Download - DANUBE. magazine 2016
FUSION OF THE CENTURIESDANUBE EXPERIENCES: Apps for hikers and other Danube travelers // DANUBE DELIGHTS: Radically regional // DANUBE CULTURE: Cultural roller-coaster from imperial to contemporary DANUBE LIFE: Tips and dates // DANUBE PACKAGES: Most recommended
magazine 2016
NATURE, CULTURE & RIVERSIDE REVERIE
We‘ll be staying a little longer. In Lower Austria‘s Bon Vivant Rooms
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The greatest thing about a great day is if it ends with a relaxing evening. At Lower Austrian hosts with Bon Vivant rooms (Genießerzimmer), you can look forward to the friendliest hospitality and a very special atmosphere. Whether you are in the city or out in the country, in a romantic hotel, a venerable castle or an idyllic winery – extra-special holidays are yours to enjoy throughout Lower Austria!
Information and packages: Phone: +43/2742/9000 9000www.lower-austria.info
Spitz an der Donau
Bon Vivant HostBarbara HolzapfelPrandtauerhofJoching-Wachau
Bon Vivant HostMichaela SchachnerHotel Krone und KaiserhofMaria Taferl
Bon Vivant HostBirgit SalomonGut OberstockstallKirchberg am Wagram
CONTENTS
PUBLICATION INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER: Responsible for content: ARGE Donau Österreich, Lindengasse 9, A-4040 Linz, Austria, T +43 732 7277-800, www.donau-oesterreich.at | Project Management: Petra Riffert | Editing & Production: LWmedia, Ringstrasse 44/1, A-3500 Krems, Austria. T +43 2732 82000, www.lwmedia.at. Management: Erwin Goldfuss | Editor-in-Chief: Fritz Gillinger | Art Director: Martin Bauer | Graphics: Christian Eckart | Copy: Fritz Gillinger, Anita Ericson, Barbara Hutter, Mella Waldstein | Photos: LWmedia Archive/Shutterstock, zVg, Alexander Haiden, WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Peter Podpera, Niederösterreich-Werbung/Robert Herbst. WienTourismus/Lois Lammer huber, WGD Donau Ober österreich Tourismus GmbH/Hochhauser, Stift Göttweig/Markus Haslinger, WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud, Kromus/PID, Best of Wachau/Rita Newman, Donau Niederösterreich/Steve Haider, Donau Niederösterreich/Klaus Engel mayer, Jürgen Skarwan, Rita Newmann, Motto am Fluss/Zeißl, Marina Wien Restaurant/Felicitas Matern, WienTourismus/Christian Stemper, Grafenegg/Klaus Vyhnalek, Burg Clam/www.foto-schadauer.com, Ars Electronica/Florian Voggen eder, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection Vienna/Jens Ziehe 2015, LinzTourismus/Philipp Greindl, Schloss Hof/Jutta Kirchner, LinzTourismus/Andreas Röbl, Helmut Lackinger/Klang raum Krems Minoriten kirche, WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Erber, WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Weissenbrunner, BRANDNER Schiffahrt, ARGE Donau/Weissenbrunner, LW/Gerald Lechner, Donaukanaltreiben/deladap, Donau Niederöster-reich/Rita Newman, Rock in Vienna/Florian Matzhold, WienTourismus/Karl Thomas, Stadtgemeinde Tulln. As of: November 2015. All information is provided with no guarantee of completeness and accuracy. Subject to errors and changes.
// Fresh ideas with tradition
People think they know the Danube in Austria, the towns and sights
along its banks. But no matter how often you drive, cycle or hike
along the Danube, no matter how often you travel on it in a ship, you
can always discover something new. It may be something genuinely
and truly new – buildings and attractions that have sprung up in recent
years – or “the new in the old.” The locals along the Danube in Austria
have always had a magic touch for taking the heritage of this land-
scape shaped over millennia by nature and man and linking it to the
needs and interests of the present.
So, when today’s Danube travelers set off on a spiritual trek along
the river to ancient places imbued with special energy, they are fully
in step with the current zeitgeist of deceleration while also sharing
in ancient tradition with pilgrims and other seekers of meaning. And
when Cuban dancers present a fusion of ballet and street dance in the
former horse stables of the imperial family, their performance is very
much in keeping with a river region that understands how to draw
on fresh ideas to imbue its cultural treasures with new splendor.
