In Austria there can be no ordinary waves: the rivers and lakes there are beautiful and blue, the Alps are dizzying. God created the nature of Austria to be beautiful for everyone - the Austrians firmly believe in this.
Austrian names are often found in the UNESCO lists: unique corners of nature, medieval historical monuments, engineering wonders of past centuries. Austrians respect both their historical heritage and the environment. The old buildings of the 12th-18th centuries show no signs of destruction. Even the cows that graze in the meadows seem to have just been washed!
Vienna's inner city - a UNESCO reserve
The historic center of Vienna (Inner City) has retained the inspiring atmosphere of past centuries, recalling that Vienna has been the European Capital of Culture since the 18th century. Old streets, cozy Viennese cafes attract not only tourists, but also photographers, cinema and television.
Representatives of UNESCO, called upon to strictly select only unique cultural phenomena, included the entire old city of Vienna in the lists of cultural heritage. So many historical monuments and unique objects are located in a small area that the famous lists of cultural heritage did not overload.
Historical monuments to find while walking the streets of the Inner City:
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Hofburg palace complex (main residence of the Habsburgs)
- Town hall
- Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Vienna State Opera
- Museum Quarter on the Ringstrasse
- Church Maria am Geshtade
- St. Michael's Church
- Minorite Church
- Church of St. Ruprecht
- Scottish monastery
- An ancient cemetery.
St. Stephen's Cathedral is the most famous building in old Vienna, all roads converge here. The south tower of the Gothic cathedral is visible from any street. The cathedral was built for almost 200 years, from the XIV to the XVI century, on the site of the old cathedral of the XIII century. One wall of the old cathedral with 2 towers became part of the building: the western part is older than the rest.
The interior decoration of St. Stephen's Cathedral was formed in the Baroque era, it is decorated with numerous sculptures and bas-reliefs, famous for the carved altar and images of the Virgin Mary of the 17th century, luxurious colored stained glass windows, carved choirs. In the crypt (under the altar) there are tombs of Austrian monarchs by famous sculptors. You can go upstairs, inspect the bells, take a closer look at the patterns of colored tiles on the roof and admire the old city from above.
The Habsburgs ruled Austria and neighboring states (Hungary, Czech Republic, Germany) for centuries. The Austrian Habsburgs adored their Hofburg: everyone tried to embellish it, to build something on the territory of the residence. The result was not a palace, but a huge complex that includes 19 palaces and 18 other buildings, squares, front gates. Not all 2,600 rooms of the palaces are open to tourists: the Hofburg is the official residence of the President of Austria. To feel the imperial power of the palace complex, it is better to go to the Hofburg from Michaelplatz square. Excursions to the imperial apartments and the Silver Chamber (collection of silverware and porcelain of the imperial court) will help to visit the Habsburgs, to join the life of the dynasty.
Hallstatt - Alps reflected in the clear mirror of the lake
Hallstatt is a small medieval village, sandwiched on both sides by a lake and mountains. Hikers climb here (511 m above sea level) for breathtaking alpine landscapes. Hallstatt mountain lake reflects not only mountains, but also picturesque houses, medieval streets.
The village has preserved the same territory for many centuries, the rest of the place is occupied by mountains and a lake. Because of this, a local landmark arose - a chapel with the skulls of residents exhibited in it. Due to the lack of land for the burial of the dead, they dug up after 10 years, and the skull was placed in the chapel, with the name and profession written on it. Since the 80s of the XX century, bodies have been cremated, and local residents wishing to support the tradition must indicate this in their will.
The treasures of Hallstatt and the surrounding area include:
- Salt mines (over 3000 years old)
- Underground salt lake
- Skywalk Hallstatt Observation Deck
- Ecker Valley Glaciers
- Waldbachstrub waterfall.
Krimml Falls: noisy clouds
Water spray clouds hang over the Krimml Falls in the Alps. From a height of 38 meters, Krimml strives downward, overcoming 3 main obstacles and many small ones. The cascades of the waterfall create a bizarre landscape; a hiking trail passes by the waterfall. Don't slip, bring comfortable shoes!
Hohensalzburg: white fortress on a green stand
In Salzburg, on Mount Festun, overgrown with forest, there is a white castle of the 16th century, the residence of the archbishops and local rulers. You can climb to it on the Festungsbahn funicular - a train that moves almost vertically. Festungsbahn appeared in 1892, but before him there was Reiszug, built in 1500 to lift goods into the fortress (the world's first funicular).
Hohensalzburg Fortress was built on the foundations of its predecessor from the 12th century. It is perfectly preserved, the thickness of the walls and the height of the towers are amazing. In the 16th century, she withstood a siege that lasted 61 days. The rich interiors, magnificent paintings and marble sculptures of the chapel also survived to the days of tourism: the castle, for example, has an exhibition of weapons from different times.
A wonderful panorama of the city, the river and the surrounding mountains opens from the walls of the fortress.
Below, in Salzburg, tourists are waiting for:
- Mirabell Palace with gardens
- Helbrunn Castle
- Salzburg Cathedral
- Museum "Hangar-7 Red Bull".
Semmering railway: 100 mountain bridges at 42 kilometers
The engineers who laid the Semmering railway in the mountains did it for the first time - before them the trains went down. And at the same time, they got a very difficult site: differences in height, rocks. In addition to 100 stone bridges, they built 11 metal bridges and punched 14 tunnels. The construction of the road took 6 years and is an engineering masterpiece of the mid-19th century. Semmering is a renowned ski resort and the journey begins along an old railway line with magnificent mountain views.
Melk Monastery: Tomb of the Babenbergs and 250-year-old lime trees
In the XI century, Melk (Lower Austria) was the capital of the possession of the Austrian margraves of the Babenbergs. A Benedictine monastery was built on a rock above Melk in 1089, where the relics of St. Koloman were placed. Here a place was allocated for the tomb of the rulers. A large number of books were copied in the monastery, so over time a rich library appeared here.
At the beginning of the 18th century, the new abbot decided to give the monastery a majestic appearance. For a complete reconstruction of the complex, he invited prominent Austrian and Italian architects, masters of the Baroque style. Today, tourists are greeted by a huge monastery complex with ancient gardens, a monastery refectory (restaurant), a church with rich decoration, an imperial wing, an open observation terrace.
Swarovski Crystal Museum in Wattens: in full splendor
A lake in an alpine valley with snow-capped mountain peaks in the background is an unexpected place for a museum. A huge grassy face looks at the lake: the eyes are glowing with an unearthly fire, a waterfall is pouring out of the mouth, and the entrance to the museum is in the area of the earlobe. Then miracles continue: labyrinths, amazing halls of various shapes, completely decorated with Swarovski crystals, fantastic installations, and, of course, a shop.
Eisriesenwelt cave: icy breath of the mountain
To see the largest ice cave, you need to come to Werfen (Salzburg land), get a carbide lamp and go down 400 meters. The ice in the cave does not melt, therefore, in addition to the icy breath, tourists are met by illuminated man-made ice figures. You can get to the cave by cable car.
Kunsthaus in Graz: a friendly alien
The avant-garde building of the modern art gallery in Graz explodes the historical atmosphere of the city. Surrounded by venerable buildings of past centuries, the Kunsthaus resembles a foreign creature with a lot of growths. Unofficially, the Kunsthaus is called in English " the friendly alien".
The building is faced with blue acrylic panels. The panels glow: the intensity of their glow is controlled by the computer, light shows are shown here, the outer walls of the building can even serve as screens.
Wachau Valley: Danube, castles, wine and apricots
The Wachau wine valley (Lower Austria) is located on both banks of the Danube. Vineyards, orchards, small old towns and villages stretch along the river. At a distance from the river banks there are high hills (up to 500 m), overgrown with dense forest.
The nature of the valley is magnificent, the fruits that are grown here are ecologically clean. Wine in the Wachau has been produced since the 5th-6th centuries AD. There are 5000 historical monuments in the Wachau: the ruins of castles, ancient monasteries, churches, the cities of Melk and Krems, the old city gates.
