Travel to Austria Vacations
Austria
stands at the defining moments of Europe, as it did in the glory days of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. Long being the heart of the Habsburg Empire,
with a crucial role for Europe's political and cultural destiny, Austria
in the twentieth century underwent decades of change and uncertainty. The
interwar state, shorn of its empire and racked by economic problems and
political strife, fell prey to the promises of Nazi Germany. Postwar
economic stability encouraged an emphasis on social policy as the guiding
principle of national life, and the growth of a low-key patriotism.
Austria returned to the heart of Europe after the end of the Cold War
before
finally joining the European Union in 1995. From time to time, however,
Austria's reactionary past and the persistence of xenophobic attitudes
have come back to haunt it, most notably in recent years with the rise of Jörg Haider and the far-right Freedom Party. Its capital, Vienna,
stranded during the postwar years on the edge of western Europe, is
taking its place again as an important international city.
Politics
aside, Austria is primarily known for two contrasting attractions. They
are the fading imperial glories of the capital, and the stunning beauty
of its Alpine hinterland. The country offers plenty for Austria vacations, from exploring
those great historic castles and palaces to skiing on some of the world's finest
alpine slopes. Vienna is the gateway to much of central Europe and a good
place to soak up the culture of Mitteleuropa before heading towards the
Magyar and Slav lands over which the city once held sway. Graz and Linz
which are the less renowned provincial capitals do provide a similar level of
culture and vitality for Austria vacations. The most dramatic of Austria's Alpine scenery is
west of here, in and around the Tyrol, whose capital, Innsbruck, provides
the best base for exploration. Salzburg, between Innsbruck and Vienna,
represents urban Austria at its most picturesque, an intoxicating Baroque
city within easy striking distance of the mountains and lakes of the Salzkammergut.