Fritz GillingerEditor-in-Chief of DANUBE Magazine
Cover photo: Grafenegg Festival I © Alexander Haiden
COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THE DANUBE IN AUSTRIA
Danube in Upper Austria WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Lindengasse 9, A-4040 Linz, Austria T +43 732 7277-800 [email protected] www.donauregion.at/en
Danube in Lower Austria Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH Schlossgasse 3, A-3620 Spitz/Donau, Austria T +43 2713 30060-60 [email protected] www.donau.com/en
Vienna Tourist Board Tourist-Info Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse, A-1010 Vienna, Austria T +43 1 24 555 [email protected] www.vienna.info
www.donau-oesterreich.at
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ENCOUNTERS
Three Austrian provinces, one river
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TRAVELS ALONG THE DANUBE
Sightseeing in motion
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DANUBE DELIGHTS
Radically regional
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DANUBE CULTURE
From imperial to contemporary
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POINTS OF DEPARTURE
Tips and dates
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PACKAGES
Just book and take off
Precious and delectable discoveries along the Danube in Upper Austria.
Hiking on the Wachau World Heritage Trail with magnificent view of Dürnstein.
The Vienna Spanish Riding School in St. Michael’s Wing of Hofburg Palace is the oldest riding school in the world.
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Danube Competence Centerdanube.travel
ARGE Route of Emperors and Kings strassederkaiserundkoenige.at
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Donauschlinge
WHERE THE DANUBE LEANS INTO THE CURVEThe Schlögener Schlinge is one of the most famous
meanders a European river takes. The Danube
describes nearly a 360 degree curve around its
banks here, creating a landscape that has always
captivated people. Hikers enjoy a superb view of
this spot from the Danube Trail (Donausteig). This
long-distance hiking trail runs along the mighty river
a total of 450 km from Passau to Grein. Hikers can
look forward not only to seven summits and 41 loop
trails shooting off from the main one for exploring
the hinterland but also about 50 hospitable Danube
Trail taverns and inns. Anyone keen on experiencing
the region with special intensity should come on
17 April 2016. That is the date the cycling season
on the Danube Cycle Path opens. Cyclists can revel
in a car-free Danube Valley between Passau und
Schlögen. It is a birthday present of sorts for the
“25th Anniversary of Danube Upper Austria” to be
celebrated in 2016.
www.donauregion.at/en
DANUBE magazine 2016 // 5
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Stift Göttweig
A PLACE OF QUIETCONTEMPLATION FOR CENTURIESGöttweig Abbey has perched on its hilltop on the
south bank of the Danube for some 900 years.
The words “Pax – Friede” stand over the entrance
to the Benedictine monastery, wishing peace to
everyone who arrives. This message is also directed
today at the thousands of annual visitors. Places of
quiet contemplation are more coveted nowadays
than ever before. The abbey with the proverbial
Benedictine hospitality is a favorite excursion
destination for travelers on cruise ships berthing
in Krems. People who know this route well are
convinced that Göttweig Abbey is something
very special in the series of impressive excursion
destinations along the Danube. This conviction
may also stem from there being no building on
shore that remains visible to ship passengers
as long as this abbey does …
www.donau.com/en
DANUBE magazine 2016 // 7
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Schloss Schönbrunn
DANUBE magazine 2016 // 9
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FEELING IMPERIALLYROYALSchönbrunn Palace was once the summer
residence of the imperial family. Today it is on the
UNESCO World Heritage list and Austria’s most-
visited sight. Palace and gardens form a gesamt-
kunstwerk, a synthesis of the arts with a special
appeal to every generation. Visitors are welcome
to view the originally furnished residential and
representational rooms of the imperial family and
see where Emperor Franz Joseph I was born on
18 August 1830 (the centenary of his death is
celebrated in 2016). They can also explore the
maze and labyrinth in the palace garden or visit
the children’s museum. The gardens are also
a popular place for jogging or taking a stroll.
The Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert
in the palace park is a legend in its own right.
This brilliant open-air classical music concert
is set this year for 26 May 2016.
www.vienna.info
vienna // ENCOUNTERS
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If you adopt the theme “Habsburgs and Baroque”, the Danube
Cycle Path becomes an imperial grand tour. The cycling trip begins
with Passau, a Baroque gem. Although this city is in the German
state of Bavaria, it has strong connections to the Habsburgs.
They were adversaries of the prince-bishops of Passau in the fight
for power. One of these prince-bishops also founded Engelszell
Abbey in what is today Upper Austrian terrain. The abbey is like-
wise on the cycle tour and has an impressive church in pure
Rococo style. Incidentally, Engelszell is where soon-to-be Empress
Sisi was first welcomed to Austrian soil on her trip down the Danube
to marry the emperor. Cyclists keen on art and history gain further
insights into the world of the high nobility at Starhemberg Castle
and can delight in the figurative sumptuousness of Rococo in
the abbey church in Wilhering. Ultimately they land in Linz, the
forgotten residence. In the late 15th century Linz was the official
residence of the Habsburg court under Friedrich III. The abbeys
of Melk, Göttweig and Klosterneuburg and then Hof Palace com-
plete this cycling tour on a historical note in Lower Austria.
SIGHTSEEING IN MOTION
IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH IMAGINATION TO
PICTURE WHAT A TRIP ALONG THE DANUBE
IN AUSTRIA MIGHT BE LIKE. EVERYONE
KNOWS THAT THERE ARE CULTURAL,
SCENIC AND CULINARY DELIGHTS AT EVERY
TURN. THE ONLY QUESTION THAT REMAINS
IS THIS: SHOULD WE HOP ON OUR BIKES,
LACE UP OUR HIKING BOOTS OR BOARD
THE NEXT SHIP PASSING BY?
ANITA ERICSON
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1 Liberating hiking adventures high above the Danube in Upper Austria, with Grein in the background.
2 From the Danube Cycle Path, you can proceed straight to the center of Vienna, to the Ring for example.
3 Informative hikes: The “Wachau Hiata” guides accompany you and tell you all about their region.
action-packed // DANUBE TRAVELS
The imperial display of splendor naturally peaks in Vienna, the
former imperial-royal capital of the Habsburg Monarchy. Whole
days can be spent visiting the top sights alone: St. Stephen’s
Cathedral, the Hofburg, Schönbrunn Palace and the magnifi-
cent buildings along the Ringstrasse – and there is still so much
more to discover. A practical way to explore Vienna is on a bi-
cycle. The city has 1,200 km of bike paths, bike lanes and bike
routes through areas with little traffic. To go from the Danube
Cycle Path to the center of Vienna, you turn onto the Danube
Canal Bike Path near Nussdorf on the north edge of Vienna and
cycle on it down to the Urania observatory. This spot is the be-
ginning (and end) of the “Ring Rund”, the sightseeing bike path
that circles the historical center on the magnificent Ringstrasse,
enabling side trips into the first district.
AMUSEMENT PARK IN RIVERSIDE FORESTS
The link between the historical center and the Danube is the
Prater, which – like so much in Vienna – has an imperial history.
This riverside forest rich in game was declared an imperial hunting
grounds in 1560 by Emperor Maximilian II. It was not opened
to the public until the reign of Josef II, at which time the famous
“Wurstelprater” amusement park also came into being. The year
was 1766. In 2016 the Prater will be celebrating its 250th anniver-
sary as a public park. Today the Prater is a modern amusement
and recreational park with a touch of nostalgia. The people that
run the park have naturally come up with some great ideas to
celebrate this anniversary. Beyond the merry-go-rounds and
bumper cars, the Prater has retained much of its green space.
The main artery in the Prater, the Hauptallee, takes cyclists, skat-
ers, horse-back riders, joggers, walkers and dalliers from the
hubbub of rides to quiet areas in riverside forests that are still
recognizable as such. Of course, Vienna is a paradise for ambi-
tious urban walkers, too, with a unique green beltway surround-
ing it. There are a total of 11 routes that let hikers explore Vienna
and its direct environs. They range from the classic city hiking
trail “Stadtwanderweg 1” to the more strenuous “Rund umadum-
Wanderweg”, which lets hikers circle the entire city in 24 legs.
HIKING THROUGH A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
LANDSCAPE
Some people will want to hike in earnest. They are advised to
leave the city limits to lace up their hiking boots. The Danube
countryside is enchantingly scenic on the Wachau World Heritage
Trail (Welterbesteig Wachau), the 180 km long-distance trail that
passes through the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage land-
scape. This 30 km long water gap between Melk Abbey and
the city of Krems was granted this honor because of “its archi-
tecture, human settlements, and agricultural use, principally
the terraced vineyards that vividly show a medieval landscape
that has developed organically and harmoniously over time.”
The World Heritage Trail running high above the free-flowing
Danube (with corresponding lookout points) follows historical
paths to link together the 13 communities of the Wachau Valley.
There are so many aha moments along the way: 20 fortresses,
ruins and castles, the Wachau wine area with its stone terraces
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monasteries and Jauerling, the highest mountain any where
along the Danube at 960 m above sea level. And speaking of
Jauerling: The nature park there recently underwent a major
improvement. A themed trail guides hikers through the history
of the national park in ten stations. A specially developed app
is helpful along the way. It lets walkers use their smartphones
to hear tales told by two local characters from Jauerling. The
high point in the most literal sense of the word is the 960 m
high summit of Jauerling, which has been inaccessible for 50
years. A new lookout platform, the rebuilt Wachau terrace and
oversized seating make the two-hour hike a wonderful sensory
experience.
Hikers like to be individualists, but occasionally miss fascinating
facets of the countryside through which they are moving. One
of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture of the
Wachau is to join up with a “Weinhiata”, “wine keeper” in Aus-
trian dialect. In olden days they would watch over the precious
grapes in the vineyards. The modern “Wachau Hiata” person-
ally present this UNESCO World Heritage landscape to guests.
They can be growers of apricots and other fruit, wine makers,
and woods and herbal instructors from the region. They are
available on many different days to take hikers by the hand and
tell them about the local traditions and countryside, culinary
and cellaring techniques, vineyard work and wild herbs.
LEGENDARY NIBELUNGENGAU
The World Heritage Trail (Welterbesteig) with its commendable
design served as the model for the long-distance Nibelungen-
gau Trail, which has directly adjoined it to the west since 2014.
The 110 km route between Ybbs and Melk follows scenic trails
north and south of the Danube, passing through a charming
landscape and leading to excursion destinations steeped in
history. Although this swath of land is less well known than the
neighboring Wachau, it is ideal for explorers and anyone seek-
ing peace and quiet.
Five of the highlights along the route are the Oskar Kokoschka
Center in Pöchlarn, Maria Taferl Basilica in High Baroque style
and fairytale-like Artstetten Castle with its seven onion towers,
the 800-year-old Castle of Europe in Leiben and the modern
Danube power station in Ybbs-Persenbeug.
SPIRITUAL TREKS
If you go a bit further to the west, the Danube Trail (Donausteig)
hooks up with the two long-distance Lower Austrian hiking
trails. This 450 km trail runs along the Danube from Passau
to Grein. It is routed to showcase the scenic diversity of the
Danube region in Bavaria and Upper Austria. The journey on
foot along the river takes you from wooded banks and cultivated
farmland to plains and cities, then on to wild and romantic
ravines and canyons. There are 41 loop trails forking off into the
hinterland of the mighty river. Hikers keen on exploring urban
trails will find Linz a worthwhile destination. There are no fewer
than eleven city hiking trails passing through Linz and into the
neighboring countryside. They can be covered in two to three
hours and even include the Linz section of the Way of St. James.
Opened in 2010, the Danube Trail recently received several new © W
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action-packed // DANUBE TRAVELS
// INFO BOX
DANUBE ADVENTURES – FUN SPORTS ALONG THE RIVER
By bicycle – Habsburgs and Baroque along the Danube www.donau-oesterreich.at/kultur/habsburger-barock/fahrrad/
VIENNA
Bicycling in Vienna www.wien.info/media/files/bicycle-information.pdf
City hiking in Vienna Eleven routes totaling 121.5 km – covering recreational areas such as Kahlenberg, Bisamberg, Sofienalpe, etc. App: available from Playstore and from iTunes. https://open.wien.gv.at/site/wanderwege-wien-2/ www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/green-vienna/hiking-in-around
Vienna Prater www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/prater/green-prater
Vienna waterway Hiking or cycling around the Upper and Lower Old Danube. There are 21 select locations with interesting information about history, fauna, flora and the ecosystem. App: available from Playstore and from iTunes. www.wiener-wasserweg.at
LOWER AUSTRIA
Wachau World Heritage Trail (Welterbesteig) www.welterbesteig.at
Exploring with a Wachau.Hiata guide www.wachau-hiata.at
Enjoy peak Danube vistas from the Jauerling-Wachau Nature Park www.naturpark-jauerling.at
