Page 16 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

14  Introduc I ng a ustr I a

A Week in
Salzburg and the
Salzkammergut
• Airports Arrive at Salzburg’s
W.A. Mozart Airport, which has
good connections with other
European cities.
• Transport Salzburg is
only 2 and a half hours from
Vienna by train. Little of the
Salzkammergut region is
covered by the Austrian rail
network, although there is a
good public bus service based
in the regional centre, Salzburg. Bad Ischl, a popular health resort in the Salzkammergut region
Day 3: Around the Day 4: Hallstatt
Day 1: Salzburg Wolfgangsee Reserve an entire day for Hallstatt
Spend the day exploring one Travel to one of the most (p212), arguably the most breath-
of the most stunning Baroque picturesque lakes in the taking of the Salzkammergut
towns in Europe, Salzburg Salzkammergut region, the settlements. With Bronze Age
(pp218–19), which features Wolfgangsee, fringed by the pretty artifacts in the local museum,
churches and palaces framed villages of Strobl, St Gilgen and a historic grave yard, and a salt
by distant snowy Alps. Wander St Wolfgang (p209). The last mine high above town, there’s
through the lovely Old Town is famous for its pilgrimage a great deal to see. Next, visit
before stepping into the church, home to a stunning the spectacular Dachstein
cathedral or Dom (p224) or Gothic altarpiece by Michael Caves (Dachsteinhöhlen) (p213),
the Kollegienkirche (p223) Pacher. Allow time for a cup of high above the southern end
to get a taste of 18th-century coffee and cake at Weisses of the Hallstätter See.
archi tec ture at its best. Devote Rössl (p209), the historic resort
an hour each to the Mozarts hotel that inspired a famous Day 5: Bad Ischl
Geburtshaus (p223), the house operetta in the 1920s. Situated mid-way between
where he was born, and the art Wolfgangsee and the Traunsee,
collections of the Residenzgalerie To extend your trip… the historic spa town of Bad
(p223), before strolling up to North of the Wolfgangsee is Ischl (p209) oozes with Habsburg
Hohensalzburg (pp226–7), the the Attersee (p211), a magnet tradition. Take a tour of Emperor
hilltop fortress that overlooks for boating and sailing enthu- Franz Josef’s summer retreat,
the town centre. In the after noon, siasts. Detour westwards to the Kaiservilla (p209), and
relax among the flower-and the Mondsee (p210). The follow it up with a trip to one of
rose-beds of the famous gardens lake’s main settlement (also the town’s traditional patisseries
(p219) at Schloss Mirabell. called Mondsee) is home to a for coffee and delicious cake.
historic Benedictine Abbey.
Day 2: Schloss Hellbrunn Day 6: The Traunsee
and Werfen Surrounded by craggy peaks,
No visit to Salzburg is complete the Traunsee represents the
without a trip to Schloss Salzkammergut at its most
Hellbrun (p228). Explore the picturesque. Tour the delightful
17th-century retreat, built by historic towns of Traunkirchen
Archbishop Marcus Sitticus, (p208), Altmünster and Gmunden
which is located 4 km (2 miles) (p208), each of which serves as
south of the town. Its beautifully a bathing resort in summer.
preserved interiors are
surrounded by pleasure gardens. Day 7: Bad Aussee and the
Consider extending your trip to nearby lakes
Werfen (p229), 40 km (25 miles) Head to the historic salt-mining
south of Salzburg, where you town of Bad Aussee (p184), the
can see the Eisriesenwelt show jumping-off point for two of the
caves that contain spectacular Salzkammergut’s lesser-known
ice formations. If time allows, lakes, Altausseer See (p184)
break your journey in Hallein and Grundlsee. Enjoy the
(p228), midway between Werfen charming views from these
and Salzburg, to visit its museum Splendid interiors of the Dom, the first lakes, which are surrounded by
devoted to Celtic archaeology. cathedral church in Salzburg a green meadow and forest.
For practical information on travelling around Austria, see pp354–9

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
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Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm