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Priyanka Singh and
Poonam Batth describe a summer sojourn in Austria
Rolling snow-capped mountains, endless alpine meadows, picturesque valleys, and blue lakes...the other name is Austria. While the cities have a lure of their own, the countryside just leaves you taken. We map the land. On a nature song: Austria's on a perpetual song. Singers crooning on the streets and music fests cramming up calendars. Outdoor activities, lounging at the lakesides to paragliding. It's in sync with nature, all the while being nestled in pristine nature and being surrounded by culinary excellence. A land of romance and music, Austria wins hands down when it comes to abundant natural beauty, beating even Switzerland and is unmistakably the essence of Europe. Vienna waltz: Standing along the Danube, Vienna is a lover's dream and a historian's wish. The hub of music, it conjures up imperial majesty.
Wander along narrow alleyways or across imperial squares, see the Schonbrunn Palace or the Imperial Palace or marvel at the majestic architecture along the Ring Boulevard, the monarchy's showpiece bordered by Parliament,Vienna University, Hofsburg Theatre, Volksgarten and Karlskirche which is a lovely baroque church. The past isn't overpowering. Baroque and post-modern, Vienna boasts of open-air theatres, operas and lifestyle bars. It's been home to Mozart and Beethoven. Vienna's first private palace orchestra, Schonbrunner Schlossorchestra, performs every night, March to October, at the Orangery of the Palace where Mozart conducted compositions. Though the entry fee is steep at Euros 50, it is well worth it. Art walks with you here. The hottest tourist rendezvous, the Schonbrunn Palace, charms with an 185-acre garden which is one of the best preserved French-style baroque greens in the world. A must-see is the Hunderwassehaus comprising apartments and designed by Austria's most celebrated artist, Hundertwasser whose work reflects the idea that life is not linear and hence and hence the steps are crooked and walls and floors uniformly irregular. The centuries old St Stephen's cathedral is the heart of Vienna while Karlskirche, the biggest cathedral in baroque style, floors. The garden-palace museum Leichtenstein is a storehouse of art masterpieces of Europe from four centuries while the Leopold Museum houses private collection of Rudolf Leopold and works of artists Gustav Klimpt and Egon Schiele. Belvedere Palace and the Art Museum are important to get a feel of the local history. A meal downed by wine winds up the heady evening. Salzburg seduction: Music, art and architecture reach baroque perfection in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace. Salzburg is both architecturally and scenically one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. This 6,000-year-old city, that was accorded the status of Unesco World Heritage Site in 1996, is famous for anything Mozart. If you loved the classic Sound of Music, you might like to revisit places where it was shot! The famous Sound of Music Tour takes you through the suburban Leopoldskron. Overlooking the lake, you will find the Palace of Leopoldskron where the Von Trapp family sipped lemonade and where Maria danced with the baron.
The highlight here is the the Sound of Music dinner concert featuring performance by the original Sound of Music singers, operettas and light Mozart. The entry fee is on the higher side, nevertheless the show and the candle-lit dinner more than compensate. An assortment of Mozart souvenirs - plates, ties and watches, can be picked from here. Chocolate souvenirs and liqueurs are also available. Music lovers can pick compositions on CDs, a piano or a violin with notes. Mozhart-Wohnhaus is a must-stop. It houses the Mozart Museum, a neat collection, including his first violin. The handsome St Peter's Church, dates back to the 12th century, although its layout and decor was updated during the baroque era. Enclosed by arcades, housing numerous epitaphs and wrought iron gates, the graveyard close by is mystic. The Hohensalzburg Fortress, Central Europe's largest completely preserved citadel, 400 ft above the river, gifts you great views of the city. A boat ride on the Salzach is memorable too. Since the water is pure in Austria, it is served directly from taps, even in small-time restaurants and hotels. That's why mineral water here comes in fruity flavours with fizz. Don't miss tasting the local non-alcoholic drink, Almdudler. You won't stop at one! Intriguing Innsbruck: Innsbruck's snow-capped peaks frame its fascinating historic buildings. A lively city, it is the capital of Tirol, which is by far one of the most beautiful provinces of Austria. The Panorama Tower Cafe and observation terrace at the Bergisel Ski Jump offer a breathtaking vantage point of the city. The cable car ride that takes you up to the cafe gives you some of the best views of the lakes and the valleys above Innsbruck, an insight into the impressive Tyrolean mountain world. The biggest attraction here is the Swarovski Crystal World or Kristallwelten. A 20-minute drive from Innsbruck to Waltens, takes you to the marvellous futuristic work. It was commissioned by Swarovski as a tribute to 100 years of the existence of the crystal company in 1995. There are underground chambers of wonder that are reached by entering the head of the water-spouting giant who beckons mankind to enter into the realms of dreams. Some amazing works include the huge crystal dome that mirrors the interior of a crystal in 590 facets, a crystal wall and the world's largest gemstone, the Centenar. "The Golden Roof" is the centrepiece of Innsbruck from Emperor Maximillan's era, comprising 2,657 gilded copper tiles. Another not-to-miss is the Tyrolean evening managed by the Gundolf family, a two-hour programme on Austrian folklore. The Achensee region, beyond Innsbruck, is a Bollywood haunt, something, only a Yash Chopra musical ever lent a whiff of. The landscape is spectacular with cruises on the country's largest lake. The notes could run on, like the Austrian lush. A lifetime of fondness and fantasy we shall forever cherish. |
