Page 333 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

ENTER T AINMENT IN A USTRIA  331

website, as well as on each of of games of chance – from
the regional tourism authority traditional roulette, blackjack
websites. For more information and baccara, to modern day
on facilities and information for Texas Hold ‘em. The minimum
disabled travellers see pp344–5. age for entrance is 18 years.
Blackjack, poker and even slot-
machine tournaments are
Religious Celebrations
held regularly. The elegant
A predominantly Catholic and atmospheric architecture
country, Austrian religious in Bad Gastein and Baden
celebrations are pageants of add a distinctly James Bond
colour in which everyone can Local brass band playing at an Austrian element to the thrill.
participate. Starting at the end beer festival
of November through to Nightlife
Christmas Day, Christmas performed both professionally
markets spring up in towns and and at private celebrations. Austrian nightlife does not
cities, offering handicrafts, start and stop in Vienna by any
seasonal foods, mulled wine Salzburg Festival means. The provincial capitals
and heaps of atmosphere. On 5 certainly hold their own in the
or 6 December, you may see St Each summer since 1920, party department. There is a
Nikolaus wandering the streets the twisting cobblestone wide choice of relaxed pubs,
accompanied by a scary devil streets of Salzburg swell with trendy bars, discos and
figure, Krampus, who threatens the thousands attending the nightclubs that stay open till
to beat naughty children. Salzburg Festival. Around 4am. For world-class clubbing,
Austria’s biggest Krampus festival 220,000 spectators attend the DJs Kruder & Dorfmeister have
is held in Schladming, Styria, 170 perfor mances of classical put Austrian electronic music
each November. music, opera and drama. on the map.
Fasching is the Austrian version The main festival halls are Linz boasts some 80
of Carnival, and is a let-loose party located in a prime site in the night spots open until well
that takes place just before Lent, old town. From Shakespeare after midnight; its “Bermuda
with masked balls and socially and Molière, to Mozart and Triangle” bars stay open until
sanctioned outrageousness. Beethoven, the Salzburg Festival the small hours. University
At Easter, real eggs are hand- represents the pinnacle of high towns like Innsbruck and Graz
painted and hung on plants or culture in Austria. Booking have a young, vibrant feel.
twigs called Palmskatzerln. ahead is imperative, and that In the countryside there is also
At Palm Sunday processions, includes accommodation. action, especially in summer, at
children carry tall sticks decorated the discos and bars around
with streamers and pretzels. Austria’s lakes. All the best late
Casinos nights culminate in a snack at a
More than 20 casinos across the Würstlstand, where the party
Traditional Music country, from Bad Gastein to crowd congregate alongside
and Dance
Vienna, offer an assortment late-night truck drivers.
When your neighbour lives
on the next mountaintop,
communicating is a challenge –
hence the rise of yodelling
as an art form. The melodic
throat singing relies on echo
and yips and yells, which are
impressive performed solo,
and mesmerising when sung
en masse.
Traditional folk celebrations
often include the Schuhplattler,
a lively Austro-Bavarian men’s
dance with plenty of stamping
and clapping.
The Ländler, an adaptation
of which was performed in
The Sound of Music, is danced by
couples amid much clapping
and spinning. The Polka and,
ever the pride of Vienna, the
Waltz, are classic dances Viennese Christmas Market, capturing the essence of Christmas spirit

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