a ragout containing veal lungs and heart), Selchfleisch (smoked meat) eaten with sauerkraut and dumplings and Knödel, a type of dumpling cooked in water- to be eaten as (a) a first course or maine or (b) a sweet type for dessert. Note: After the fall of Napolean in 1815, The Congress of Vienna took place. Celebrations and banquets were held for several months and the congress took on a moniker “The Dancing Congress". And thus for over 200 years the beginning of November signals the opening of “party time” and more than 450 banquets are held during the winter period.  

About Melk

Melk is best known as the site of a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. The enchanting town is full of old buildings, in use today as mundane shops and the like. The Forsthaus, which accommodates the city archives and the tourist information office, the beautiful Rathaus built in 1575, which has been restored and is still standing today, the old bread store with its tiny towers is about 400 years old and is still covered with the original shingle roof. The hidden Haus am Stein ('house at the rock') is the oldest building of Melk, built during the 15th century. Its facade is covered by a protected ancient vine.

Melk is best known as the site of a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. The enchanting town is full of old buildings, in use today as mundane shops and the like. The Forsthaus, which accommodates the city archives and the tourist information office, the beautiful Rathaus built in 1575, which has been restored and is still standing today, the old bread store with its tiny towers is about 400 years old and is still covered with the original shingle roof. The hidden Haus am Stein ('house at the rock') is the oldest building of Melk, built during the 15th century. Its facade is covered by a protected ancient vine.

About Bad Ischl

Bad Ischl is a spa town in Austria. Besides the Kaiservilla, the city offers several health spas and tourist attractions like the historic Kongresshaus opened in 1875, the new Kurhaus built by Clemens Holzmeister in 1932 as well as the former residence of Franz Lehar which today serves as a museum. The Saint Nicholas parish church was first mentioned in a 1344 deed.Bad Ischl is also known for the Konditorei Zauner pastry shop, established in 1832, and the small Lehártheater built in 1827. A gondola lift runs from the town up to the Katrin alpine pasture, which offers a panoramic view of the Salzkammergut mountains. The ruins of Wildenstein Castle, that burnt down in 1715, are nearby.

Bad Ischl is a spa town in Austria. Besides the Kaiservilla, the city offers several health spas and tourist attractions like the historic Kongresshaus opened in 1875, the new Kurhaus built by Clemens Holzmeister in 1932 as well as the former residence of Franz Lehar which today serves as a museum. The Saint Nicholas parish church was first mentioned in a 1344 deed.Bad Ischl is also known for the Konditorei Zauner pastry shop, established in 1832, and the small Lehártheater built in 1827. A gondola lift runs from the town up to the Katrin alpine pasture, which offers a panoramic view of the Salzkammergut mountains. The ruins of Wildenstein Castle, that burnt down in 1715, are nearby.

About St. Anton am Arlberg

St. Anton am Arlberg lies in the Tyrolean Alps. It is a popular summer resort among trekkers and mountaineers. Skiing has a long history in Sankt Anton: in the 1930s, instructors from the area emigrated to the US, to help popularise the sport. St. Anton is frequently listed as one of the world's top skiing resorts. The groomed runs in the region cater to all ski levels. There are also 200 km of deep snow runs in the area. Other activities in St. Anton include many sightseeing spots around the village, cycle tracks and a sports centre with pools, whirlpools and a water slide. During the summer months, many tourists come to hike the mountain and one can even go cross-country on a Segway PT.

St. Anton am Arlberg lies in the Tyrolean Alps. It is a popular summer resort among trekkers and mountaineers. Skiing has a long history in Sankt Anton: in the 1930s, instructors from the area emigrated to the US, to help popularise the sport. St. Anton is frequently listed as one of the world's top skiing resorts. The groomed runs in the region cater to all ski levels. There are also 200 km of deep snow runs in the area. Other activities in St. Anton include many sightseeing spots around the village, cycle tracks and a sports centre with pools, whirlpools and a water slide. During the summer months, many tourists come to hike the mountain and one can even go cross-country on a Segway PT.

About Zell am See

Zell am See provides winter skiing on the Schmittenhohe Mountain. The ski pass covers the whole area including transport to and from the glacier which is open most of the year snow dependent. Even when the snow on the mountain isn't great, the snow on the glacier is fantastic most of the year round. Within St. Hippolyte's Church are the oldest building remnants of the Pinzgau region. The church is built in a Romanesque style. The tower is the main focus of the Zell am See skyline, reaches 36 metres, with limestone walls. The Grand Hotel Zell am See is situated in a unique position on a private peninsula at the shore of Lake Zell, surrounded by water with a panoramic view of the mountains.

