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    Tourist Attractions in Austria

    The most interesting tourist attractions places in Austria. Photos and a brief description.

    About Austria

    Austria offers tourists a large selection of attractions of different directions – culture, ancient castles, architecture and museums. Many of the museums are included in the lists of the best not only in Europe, but also in the world. Their expositions will surprise even a sophisticated art critic. Classical music lovers visit the Vienna Opera, as well as the birthplace of Mozart – Salzburg.

    Austria has preserved many castles and palaces of the Middle Ages. Their architecture impresses with a variety of styles, luxury and grandeur. Most of the country is occupied by the Alps. The indescribable beauty of the mountains in summer and winter can be observed from countless viewing platforms, castle and church towers. And for a better study of the picturesque landscapes in the mountains, railways and highways are laid.

    Top Cities to Visit in Austria

    Top Tourist Attractions in Austria

    Historic center of Vienna

    Tourist and business district in the center of Vienna. Also called the "inner city". It is included in the list of UNESCO protected sites. It has preserved castles, streets and parks of the XIX century. On the site of the demolished fortress wall, Ringstrasse Street is laid, which separates the historical center from the rest of the city. There is a museum quarter on it. The center of the inner city is St. Stephen's Square with the Cathedral of the same name.

    Historic center of Vienna
    Old Town of Salzburg

    Old Town of Salzburg

    The narrow streets of the city are striking in their beauty. It is not for nothing that this popular place among tourists is included in the UNESCO heritage list. There are many styles of architecture represented here – Baroque, Renaissance, Romanticism. One of the main objects to explore are the Salzburg Cathedral, the house where Mozart was born and lived and the Hohensalzburg fortress, located in the rocks of the mountains. Authentic cafes with bright and colorful signs are also praised.

    Hallstatt

    It is located on the shore of a mountain lake in the Alps in western Austria. Tourists come here for scenic views. The small cozy houses of this small town are beautifully reflected in the clear mountain water of the lake. You can climb to the top of the mountains and to the caves of Dachstein by cable car. But the best photos, according to tourists, are obtained from the observation deck at the Protestant Church of Christ, built in the XVIII century.

    Hallstatt
    Hofburg (Vienna)

    Hofburg (Vienna)

    The residence of the Habsburg dynasty, built in 1278. A luxurious castle, the architecture of which presents several styles. The Swiss courtyard is built in the Renaissance style, and the chapel is in the Gothic style. The Imperial Treasury attracts special attention of tourists. It contains an incredible collection of artifacts, relics of power and jewelry. In total, there are more than twenty different museums on the territory of the palace.

    Belvedere Palace Complex

    It was built at the beginning of the XVIII century. The interior rooms amaze with their luxury – a marble gallery, a Golden study, walls decorated with bas-reliefs. Currently, an art Gallery is located in the palaces of the complex. Her collection is represented by canvases of different years – from the Middle Ages to the present. The three-level garden of the complex is laid out in the French style. It is decorated with a fountain with two cascades and antique sculptures.

    Belvedere Palace Complex
    Schoenbrunn Palace

    Schoenbrunn Palace

    The residence of the emperors in the style of the Austrian Baroque. Its construction was completed in 1713, it lasted 17 years. Later, at the request of Empress Maria Theresa, a theater was attached to the palace, and at the will of her husband, a zoo. There are more than 1000 rooms in the palace, only 40 are available for tourists to explore. There is a large park complex around the palace. It houses a green maze and a greenhouse with exotic plants.

    Schoenbrunn Zoo

    It was built in 1752 and bears the title of the oldest zoo in the world. One of the few zoos where they keep large pandas. There is a terrarium in the zoo, and in the aquarium you can walk along the bottom of the Amazon. Guided tours are held, including specially for children and at night. In 2002, in honor of the anniversary of the zoo, a 5 euro coin was issued with the image of the central pavilion of the zoo and animals on its background.

