is one of the nicest cities in the world and the “European musical capital”. Fusion of numerous cultures in the course of centuries created here the unique architecture that suffered much during the WWII, but was almost completely restored by the diligent Viennese.
70 km to the west of Vienna, on the Danube banks, are situated the ruins of the Durnstein castle (XXII century), where the legendary king Richard the Lion Hearted was once imprisoned.
The famous Baden is situated 25 km to the south of Vienna, among the green hills of the Bohemian Forest, fields and vineyards. This health resort with healing hot sulphur springs was already known at the times of the Ancient Rome.
The federal province Lower Austria lies in the lower course of the Danube in the northeast of the country at the border with the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The capital of the province is Sankt Polten, the oldest Austrian city and the youngest capital of a federal land.
Styria is a federal province bordering with Slovenia and famous for a great number of medieval castles and the “Lake country” Salzkammergut.
The administrative centre of Styria – Graz – is one of the ancient outposts of the Austrian Empire at the border with Turkey and one of the most original cities of the country.
The capital of Carinthia – Klagenfurt – was founded in 1252 near the picturesque lake Worthersee. It is a very beautiful place famous for its park “Minimundus”.
But the true treasure of Carinthia is its nature. Here are situated the country`s most famous lakes – Worthersee, Ossiach See, Millstatter See and Visen See, and also such small ones as Afritzer See, Faaker See with the unique landscapes, Feld See, Kechaher See, Klopeiner See (the warmest in Austria), Presegger See and Langsee.
Linz is the main city of the federal land and a major port on the Danube.
The federal province Tyrol bordering with Italy, Switzerland and Germany is often called “the heart of the Alps”. It numbers more than 600 peaks, including “three thousand something” ones and five glaciers. The main city is Innsbruck.
The federal province Salzburgerland is located in the centre of the country. Its capital is Salzburg, the hometown of the great Mozart, stretched out right at the foot of the Alps. Salzburg is amazingly picturesque and famous for its rich culture and annual musical festivals.
Tourism. Austrian ski resorts:
- Salzburg: Salbach-Hinterglemm, Kaprun, Gasteinertal, Bad-Hofgastein, Badgastein, Zell-am-See, Kitzbuhel, Flahau
- Carinthia: Bad-Kleinkirkheim
- Tyrol: the Schtubeitel valley, Seefeld, the Zillertal valley, the Otztal valley, Igls, Sankt Anton, Aksamer-Litzum, Innsbruck
- Forarlberg: Oberlech, Lech
- Styria: Ischgl, Schladming
The main Austrian beach resorts:
The lakes of Carinthia: Worthersee (Felden, Pertchach, Maria-Wort, Krumpendorf resorts), Klopeiner See (Sankt-Kanzian resort), Millstatter See, Ossiah See, Faaker See;
The lakes of Salzkammergut: Wolfgangsee (Sankt Wolfgang, Sankt Gilgen, Schtrobl resorts), Mondsee, Traunsee, Attersee and Hallstatter See;
Salzburgerland: Zeller See (Zell am See resort).
Sanatory and recreational resorts of Austria include Bad-Ischl, Bad-Hall, Blumau, Bad-Loipersdorf, Baden, Badgastein and Bad-Hofgastein, Bad-Kleinkirkheim, and Warmbad-Fillah.
Climate. The climate of Austria is moderate Central European. The main part of the country lies in the westerly and northwesterly winds predominance zone. The average temperature in July is about +20°С, in January 0°С to -5°С, the average annual precipitation is from 500 to 900 mm in the flatlands and intermontane hollows.