Sights of Austria

Austria is a country that attracts thousands of tourists all year round with a variety of sights that combine untouched breathtaking beauty of nature and ancient castles, churches, cathedrals, museums with unique preserved exhibits.

Sights of Austria are located in unique picturesque cities.

Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt is a pearl city in the southern part of Austria, located on the warm Wörthersee lake, which impresses with a combination of modern cafes and boutiques with many old courtyards and original Baroque buildings. The city is home to unique attractions, thanks to which the pearl of Austria is becoming one of the favorite cities for tourists from all over the world.

Landhaus

Landhaus is an architectural masterpiece of the Renaissance era, built in the 16th century on the site of a burned-down castle. The most valuable part of the monument is the large coat of arms hall with scenes from history on the ceiling, painted by the artist Fromiller, which in the past hosted guests for magnificent celebrations.

The Landhaus opens its doors to everyone in the summer.

Klagenfurt Cathedral

The monument represents one of the unique examples of the country’s Protestant culture. Tourists are invited to explore the cathedral, decorated with stucco, listen to the amazing sounds of the organ during the service and even take photos for souvenirs.

In the vestibule of the cathedral there is a preserved painting by the artist Johann Schmidt.

Today, Klagenfurt Cathedral is open to all comers.

New Town Hall

The New Town Hall is a three-story palace with a facade of 15 windows in the classical style on the western side of the New Square, built by Johann Rosenberg after buying the ruins of the building in 1650 from the prince bishop, which remained after a fire.

In 1700, the New Town Hall was affected by fire for the second time and was rebuilt.

For a long time, the building was a place for magnificent celebrations and receptions. The walls of the palace commemorate the accession to the throne of Emperor Leopold I, the visit of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Charles IV. Since 1918, the city council has been located here.

Tourists are struck by the splendor of the double Ionic pilasters in the central part of the facade, the large pediment in the form of a triangle, characteristic of the classicism style.

Lindwurm Fountain

The monumental Lindwurm Fountain is one of the most visited and favorite tourist attractions on a high pedestal.

The fountain shows two characters – a hero with a staff, ready to deliver a decisive blow, and an angry dragon, the symbol of the city of Klagenfurt, which adorns the city’s gift coins, coat of arms and stamps, from whose mouth a stream of water flows into a bowl. The composition is surrounded by an exquisite wrought-iron fence.

The creation of the fountain is associated with an ancient legend about the creation of a city where a dragon raged in the local lake and carried the residents into the depths of the lake. The bravest warriors were sent to fight the monster, who lured the dragon out of the lake and killed it, returning peace to the local residents. A city was built on the site of the drained lake. The amazing legend was confirmed by the discovery of a huge skull of an unprecedented beast in Klagenfurt.

There is a belief among local residents that during a walk during the full moon on Lake Wörthesee, you can hear the cries of the dragon’s captives, which can drive you crazy.

Melk

Among the attractions of the city of Melk are castles, striking in their architectural beauty, and monasteries, which attract thousands of tourists.

Wine and Baxay Shop

The two-story wine shop presents wine products from local producers. The shop was founded in 1999. In the tasting room, located in the spacious basement, you can try any variety of wines and enjoy their exquisite taste.

The ethnic interior of the hall is decorated with old bottles in niches, a wooden old barrel, which is used as a table, with a wine list.

As souvenirs, you can buy original corkscrews, glasses and collectible bottles.

Artstetten Castle

The castle is located in the Melk district, is the residence of the descendants of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – Hohenberg.

Visitors are invited to walk through the park on the territory of Artstetten Castle and visit the attached Franz Ferdinand Museum.

The castle church houses the crypt where the Archduke and his wife Sophia, who were murdered in 1914, rest.

Benedictine Monastery

The monument impresses tourists with its scale (area – 17.5 thousand sq. meters) and beauty.

The monastery was repeatedly affected by fires, taking on its current appearance only in 1718. In 1978, grandiose restoration work was carried out.

The main object of attention here is the marble hall, striking in its splendor with frescoes from 1731, originally built for holding magnificent celebrations.

The monastery library has over 100,000 volumes, including incunabula and manuscripts.

Visitors will enjoy strolling through the monastery park, where they can admire the grandeur of three-hundred-year-old trees and the garden pavilion with a variety of Berle frescoes.

Hallstatt

The town of Hallstatt is an untouched corner of the earth, striking in its tranquility combined with its location among the splendor of the mountains and unique attractions.

Salt mines

It is impossible not to visit the famous city salt mines, located in the Hallstatt mountains above the city and which are over 7000 years old.

In 2004, a unique find was discovered here – the oldest wooden ladder in the world, perfectly preserved, 3.5 thousand years old.

Tourists are invited to climb the mines by funicular or walk on foot, which takes about 40 minutes.

When climbing, tourists have a breathtaking view of Lake Hallstattersee surrounded by mountain ranges, which can be considered another landmark of the city.

Bin House Ossuary

The monument is a room on the first tier of the Gothic chapel of the Church of St. Michael, which houses 1,200 skulls of local residents.

The reason for creating the ossuary was the tradition of 1,720 townspeople, 10 years after the funeral, to dig up a human corpse and place it under the influence of sunlight for a week. After that, the bones acquire an ivory hue, are painted and laid out in the chapel with the name inscribed on the skull, the date of death and birth, and an ornament of leaves, crosses or flowers.

The last skull was added to the vault in 1995.

Lutheran Evangelical Church

An ancient monument of the mid-19th century is located on the picturesque shore of the lake, made in the ancient Romanesque style.

Inside the church you can see unique masterpieces of religious culture of the world. The temple has a famous ancient altar, consisting of three areas depicting scenes from the life of the Savior. The open altar doors tell the story of Christmas and the Adoration of the Magi.

Various cultural events are held in the church.

Hallstatt Museum

The museum impresses with exhibits that are up to 7,000 years old.

In the monument, you can learn about the history of the development of the city’s culture and its salt mines.

Villach

Villach is a town in the south of the country, located among the mountains, immersed in the greenery of grass, where you can see many thermal springs, lakes, nature reserves and cultural monuments.

Landskron Castle

Landskron Castle is the ruins of an ancient fortress, spread out on top of a hill 676 meters high.

Most of the castle was destroyed by a fire in the 19th century. Today, several halls have survived, which tourists are invited to explore.

There is a restaurant on the territory of Landskron Castle, where you can have a pleasant time over lunch with delicious dishes and drinks. On Tuesdays, a unique event takes place here – a medieval-style banquet, when waiters dress up in ancient costumes.

From the castle, tourists can enjoy a picturesque view of the Drau Valley with lakes and the Alps.

A special part of the castle houses birds of prey, which are released from their cages twice a day. Tourists can watch the unique spectacle of owls, hawks and falcons flying.

Church of St. Jacob

The Gothic-style church is notable for its 94-meter-high pointed tower and the adjacent cemetery.

The church has retained its current appearance since 1847. Tourists are invited to climb the 239 steps to the top to enjoy a magnificent view of the city’s surroundings.

Central Square

One of the city’s landmarks is the Central Square, surrounded by ancient buildings that amaze with their uniqueness and beauty of architecture.

Automobile Museum

For car enthusiasts, a visit to the automobile museum, founded in 1987, will be memorable. It presents models of cars, scooters, mopeds and motorcycles from 1927 to 1977.

Visitors can see more than 240 vintage vehicles, located on an area of 1000 sq. meters. Separately, radio receivers, amplifiers and various measuring instruments are presented.

Conclusion

Despite its small territory, Austria is rich in many monuments of sculpture, architecture, history and religion, which attract dreamers and art lovers to the city. The article lists more colorful places so that you can immerse yourself in the unusual atmosphere of the country’s beautiful nature.