    Schoenbrunn Zoo
    Prater Park (Vienna)

    Prater Park (Vienna)

    Located on the banks of the Danube. It was founded in 1766 by Emperor Joseph II. The park is divided into two zones – the "green" zone and the amusement zone. The most popular attractions are a children's railway and a Ferris wheel with a height of 60 meters. There is also a chain carousel in the park – the highest in the world. When rotating, its part rises to 117 meters. In the "green" zone there is a racetrack, a stadium, sports fields and a velodrome.

    Hohensalzburg Fortress

    It was built on the top of Mount Festung in 1077. From Salzburg, it can be reached by funicular. The fortress museum presents the history of the fortress itself and the military history of Austria. The Hohensalzburg Fortress often hosts various events – concerts and festivals. The most luxurious and beautiful places of the fortress are the Golden Chamber and the princely chambers, decorated with precious stones and rich ornaments.

    Hohensalzburg Fortress
    Helbrunn Palace (Salzburg)

    Helbrunn Palace (Salzburg)

    Built in the early XVII century. This is the residence of the Archbishop of Salzburg, which has been preserved almost in its original form. The palace park is decorated with firecracker fountains, ponds and many sculptures. There is an open-air Stone Theater in a crevice of the mountain. A special feature of the park is the mechanical theater. It is a small town with figures of residents moving to the sounds of the organ. The mechanisms of the organ and figures are moved by a jet of water.

    Mirabelle Palace and Gardens (Salzburg)

    The Baroque palace was built for his beloved woman by Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau in 1606. To emphasize the splendor of the palace, he ordered a magnificent garden to be laid out around it. The park complex and the palace are included in the UNESCO Heritage List. The best creations of the castle are the Marble Hall and the Marble Staircase. The park is notable for a rose garden and a greenhouse, as well as two fountains – a Large fountain and a Pegasus.

    Mirabelle Palace and Gardens (Salzburg)
    Schlossberg Castle (Graz)

    Schlossberg Castle (Graz)

    It was built in 1125 as a defensive fortress. It is located on a mountain with a height of 450 meters. Cultural events are now taking place at the site of the casemates in the courtyard. Thanks to the good acoustics, even classical music concerts are held here. A good view opens from the observation deck at the Clock Tower. An unusual attraction is the Schlossberg Steps, built during the First World War.

    Eggenberg Castle (Graz)

    The princely residence, decorated in the spirit of Prince Eggenberg's hobby – astronomy. The number of rooms in the castle corresponds to the number of weeks in a year, windows – days in a year. 24 office premises are 24 hours a day. At the same time, the architect himself built the castle in the Renaissance style. Currently, the palace houses a collection of paintings – more than 600 paintings, as well as an archaeological exhibition and an art museum.

    Eggenberg Castle (Graz)
    Ambras Castle (Innsbruck)

    Ambras Castle (Innsbruck)

    A popular place among event tourists. They come to the events taking place in this castle – the Innsbruck Festival of Ancient Music and the annual Renaissance festival. They take place in one of the most beautiful halls of the Renaissance – the Spanish Hall of the castle. The wall paintings in it depict the lords of the Tyrolean lands. There is also an interesting collection of weapons, jewelry, and art objects in the castle.

    St. Stephen's Cathedral (Vienna)

    This Catholic cathedral is a symbol of the capital of Austria. Built in the XII century in the Gothic style. The height of the tallest tower is 136 meters. There are many attractions in the cathedral – a Gothic altar from 1447, a tombstone of Emperor Frederick III made of red marble, a Giant miraculous icon. The decorations of the cathedral are bright patterns on the roof of multicolored tiles, pylons with rich carvings, artful stained glass windows.

    St. Stephen's Cathedral (Vienna)
    St. Peter's Church (Vienna)

    St. Peter's Church (Vienna)

    A church with majestic Baroque architecture. It hosts organ music concerts every day, and admission to daytime concerts is free. Inside the church is decorated with marble. The stucco is decorated with gold and silver. The monastery depicts the Holy Trinity, to which the construction of the church is dedicated, as well as the Face of the Queen of Heaven. Relics with fragments of the relics of saints were delivered from Rome to St. Peter's Church.

