Culture Shock! Austria - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

Fast Facts 261

Upper Austria

„ Linz: Pöstlingberg hill; Landhaus, formerly Linz College,
where the astronomer Johannes Kepler taught.
„ St. Florian Abbey: Pilgrimage site for over a thousand
years. The composer Anton Bruckner often played the
organ here and is buried in the church’s crypt.
„ Salzkammergut region (although this region lies in three
provinces, the heart of the Salzkammergut is located in
Upper Austria.): Some of the largest and most beautiful
lakes are Attersee, Traunsee, Mondsee and Hallstattersee.
„ The town of Hallstatt has been called the most beautiful
lakeside village in the world and is a UNESCO World
and Nature Cultural Heritage Site.
„ The church in the town of Mondsee is where the
wedding scene in the movie The Sound of Music was
filmed. Other towns of interest are Saint Wolfgang
and Saint Gilgen. Gmunden is noted for its colourful
pottery. Franz Josef spent his summers in Bad Ischl, thus
drawing the aristocracy and other important people of
the 19th century here as well.
„ Braunau, Obernberg and Schärding: Three towns along
the Inn River close to the border with Germany. Schärding
has a lovely Baroque town centre and is also known as a
health resort that uses the hydrotherapy cure invented by
Sebastian Kneipp.
„ Steyr: One of the best-preserved main squares in all of
Austria. Make sure you see the gothic Bummerlhaus.

Lower Austria

„ Wachau valley: Beautiful valley along the Danube River
dotted with apricot orchards and vineyards.
„ Dürnstein: Popular medieval town in the Wachau. You
must park your car outside of town before strolling through
the narrow streets of this walled city. You can climb to the
fortress ruins that overlook the town. This is where Richard
the Lionheart was held captive in the 12th century.
„ Aggstein: Climb through the ruins of this ancient castle
high up over the Danube.