The south of this Federal
Province is dominated by the Salzkammergut lake
district and the Salzkammergut peaks lie across
the border of Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)
and Salzburg province. This is an area less well
known to tourists and, with its slower pace and is ideal for restful
holidays.
The north offers a relaxed holiday in the many quiet villages and
farms – the Mühlviertel. Rolling plains,
densely wooded highlands and lush meadows are interspersed with
rocks of natural granite. The Pyhrn-Eisenwurzen
region is more mountainous, while Innviertel (in
the west) is an area of endless farmlands, forests and rivers. The
many spas and convalescence centres in this area offer treatment
for a wide range of illnesses.
Linz
The Province’s capital is an attractive town with a Baroque
centre, straddling the Danube. Any tour should
take in the 15th-century Schloss (castle) with
its excellent museum, the numerous churches and museums, especially
the Neue Gallerie.
However, there are far more attractive offerings in the Urfahr
suburb, with its interactive new technology Ars
Electronica Center, and the narrow-gauge train, the Pöstlingbergbahn,
which travels to the pilgrimage church of Pöstlingberg
with its excellent views over the valley. The Augustinian
Monastery of St Florian 7km (4 miles) from Linz was sponsored
by the Hapsburgs and is an attractive day trip for Linz. The major
Nazi concentration camp at Mauthausen, 20km (12
miles) east of Linz, is difficult to access by public transport
but is well worth a day trip.
Excursions
Bad Ischl, a 19th-century spa town, is the
hub of the region, near the three most scenic lakes, Wolfgangsee,Traunsee
and Hallstättersee, the town offerings include
a salt mine, several museums and the summer villa of Emperor
Franz Josef.
Hallstatt lent
its name to a whole era in the Iron Age, surrounded by mountains
it is known for its tranquility and scenery. The Mondsee
is one of the warmest lakes in the Salzkammergut.
St Wolfgang does not only offer an impressive altar, but a steam
railway as well.
Gmunden, the Nice of
Upper Austria, is known for its many cultural festivals; located
at the northern end of the Traunsee, the largest
of the area’s lakes, it has been famous for centuries for
its porcelain.
The old city centres of Braunau and Schärding
are not to be missed. Freistadt has medieval forts, whilst Grein
offers a navigation museum, Clam Castle and the
old theatre. Steyr, with its old inner city, delights
visitors with its Working-World Museum and the
Christkindl pilgrimage church. The National
Park Kalkalpen in the Pyhrn-Eisenwurzen
region is primarily a mountainous environment.
Windischgarsten
is an attractive town from which to explore the park. Much of the
interior of Upper Austria is little known to foreign tourists and
many towns including Bad Goisern, Gosau, Hinterstoder
and Spital am Pyhrn are attractive destinations
for a quiet vacation. There are excellent skiing facilities throughout
the province. |