    Monastery in Melka

    The monastery is located in the Wachau Valley on the rocky bank of the Danube. It was built in 1702-1746 and is included in the UNESCO Heritage List. This is a gigantic structure in the Baroque style. The interior is also impressive – the pilasters decorating the marble hall are decorated with red marble, the golden altar. The ceiling is decorated with frescoes. On two floors of the monastery there is the largest library of ancient books in Austria – more than 80,000 volumes.

    Monastery in Melka
    Salzburg Cathedral

    Salzburg Cathedral

    It is included in the list of the most beautiful temples in the world. It is a magnificent example of Renaissance architecture. The height of the majestic dome is 79 meters. The facade is made of marble, it is decorated with two towers 81 meters high. The capacity of the cathedral is 10,000 people. The interior of the cathedral is made in the Baroque style and decorated with frescoes and paintings. The great composer Wolfgang Mozart was baptized in the bronze font.

    Vienna City Hall

    It was built according to the project of the famous architect Schmidt in the Neo-Gothic style in 1872-1883. The tallest tower of the town hall rises 105 meters above the ground. There is a 3.5-meter-high statue of "Rathausman" on it. The front hall of the Town Hall is 20 meters wide and 71 meters long and decorated with sculptures of famous citizens of Vienna. In it, as well as in the adjacent premises, up to 800 events are held annually – exhibitions, balls, concerts.

    Vienna City Hall
    Vienna State Opera

    Vienna State Opera

    The Vienna Opera is called the musical capital of the world. It was headed at various times by such musicians as Gustav Mahler, Lorin Maazel, Clemens Kraus, Karl Boehm. The elegant and refined building is especially beautiful in the evening. Under the lights of the ramps, the marble sculptures of the muses on the facade of the building seem shiny. Every year the Vienna Opera Ball takes place at the State Opera, in which even the President of Austria takes part.

    Museum Quarter (Vienna)

    It is located on the site of the emperor's court stables. The reconstruction of the building for an Exhibition Pavilion began in 1921. The construction of all the buildings of the quarter was completed only in 2001. There are more than 20 museums of various subjects in the Museum Quarter. The most famous of them are the Leopold Museum, the Kunsthalle and the Museum of Modern Art. As part of the Vienna Festival, art events are held in the Museum Quarter.

    Museum Quarter (Vienna)
    Museum of Art History and Natural History Museum

    Museum of Art History and Natural History Museum

    The museums are located opposite each other and opened simultaneously – in 1889. They are located in the Historical center of Vienna and are identical in appearance. The Natural History Museum has many exhibits that are not in any other place. For example, a stuffed extinct Steller cow and a skeleton of a diplodocus. The collection of works and exhibits in the Museum of Art History is among the top five in the world.

    Albertina (Vienna)

    Museum in the center of Vienna. The collection was collected by Duke Albert for the education of morality in future generations. The basis of the collection is the world's largest collection of graphics – more than a million exhibits. These are engravings, drawings, architectural drawings and photographs, including works by Rubens, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael. In addition, the gallery presents paintings by Monet and Picasso, as well as other famous artists.

    Albertina (Vienna)
    Kunsthaus (Graz)

    Kunsthaus (Graz)

    Gallery of Modern Art. It is located in an unusually shaped building, which is why it received a second unusual name - "friendly alien". The convex building of the gallery is built in the style of modern architecture "blob". It looks like reinforced concrete, but it is made of blue plastic panels. There are many glowing elements on the facade of the building. The backlight is controlled by a computer.

    Hangar-7 Red Bull (Salzburg)

    This unusual museum will be interesting not only for those who are fond of extreme and technical sports. The building of Hangar-7 itself is extremely interesting – the construction of metal supports holds a giant glass dome. It was built on the territory of the airport. The main theme of the museum is aeronautics. Among the exhibits there are both pleasure and sports planes. The museum also has a collection of Formula 1 racing cars.

