I've now been to Austria several times over a period of many years. I've been to most of the major cities, including Vienna and Salzburg. Here, I outline what I've done most recently in Austria and what I'd like to do - sometimes possibly again.
Recent achievements
-
Vienna
-
One time imperial capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire -
Vienna
is
resplendid with palaces and architectural gems and museums from the time.
Highlights have included the Spanish Riding School and the Schonbrunn
Palace. Of the museums, the Art History Museum and Natural History Museums
are excellent. Have dinner at the Melker
Stiftskeller and round it off with a glass of wine or coffee at the Cafe
Central. -
Salzburg - Famed as one of Europe's most beautiful cities, it's unsurprising that Salzburg is highly tourist as it's also the birthplace of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Hohensalzburg Castle dominates the skyline and provides excellent vistas over the UNESCO listed old town. The Domkirche (Cathedral) is a gorgeous piece of Baroque design while markets are regularlly held outside outside the impressive façade of the Collegial Church.
-
Melk -
The old town of Melk
is home to one of the most impressive Benedictine
monastries in
Europe
Built in the Baroque
style, the monastry dominates the town, towering over it in beige and
white colours - a colour scheme used throughout the monastry. The Library,
Church and Marble Room - the three main rooms for any visit - are hugely
impressive. The Library is an important part of any Benedictine monastry
as a centre of theological and secular learning and the library at Melk
is of note at 8 stories in height - although only one is open to the
public. -
Bregenz - Often overlooked by people passing between Germany and Switzerland it's easy to dismiss Bregenz as a border town with little to offer. Which isn't strictly true. Sure it's smallish, but it has a charming old town with "Berginsel," a prominent rock formation, protruding from the ground with the bulk of the old town on top. On the shore-front of Lake Constance, the promenade is an enjoyable place to stroll with an ice-cream during the summer months.
Goals
Over time I have already visited other cities in Austria and would like to return to Graz , Innsbruck Klagenfurt
However, my highest priority for a return trip to Austria will be to visit to the Wachau - which will be my first visit to the wine producing parts of this region. Noted for its wine production, the Wachau towns of Krems an der Donau and Melk have been listed UNESCO as a cultural landscape. Krems an der Donau is noted for its old town. Wachau is noted for Reisling wine production and but also produces Grüner Veltliner. More about Wachau wine is available here.