When visiting Austria, no one will be left indifferent. The Bone House in Hallstatt, which is surprising and remains in the memory of visitors for a long time, the ruins of Landskron Castle in Fillas will impress every tourist with its grandeur.

The country’s residents are open and friendly people, but it should be remembered that the Austrians are unobtrusive and tactful, diplomatic and polite, which is expected from every interlocutor.

Sights of Austria, photos and descriptions of which will not leave anyone indifferent – a unique opportunity to get to know the history and cultural heritage of the country, which amazes with its luxury.

TOP-7 castles in Austria

A trip to Europe for most of our fellow citizens is associated with the Czech Republic, Spain, France and, possibly, England. Drinking the famous Czech beer in Prague, basking on the beaches of Barcelona, taking a picture against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben is one of the indicators of a typical tourist program.

We suggest expanding your horizons and turning your attention to the homeland of Iron Arnie and RedBull Corporation, which gives wings. Of course, Austria has given the world many more famous personalities: composers, politicians, artists and even the most famous psychiatrist. And the ancient castles are of extraordinary beauty. Medieval castles are the undoubted decoration of Austria. This country unites nine federal states, each of which is interesting in its own way. Picturesque nature, clean lakes and majestic mountains attract numerous tourists to this country. Not the last place in the fact that these tourist destinations are in high demand at any time of the year, medieval castles play a role – silent witnesses of historical events.

Kreuzenstein Castle

Located next to the picturesque village of Leobendorf in a picturesque area. We recommend that you first enjoy the view of the castle from afar – it’s definitely worth it. Then you can go to the entrance. Check-in is only possible as part of a tour group.

Worth visiting:

-The Armory, where a huge collection of cold weapons is collected. Some specimens are unique and you will not see anything like this anywhere else.

– The Knight’s Hall and the Count’s Hall, here you will learn a lot about the life of people of good lineage in the Middle Ages.

– The Chapel, where the best local craftsmen left us reminders of their art. Be sure to climb the Clock Tower – the clock mechanism is impressive.

– Hunting Hall. There are many weapons on display that were successfully used during hunting – the number of trophies confirms this.

– Kitchen. And what without it? Get your camera ready, because a large 7-meter table awaits you, which for some reason attracts the attention of almost everyone. And a huge medieval “aerogrill” – you can’t buy one like it now.

– Underground tunnel, which served as a secret passage to the Danube in case of a long siege; another hunted trophy is also on display – the skeleton of a right whale.

On a sweet note: now you can hold a wedding ceremony in the chapel, and lovers of hunting and thrills can be offered falconry.

Ambras Castle

Surrounded by a luxurious park area, the castle impresses with its grandeur, elegant architecture and is perceived as relatively small. The impression is deceptive – it is huge. It has long been almost completely converted into a museum.

It houses:

Habsburg Portrait Gallery. It contains more than 200 paintings by famous European artists;

Chamber of Arts and Curiosities, designed to scare the unprepared visitor. Here are collected very interesting and extremely unusual scientific instruments, strange figurines, non-trivial musical instruments and much more, mostly unknown. When visiting the castle, visiting this unusual exhibition is a must.

Armor Chamber. We immediately remember our childhood, Ivanhoe and other knights … And we go to the ancient times of knightly tournaments. This topic is very well and in detail revealed to visitors.

Castle Towers. For the sake of the view that opens and good photos, it is worth going higher.

Park. A neat park in the European style with a large artistic lake. Walks among its flower clusters and neatly trimmed bushes contribute to leisurely soulful conversations and are peaceful. You can see peacocks, geese and ducks by the lake. The birds give the impression of prim European nobility.

Do you like art? You’re here. Creative natures will like it here.

Rosenburg Castle

This castle is one of the medieval types of racket and was built on a trade route to extort money for passage from merchants. Over time, it changed hands several times, and was also restored several times. Due to its complex essence, it combines several styles, but remains one of the most elegant, spacious and bright castles. While the castle is characterized by its architecture and decoration, it is worth paying close attention to them:

– More than 20 spacious halls are open for visiting, which well preserve the interior, furniture, ancient paintings, mirrors and hunting weapons.