    Hangar-7 Red Bull (Salzburg)
    Crystal Worlds of Swarovski (Wattens)

    Crystal Worlds of Swarovski (Wattens)

    It was created in 1995 for the anniversary of the Swarovski company. This museum presents installations made of Swarovski crystals. It is built in the form of a maze of 13 halls, it also has a shop, a restaurant, separate halls for VIP collectors and special exhibitions. The entrance to the museum is made in the form of a giant's head, from whose mouth a waterfall erupts. The museum itself is located underground. Two crystals of the museum are included in the Guinness Book of Records.

    High Tauern

    This 181,500 ha national park is located on the highest ridge of Austria. The mountain peaks in it reach a height of more than 3000 meters. The slopes are covered with meadows and dense forests. Mountaineering athletes often come here. For lovers of hiking, there are guided tours. The most popular of them lead to the Golling and Kremlin waterfalls, as well as to the Lichtensteinklamm mountain gorge.

    High Tauern
    Nordkettenbahn Cable Car

    Nordkettenbahn Cable Car

    Located in the city of Innsbruck. The funicular takes everyone to the Hafelekar mountain peak with a height of 2256 meters. A cable car ride from the city center will take 20 minutes. The route passes through several stations, some of them are made in the form of glaciers. From the top of the mountain there is a view of the snow-covered mountain landscapes, the Inn River valley and the city of Innsbruck itself. The cable car is open all year round.text

    Untersberg

    The mountain near Salzburg is in the Untersberg Nature Park. You can climb the mountain by cable car. Its upper station is located at an altitude of 1853 meters. There's snow lying there, clouds are passing by. The view of the city from the top of the mountain is comparable to the view from the window of an airplane. There are several hiking trails along the mountain range from the station. Many tourists are interested in the Schellenberg ice cave on the mountainside.

    Untersberg
    Eisriesenvelt Cave

    Eisriesenvelt Cave

    The largest ice cave in the world. Ice is preserved in it all year round. The depth of the cave is 407 meters, the length is 42 km. The cave is popular with tourists, about 150,000 people visit it a year. However, the entrance to it is open only from May to October. The rest of the time there is a danger of avalanches. You can get to the cave by cable car. Carbide lamps are provided for the duration of the visit.

    Pasterce Glacier

    The largest glacier in Austria. It is located in the Alps, at the foot of the Großglockner mountain on the High Tauern ridge. Its length is 9 km . The maximum height is 2100 meters above sea level. The glacier has been continuously melting and descending since 1856. However, since 2003, due to climate change, the melting rate has increased. Visiting this ice massif is among the most popular tourist routes in Austria.

    Pasterce Glacier
    Grosglockner High Mountain Road

    Grosglockner High Mountain Road

    The serpentine of this mountain road consists of 36 turns. Its length is 48 km . The road is toll-free, but, nevertheless, more than one million people pass through it every year. They are attracted by the opportunity to see the picturesque views of the Hohe Tauern Park and the Central Alps. The highest point of the road is located on the Hohtor pass at an altitude of 2504 meters above sea level. The road passes by the Pasterze Glacier and the Grossglockner Mountain.

    Semmering Railway

    The world's first railway laid in the mountains. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest section of the 42 km long road was built in 1848-1854. Due to the complexity of the terrain, the builders had to build more than 100 bridges made of stone, 16 viaducts, and cut 14 tunnels. There is a picturesque mountainous area around the road. There are balneological and ski resorts near the railway route.

    Semmering Railway
    The cultural landscape of Wachau

    The cultural landscape of Wachau

    A section of the valley located between the towns of Melk and Krems. It is included in the list of UNESCO protected sites, thanks to the many monuments of history, archeology and culture. Unique traditions of winemaking and fruit growing have been preserved in the valley. The cultural landscape of the valley with its landscapes shows the history of civilization from Paleolithic times to the present. Picturesque views of the valley attract writers and artists.

    The Alps

    These mountains, known all over the world, occupy half of the territory of Austria. Millions of ski enthusiasts come to Austria for the opportunity to visit the snow resorts of this country. The landscape of the Eastern Alps of Austria is characterized by picturesque valleys, they have many routes to natural monuments. Many mountain peaks can be climbed by funicular and enjoy the mountain scenery and clean air.

    The Alps