Overview
Exploring one of the most popular destinations in Europe, this photographic guide illustrates Austria’s diverse scenery from Bregenz to the Viennese Forest and from the Salzkammergut to Styria. Snowcapped mountains interspersed with wooden hillsides and serene lakes are depicted, stretching as far as the plateau of the Burgenland. The country’s beautiful ski resorts and expansive lakes are captured, creating an impressive network of Alpine hiking routes that promise relaxation. Showcasing the legacy of churches and monasteries that master builders have bequeathed to Austria, this travel companion highlights structures from the Romanesque to the baroque, rivaled by almost none other. Magnificent buildings such as Melk Monastery and an array of splendid castles mirror the country’s turbulent history. The country’s many customs are explored, illustrating an intricate part of Austrian culture with many variations on the traditional national costume and a whole calendar of merry festivities. Major attractions which draw numerous visitors each year are listed, including the Festspiele in Mozart’s native Salzburg. Investigating the Danube metropolis of Vienna with its palaces and art collections at the border between eastern and western Europe, this handbook spotlights the city where Sigmund Freud once analyzed and where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johannes Brahms once celebrated their great musical triumphs.