Zell am See provides winter skiing on the Schmittenhohe Mountain. The ski pass covers the whole area including transport to and from the glacier which is open most of the year snow dependent. Even when the snow on the mountain isn't great, the snow on the glacier is fantastic most of the year round. Within St. Hippolyte's Church are the oldest building remnants of the Pinzgau region. The church is built in a Romanesque style. The tower is the main focus of the Zell am See skyline, reaches 36 metres, with limestone walls. The Grand Hotel Zell am See is situated in a unique position on a private peninsula at the shore of Lake Zell, surrounded by water with a panoramic view of the mountains.

About Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, usually referred to as just Klagenfurt, is on the eastern shore of Lake Wörthersee. It is the capital city of the province Carinthia in southern Austria, known for its culture, nature and beautiful landscape

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, usually referred to as just Klagenfurt, is on the eastern shore of Lake Wörthersee. It is the capital city of the province Carinthia in southern Austria, known for its culture, nature and beautiful landscape

On a wooded hill, south of Lake Wörthersee, standing 100 meters high, is the Pyramidenkogel tower, the highest wooden viewing tower in the world. You can reach the top via an elevator or climb 440 steps and catch the “Kodak moment”! When it comes time to descending you might want to try for a thrilling moment and “whoosh”down the inner slide, a real experience (not for the faint of heart). On the way from the shore of the lake to the city center is the Minimundus Park of the world, not unlike Madurodam in Holland or Bekonscot Model Village, England. Minimundus Park shows off dozens of models of important buildings in the world, (accurately scaled at 1:25) using the original materials. (In the winter months it may be closed so make sure to check before going). Klagenfurt's Cathedral was rebuilt after a fire consumed part of the building in the second half of the 17th century. The interior of the church is decorated with elements in the baroque and rococo style and the vaults are decorated with floral stucco reliefs. The organ stands in a loft that gives a special resonance to its sounds. The city’s theatre was first built in the early 17th century and served as a ballroom. The original building did not withstand the ravages of time and at the beginning of the 20th century the new building was inaugurated combining the neoclassical style with the Art Nouveau style that was at its peak at the time. The plaque with the gold letters at the top of the building states that the place was inaugurated on the occasion of the 60th jubilee of Franz Joseph I of Austria and therefore named "Kaiser Franz Joseph I. Jubiläumstheater". One of the most famous fountains in Austria, The Lindwurmbrunnen (the Dragon Fountain) which is in the middle of The Neuer Platz (The New Square) is also the symbol of the city. Water spews out of the mouth of the dragon (which is made of a block of black stone) and carries with it a legend that the dragon was the cause of floods. When a skull was discovered in the area they believed there would be no more “threats” of flooding. The State Museum of Carinthia has this skull on display, even though it was proven that it is a skull of a rhinoceros. Located in Heuplatz in the center of Klagenfurt is the pedestrian zone considered the oldest in Austria that is popular for its variety and high quality of goods, including international brands. The City Arkaden Klagenfurt mall is Carinthia's best and biggest shopping center with 115 stores.  Originally served on festive days, especially Easter, you can enjoy this local pastry every day – just imagine a cup of coffee with Kärntner Reindling, which is a fluffy yeast dough, generously filled with cinnamon sugar, rum, raisins and walnuts, finished with the finest honey. 

About Vienna

Everybody wants to visit Vienna. Not only is it the capital city of Austria, it is an exciting metropolis with a rich background in history, art and especially music. The city is known for its grand Ring Road, lined with impressive buildings including museums such as the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. If you want to be witness to the opulence of the Habsburg dynasty then make sure to tour the former residences of the royal family at the Schönbrunn Palace and the magnificent gardens as well as the Hofburg Palace and the Belvedere Palace, with its baroque architecture.

Everybody wants to visit Vienna. Not only is it the capital city of Austria, it is an exciting metropolis with a rich background in history, art and especially music. The city is known for its grand Ring Road, lined with impressive buildings including museums such as the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. If you want to be witness to the opulence of the Habsburg dynasty then make sure to tour the former residences of the royal family at the Schönbrunn Palace and the magnificent gardens as well as the Hofburg Palace and the Belvedere Palace, with its baroque architecture.

