Austria, my home country. Where do I start? I guess history
is a good place and it was the Habsburg
dynasty that shaped this country's fate for many centuries.
Austria is known all over the world as the setting for the Sound
of Music and people instantly associate the idyllic lake
and mountain sceneries with Austria. From the High
Alps in the West to the plains in the East, Austria is a
beautiful country. Almost everyone has heard of its capital
Vienna, of places like Salzburg and Innsbruck, but other cities
like Graz, Linz, Bregenz and Klagenfurt have their own charm
and definitely merit a visit.
The famous Alpine lake district where "Sound of Music" was filmed
offers up almost dream-like landscapes with towering mountains,
pristine lakes and charming villages. Visit the famous imperial
castles
in Vienna, check out the Opera or attend a concert by the world
famous Vienna
Boys Choir. Music lovers will enjoy Vienna which has been
the home of many famous composers including Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart,
Joseph Haydn,
Franz Schubert,
Johannes Brahms,
Johann Strauss
Sr., Johann Strauss
Jr., Ludwig van Beethoven
and Arnold Schönberg.
The famous white horses of the Vienna
Riding Schoolare another unique attraction. You can experience
culture galore here.
In the summer Austria is beautiful for hikers
and sightseers, owing to the many baroque castles, monasteries
and churches you can visit. Athletes such as mountain climbers,
bikers, hang-gliders and even golfers will have a ball here.
During winter Austria becomes a veritable wonderland for winter
sports, no wonder since it's one of the word's top destinations
for skiers.
In addition Austria offers many other activities, such as taking
a cruise on the Danube, tasting fresh wine at one of the Heurigen
in and outside of Vienna, attending one of the many festivals
(such as the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, the Bruckner Festival
in Linz), enjoy a luxurious spa treatment at one of the many
spa towns or explore one of the quaint little villages and sample
a taste of Austrian Gemütlichkeit.
Here are some essential links for Austria:
Austrian
National Tourist Office
Frommers
website for Austria
Official
tourism website for Vienna
Official
tourism website for Salzburg
Official
tourism website for Innsbruck
Official tourism
website for Graz
Here are some essential travel books for Austria:
