Austria sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places

Austria is famous for its excellent ski resorts, picturesque nature and numerous historic landmarks. Vienna is the most interesting city from the cultural point of view. During many centuries St. Stephen’s Cathedral has been considered the symbol of the city. Vienna is an old city and numerous historic buildings and places are treated with great care here, so in Vienna you will find many beautiful churches and castles, such as St. Ruprecht’s Church, Vatican Church, Schoenbrunn Castle, Belveder Castle, St. Bernard Chapel, Parliament House and Town hall. Just like most capitals, Vienna is home to numerous museums – Historic Museum, several Art Museums, Graphics Museum and Albertine Gallery. The former imperial residence Hofburg is worth close attention. The building of the residence took place in the 13th century. The treasury that is located in Hofburg stores many rare artifacts that once belonged to the Order of Golden Fleece. The Crown of the Holy Roman Empire is, without a doubt, the most famous and precious exhibit of the museum complex. The crown was made yet in 962 A.D.

Vienna suburbs are also rich in landmarks. The most popular excursions here include a visit to Durnstein Castle and ancient monasteries. The internationally famous Vienna Forest is located approximately 70 kilometers away from the city. This is a big and beautiful nature reserve that will please all tourists who enjoy walking.

Salzburg is another popular tourist city. The most famous landmark here is the cathedral that dates back to the 8th century. The sanctuary is surrounded by three large squares that are also the location of such famous places as house of Mozart, Baroque Museum, Hellbrunn Palace and several beautiful fountains. There is a small village of Tennenhebirge located near the city. This village is famous for Eisriesenwelt Caves. The caves are spectacular, their beauty is so striking that they are also called “The World of Ice Giants”. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Every year a small town of Innsbruck attracts many visitors who come to see Ambras Castle that was built in the 16th century. Tourists, who enjoy long walks in beautiful places, are recommended to visit Kitzbuhel. Other popular tourist destinations include sport resorts of Karnische, Arlberg, and Baden. They feature modern infrastructure, quality ski slopes, luxury hotels and rich choice of entertainment centers. Baden is more famous for its balneology complexes, there are several dozen hot water springs there. This is one of the oldest and most famous health centers in Europe that has been popular for over a century.

History and Entertainment

Admirers of historical attractions, colorful festivals, health tourism and sports entertainments come to Austria. The history of Austria as an independent duchy dates back to 1156 when it withdrew from Bavaria. For the next 300 years, the area of the duchy had been constantly increasing. In the first half of the 16th century, it was joined by Croatia and the Czech Republic. In the 18th century, a part of Poland passed on to the duchy. In the late 17th century, Hungary acceded to Austria.

Since the beginning of the 19th century, the country saw a lot of wars and political feuds, during which the territorial organization of Austria had undergone significant changes. The economic and political development of the country was seriously impacted by the Second World War, after which the country challenged the times of the Cold War. Austrians honor their history. During the year, there are a lot of holidays dedicated to important memorable dates in the country.

Over the years, Austria has been notable for food traditions. The main components of the national cuisine are meat and poultry dishes. Some Austrian desserts, for example, apple strudel and Sacher cake, are also popular all over the world. The country is famous for its historical winemaking traditions. There are old wine cellars called heurigers in the surroundings of Vienna. Here, you can not only enjoy exquisite wines from historical wineries, but also taste the most popular national dishes.

Austria is also known as an amazing place for recreation. There is no sea but Austrian lakes are famous all over the world for their beauty and comfortable beaches. The most popular lakes are in Carinthia. They are small and not deep, so they are quickly warmed up to comfortable temperatures.

However, the most part of the state territory is occupied by mountain ranges. Here, at the beginning of the 20th century, upscale ski resorts were opened. At present, they attract usual fans of winter entertainments, as well as professional sportsmen. Some resorts welcome guests all year round. Besides attractive ski routes, there are invaluable nature attractions, marvelous lakes, in the mountains.