Vacation in Austria

Fortress Hohensalzburg is a real eye-catcher peaking out high above the baroque towers of the city. The castle in Salzburg is an unmistakable landmark providing the city's world famous silhouette. Even from afar the visitor is able to appreciate the might of this edifice. Up close the history contained in these powerful walls is almost tangible.

The Mozart family lived on the third floor of the "Hagenauer House" at Getreidegasse 9 for twenty-six years, from 1747 to 1773.
The celebrated composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born here on January 27, 1756. The building is named after the merchant and toy dealer, Johann Lorenz Hagenauer (1712-1792), who owned the building and was a friend of the Mozart family.

In 1612, only a few months after ascending the throne, Salzburg's Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus von Hohenems commissioned a country residence to be built at the foot of the well-watered Hellbrunn Mountain.

The "Getreidegasse" is in the old part of town and is the most famous shopping street in Salzburg. The special flair results from the numerous typical wrought-iron guild plaques. In this road 1756 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born.

Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau had Altenau Palace built in 1606 as a token of his love for Salome Alt. The palace fulfilled its purpose: fifteen children were born of their union, ten of whom survived. After Wolf Dietrich's death, the palace was renamed "Mirabell" by his successor, Markus Sitticus von Hohenems.

Visitors experience a high-altitude encounter with the past at Hohenwerfen Fortress, a castle dating back over 900 years. This tall, jutting rock, high above the Salzachtal valley floor, offers a gusty view of the surrounding mountains. The feathered hunters of the province's falconry centre, the dashing weaponry, the museums and the dark corners all encourage visitors to investigate the mighty walls of the castle from within.

The Eisriesenwelt (German for "World of the Ice Giants") is a natural limestone ice cave located in Werfen, Austria, about 40 km south of Salzburg. The cave is inside the Hochkogel mountain in the Tennengebirge section of the Alps. It is the largest ice cave in the world, extending more than 42 km and visited by about 200,000 tourists every year.

Hallstatt is often described as the most beautiful lake-side town in the world. Hardly surprising that the town is situated on the south western shore of Lake Hallstatt on alluvial sands. The region Hallstatt - Dachstein / Salzkammergut is a UNESCO "World Culture & Nature Heritage" region.

Medieval Mauterndorf Castle is a unique gem in the fascinating mountain region south of Salzburg. The toll castle, which just begs you to visit and discover its secrets, originated in the 13th century and for a time was the summer residence of the Salzburg archbishops. It is located on a rocky cliff and dominates the historical town of Mauterndorf.

The Schönbrunn Palace is the most popular sight in Vienna and is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace and gardens illustrate the tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs.

The Museum of Natural History in Vienna is one of the important museums of the world, and the earliest collections of artifacts were begun over 250 years ago. As of 2011, the museum houses approximately 30 million objects and the number is growing.

The MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is a 60,000 m² large area located in the middle of Vienna. The MuseumsQuartier is an oasis of culture and recreation with museums, the quartier21 creative cluster, courtyards, outdoor restaurants, cafés, and shops.

The Belvedere is a historical building complex in Vienna, Austria, consisting of two Baroque palaces the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the 3rd district of the city, south-east of its centre. It houses the Belvedere museum.

The Wiener Riesenrad (German for "Viennese giant wheel"), or Riesenrad is a Ferris wheel at the entrance of the Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Austria's capital Vienna. It is now one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, and symbolises the district as well as the city for many people.

Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge.

Europe's Highest Waterfalls – Experience Water With their impressive waterfall drop of 380 m the Krimml Waterfalls are the fifth highest waterfalls in the world.

Discover Austrias highest mountain, the Grossglockner, through the eyes of an eagle, learn about alpine nature through impressive 3D computer animations and get an idea of the ancient forces which build those majestic peaks.

Photo credits: ® Harry Liebmann

Inaugurated in 1935, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is one of the most popular sights in Austria. On the highest point of the road, 2,500 meters above sea level, you have an impressive view to the surrounding mountains. At the "Franz Josefs Höhe" you have the best outlook to the Grossglockner peak, the highest mountain in Austria with 3.798 m, and its glacial lobe, called Pasterze.

Venice and its mainland are particularly rich of museums and historical buildings of great artistic and cultural importance. Here you can choose among a wide variety of museums, churches, palaces and villas.