an independent travel guide about Austria
The small town of Melk by the Danube receives tens of thousands of visitors yearly who see the huge Melk Abbey. However, regardless arrive at Melk Abbey by land or water; you cannot avoid being mightily impressed by the grand splendour of the monastery. 1000-year history Melk was, for the first time, mentioned in written […]
The castle in Mauterndorf is not to be overlooked as it is located on a mountain cliff at the edge of the village. The site has been fortified since 326 A.D., guarding the Roman trade route crossing the Tauern mountain pass. However, the castle itself is first mentioned in written records from 1253. The castle […]
Its historic centre (Altstadt) has by no means lapsed into a tourist trap but still functions as a place where people live. Furthermore, you find lots of shops, restaurants, patisseries and other businesses to keep you busy for a few days. Although I have been here numerous times and know the town well, I never […]
Any historical town with respect for itself should have a castle, and Feldkirch has the Schattenburg. Although there has been documented a settlement on-site for more than 2000 years, the “town” Feldkirch was built together with the castle in the early 13th century. We found the Schattenburg well worth the entrance fee and learned a […]
The small village of Heiligenbrunn in Burgenland is located in the transition between the rolling hills that characterize south-eastern Austria and the vast plains that dominates western Hungary. Forests and vineyards dominate the landscape around Heiligenbrunn. Also, the architectural traditions in this part of Austria differ greatly from the well-known Tyrolean style houses you find […]
You will find enticing hiking terrain throughout Austria. Although the Alps and mountain views may be at the top of your list, there are also many beautiful natural experiences in flatter areas. Although Austrian hiking trails are often associated with cows grazing on flower meadows, beautiful rugged mountain scenery and great views, you can experience […]
A very hilly landscape characterizes the Bucklige Welt region in the southeastern corner of Lower Austria. Hence, the name means something like “world of bumps” in German. This is the easternmost end of the Alps, which extends through Austria. From here, the flat Pannonian plains dominate the landscape far into Hungary. Land of the thousand […]
There are plenty of activities to enjoy on and in the area around the lake. Since we had brilliant and warm weather during our stay, we decided to give water activities priority. Well, almost. We went for a short hike in the mountains as well. Mostly for the stunning views of the lake and a […]
What a change from when my college Arnold was here in the summer of 2017 (see the article Family fun in Seefeld). One of the snowiest winters in Austria in a long time had laid a thick white blanket over Seefeld and the entire Tyrol. It did not take long to get off the train […]