Austria
During our 2019 Eastern European trip, our time in Austria was in transit from Maribor, Slovenia to Bratislava, Slovakia. En route, we were able to stop in the two largest cities of Austria- Vienna and Graz. Austria is landlocked and shares a border with eight other countries: Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Our first stop was the city of Graz, set along the Mur River. We started in the Old Town and came across a woodcutting competition in the Hauptplatz town square. The cobbled street of Sporgasse leads up the hill towards the Schloßberg, a tree-covered hill that rises up 473m. The fortification on top the Schlossberg dates back to at least the 10th century. After a hike up to the top of the hill near the clocktower, you are rewarded with a stunning view over the city and river.
Our first stop was the city of Graz, set along the Mur River. We started in the Old Town and came across a woodcutting competition in the Hauptplatz town square. The cobbled street of Sporgasse leads up the hill towards the Schloßberg, a tree-covered hill that rises up 473m. The fortification on top the Schlossberg dates back to at least the 10th century. After a hike up to the top of the hill near the clocktower, you are rewarded with a stunning view over the city and river.
Below the Schlossberg hill is an extensive system of tunnels, which were created during the second world war to protect the civilian population of Graz from aerial bombing. We took the Schloßbergtunnel down through the temporary art exhibition of neon lights back into the old town's Schloßbergplatz. Crossing the river, you will see the Island in the Mur Cafe- a strange little glass bean structure halfway across the bridge. On the other side of the river, you will also find another interestingly shaped building- Kunsthaus Graz, the Graz Contemporary Art Museum. This huge blue, glass building has been called a "friendly alien" and has also been compared to a whale, baby hippo or sea slug.
The summer heat was starting to set in on our first day in Vienna. We took the train from the centre of the city to Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn means "beautiful spring" and the palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. The Palace has 1,441 rooms and expansive gardens but after about a hour wandering the grounds we were ready for a swim. We took the train to Alte Donau station, crossed the Kagraner Brücke bridge and found the crowds along the riverbank. The water was glorious and we got to see what the locals do with their hot summer afternoons.
For several years, Vienna has been named the most livable city in the world, ahead of Melbourne, Sydney and Osaka. Vienna is the capital of Austria and accounts for about a third of the country's population. The Old Town of Vienna has some incredible architecture, including the St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Postsparkasse. Known sometimes as the "city of music" and also as the "city of dreams", Vienna can also be credited with the invention of the snow globe and Pez candies. It is also where Sigmund Freud was educated and lived most of his life.
Our short trip through Austria was concentrated on the far east of the country, so we know we missed some of the great sights further west. Hopefully one day we will get a chance to journey through Hallstatt, Salzburg to Innsbruck and beyond (also giving us a chance to visit the small country of Liechtenstein that we missed this time around!).
Questions about travelling in Austria? Email us and we will be happy to help!