– An ancient library. One of the few rooms where you are completely immersed in those ancient times.

Knight’s Playground. The best preserved and one of the largest playgrounds in Europe.

– Gardens. A lily pond, a wall of rose bushes that amazes the imagination, a herb garden where aromatic plants are grown.

A pleasant bonus in the form of the Falconry Museum. Тут можно прослухати докладний и місцями потрясаючий уяву расказ про це мистецтво. І, звичайно ж, демонстрація птиці в дії.

Приємно, що замком дозволено вільно гуляти і фотографувати. Приміщення замку, до речі, сприяють прогулянкам.

Замок Эггенберг

З вигляду простий, але надзвичайно елегантний замок. Можна назвати його «символічним замком». 365 вікон, 31 кімната на кожному поверсі, 24 парадних зали, 52 кімнати і 4 углові вежі. Площа – рівно 365 кв.м. Суцільна магія цифр. Оформлення замку заворожує. Обовязкові для відвідування:

– Кімната Планет. Парадна гостинна, стіни якої розписані знаками зодиаку, на стелі намальована планетна система. Атмосферно і незвично для Европи тих років;

– Археологічний музей. Представлені прикраси, озброєння, амфоры, знаряддя праці, а також предмети античності з Близького Сходу та Єгипту;

– Нумізматична колекція. Більше 70 000 різноманітних монет усіх років;

– Сад. Примітний тим, що частини саду розрізняються стилями.

Замок Шлоссберг

Ще одна гордість Граца. Звідси відкривається найкращий вид на Грац і саме цей замок вважають №1 в місті. До наших днів витримали далеко не всі споруди цього гіганта і зараз це найбільш осучаснений замок. На його території розташовані кафе, театр, парк і магазини з сувенірами. Іноді проходять виступи і концерти під відкритим небом. Из старинных споруд збереглися:

Годинникова вежа з нестандартним годинником. Годинникова стрілка в них довше хвилинної. Поряд розміщений пам’ятник собаці.

Дзвіниця. З неї відкривається шикарний вид на місто. Дух захоплює.

Турецький колодязь. Глубина 94 метра. Забеспечував водою під час облоги;

Гарматна хіжина. Тут знаходиться музей військового гарнизону, а ось раньше була в’язниця.

Замок Хоэнверфен

Замок – охоронець сів на високу скалу і довгий час захищав тутешні землі від будь-якого ворога.

Величне спорудження, яке до сих пір викликає повагу і продовжує займати своє почесне місце в центрі долини. Замок пережив стільки історичних подій, що стіни тут буквально пропитані історією. На що варто звернути увагу:

Башта Фальтурм. Довгий час служила темницею. Виділяеться на загальному фоні своїм потужним зовнішнім виглядом;

Статуя Діви Марії з немовлям. Розташована в капелле замка. Пережила всі негаразди будови з XV століття;

Арсенал і зброярські кімнати. Можна отримати докладну інформацію про історію зброї за останні 700 років.

Замок Гохостервитц

Найвражаючий замок в Австрії. Справляє неповторне враження на любого. Розташований на високій скелі. Выглядає так, як представляє собі з дитячих років практично кожна людина. В його архітектуру було внесено безліч змін і тому в ньому поєднується величезна кількість стилів і напрямків. Звернемо увагу на пам’ятники цього замку:

– 14 ворот. Кожні ворота володіють індивідуальним стилем та обличчям, і за кожними стоїть історія;

– Музей картин епохи Відродження;

– Музей боєвої слави замку. Експонатами виступають старовинні види озброєнь та обладунків. Експонат, що найбільше виділяється, – «Начальник охороны» висотою 2 з лишком метри;

– Оглядові майданчики. Дозволяють оглянути околиці на відстані до 30 км;

Замок до цього часу знаходиться в власності роду Кевенхуллерів і тому туристам доступна не вся територія замку.