Vienna (Wein) has 23 districts (Wiener Gemeindebezirkein) and each district offers diverse attractions including art galleries, café, museums, palaces, restaurants etc. each with its pros and cons. Starting in 1850, as the city kept growing and including the surrounding communities the city gave them numbers for easy clarification and reference.  The 1st District (Innere Stadt) is the old town and is encircled by the Ringstrasse (The Vienna Ring Road) which is about 5 km long. It is divided into nine sections; each has a ring extension. In 2001, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is much to see in the inner circle including St. Stephan's Cathedral (Stephansdom), Hofburg Palace, the Natural History and Art History Museum, Wiener Rathaus (Vienna City Hall) the State Opera House and much more. Did you know that there are over 100 museums in Vienna! Besides the museums there are theatres, dance and music halls, restaurants, bars, exhibitions, restaurants, bars, cafes and lots of nature trails. Renowned artists whose works are hung in museums around the world and musicians whose music is played by international symphony orchestras were from Vienna. For example - Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) a symbolist painter and important influential member of the Vienna Secession movement (is there anyone who hasn’t seen his painting “Judith and the Head of Holofernes”; Egon Schiele (1890-1980) the Austrian expressionist who painted powerful personal paintings and Oskar Kokoschka the Expressionist, as well as Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) whose startling works can be seen in what used to be his home in the 3rd district. Note: The family was Jewish, their original name was Stowasser and to save themselves during WWII they disguised themselves as Catholics and the young Friedrich even joined the Hitler Movement to avoid being targeted. It was only after the war that he then decided to change his name.  Just saying and just mentioning a few of the most renowned Austrian composers, in alphabetical order (feel free to add to this list): Anton Bruckner, Joseph Haydn, Franz Liszt, Joseph Haydn, Gustav Mahler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert; their compositions can be heard around the world. in opera houses, theaters, concert halls and churches. Hofburg Imperial Palace which was built in the 13th century was the former main residence of the Habsburg monarchy. The palace contains 2600 rooms and some of them are spectacular museums on various themes and exhibitions. The various collections are housed in separate rooms and include musical instruments, weapons and armor, the ceremonial room (State Hall) in the Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek) one of the most impressive in the world, with more than 12,000,000 books and item. The Imperial Treasury (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer) includes two imperial crowns as well as the Burgundian treasure and the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Sisi museum in honor of Empress Elisabeth and so much more. On the outskirts of the palace is the famous Spanish Riding School where to this day they continue the training of Lipizzaner horses. Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) which was the summer “vacation” home for the Habsburgs is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is considered Austria's most popular and most visited tourist attraction. It is of great importance for its architectural design and its spectacular neoclassical colonnade and manicured gardens which includes the palm house (Palmenhaus) from around 1880 is home to exotic plants growing in 3 pavilions in this huge greenhouse and the Maze (a terrific place for children as well). St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. It is also one of Austria’s most prevalent attractions with about one million visitors a year! Architecturally it is a very important building in the Gothic style, although it has been added to, altered and redecorated over the many decades or more accurately centuries! However, if it is that “Kodak Moment” you are yearning for, then you will have to climb up over 300 steps to the bell tower for a magnificent view of the city with its colorful tiled rooves. Belvedere is actually two palaces in the Baroque style - the Orangery and the Palace Stables. As well, the Belvedere is home to the Austrian Art Museum with works by leading Austrian artists such as Egon Schiele and Kokoschka Oskar, Gustav Klimt (“The Kiss” is on view, in the Lower Belvedere Museum). The Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), considered one of the top museums in the world, was built near the Imperial Palace in the late 1800’s. There just wasn’t enough room in the Imperial Palace for the incredible huge art collections of the royal family, as well as the most extensive collection of Bruegal art anywhere. Today they also exhibit the works of top artists from the Middle Ages to the 19th century including paintings by Johannes Vermeer, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio) and Titian (Tiziano Vecelli).  The Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper) was one of the first of the monumental buildings to be built on the Ringstrasse and is renowned throughout the world. If you are a real opera buff you will be excited to know that the acoustics have been improved (with great difficulty because the building is under a preservation order). There are daily ballets and operas and visitors are welcome to view the impressive building. The Vienna Prater is a fantastic large public park in Leopoldstadt and the amusement park (The Wurstelprater) usually referred to as "Prater" is on one side of the park, with over 200 attractions including the iconic Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad) from the late 1800’s.Note: For easy access, an underground railway now stops near to the entrance of the Prater. Traditional dishes of the Viennese cuisine: Wiener schnitzel (veal coated in breadcrumbs and fried), Tafelspitz (boiled beef), Beuschel (a ragout containing veal lungs and heart), Selchfleisch (smoked meat) eaten with sauerkraut and dumplings and Knödel, a type of dumpling cooked in water- to be eaten as (a) a first course or maine or (b) a sweet type for dessert. Note: After the fall of Napolean in 1815, The Congress of Vienna took place. Celebrations and banquets were held for several months and the congress took on a moniker “The Dancing Congress". And thus for over 200 years the beginning of November signals the opening of “party time” and more than 450 banquets are held during the winter period.