Nibelungengau Long-Distance Hiking Trail www.nibelungengau.at
Great outdoors in the Danube Wetlands National Park Exploring the Danube wetlands with national park rangers on guided hikes and in rides in inflatable boats and canoes. www.donauauen.at
Taking day trips with the Carnuntum guides www.carnuntum-marchfeld.com
The Marchfeld Canal Bike Path Cycling on a well-designed 62 km themed trail. www.marchfeldkanal-radweg.at
By ship on the Danube Sailing through the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. www.brandner.at, www.ddsg-blue-danube.at
UPPER AUSTRIA
Danube Cycle Path www.donauradweg.at/en
Danube Trail (Donausteig) “Art along the Danube Trail” – new: In “Pesenbach Valley – Paths to Healing” At Feldkirchen, hikers can follow in the steps of Father Kneipp, a founder of naturopathic medicine (Kneipp Cure) to mystical places with special energies. St. Agatha offers “Paths to the Inner Self” with eight stations that take hikers to sources of energy and worldly wisdoms. Both attrac-tions feature a metal sculpture by the artist Miguel Horn as an introduction to the gallery “Art on the Danube Trail.” www.donausteig.com/en
City hiking in Linz The city hiking trails in Linz invite outdoor enthusiasts to explore, unwind and slow down. www.linztourismus.at/stadtbesichtigung/wandern
By ship on the Danube Take a seat and enjoy the Danube cruise from Regensburg to Passau and on to Linz. www.donauschiffahrt.at, www.donaureisen.at/en
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facets. With deceleration and the search for meaning becoming
ever more important, spiritual aspects have successfully been
added to the route. The attention of Danube Trail hikers is drawn
to traces of the saints and ancient cult sites, to places charged
with energy and symbolism. Meditative, spiritual moments
occur. On the Wolfgang loop trail in Pupping (Puppinger Wolf-
gangrunde), hikers can encounter St. Wolfgang, patron saint
of sculptors, woodworkers, charcoal makers, carpenters and
boat men. He built a reputation as a courageous church re-
former and the following words ascribed to him and prepared
for this loop trail reflect this aspect of his life: “Muster courage
to risk something for your visions and build a new life, muster
courage to leave old paths and take new ones.” A good saying
for Danube travelers.
GUIDE APP FOR EXPLORING THE DANUBE
Danube talesAn audio experience of a special kind: This guide app has 40 audio re-cordings by major regional figures and about the Danube region. Inter-ested listeners are taken behind the scenes and can immerse themselves in the mythical landscape that is the Danube. The topics include Danube shipping – regulation of power stations, culinary delights – farm goodies, the great outdoors – animals in the Danube, ancient trade routes, Danube markets but also cultural and historical subjects.
Wachau – Nibelungengau – Krems ValleyWith the free tour planner for iPhone and Android, you can work out an ideal tour in no time whether choose cycling or hiking, speed walking or mountain biking.
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1 Backdrop for a cycling tour: Engelszell Abbey.
2 Hikers on the Danube Trail work up a big appetite and thirst. Taking a lunch break at Speckalm in Bad Kreuzen.
3 The Wachau at your back and the World Heritage Trail in front of you.
4 Backdrop for a cycling tour: the legendary Nibelungengau.
5 Most of the municipal hiking trails in Vienna pass by vineyards.
14 // DANUBE magazine 2016
To the left and the right of the silvery river you can see fruit trees
and asparagus fields, rows of grapevines and berry bushes, herb
gardens and vegetable beds. The tradition of self-sufficiency has
a delicious consequence – regional cuisine. “Regional cuisine is
a given for me”, Erich Aumüller says with conviction. His fish
restaurant in Obermühl is right on the Danube not far from the
Schlögener Schlinge, the famous meander. “Most” is German
for fermented cider and his cellar “Donautaler Mostkellerei“ holds
treasures galore. The fruits for his most come from his own
orchard or from neighboring farmers. The dishes that are
served are also exemplary: fish from the Danube usually caught
by the Aumüllers themselves, game from their own hunting
grounds, Eferding asparagus when it is in season and beer
from the nearby Mühlviertel breweries Schlägl and Hofstetten.
Aumüller: “The demand for down-to-earth fare is on the rise
and that is my philosophy.”
Aumüller’s inn is one of 23 restaurants to have joined the brand
new initiative “Kostbarkeiten & Köstlichkeiten” (= precious and © J
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delectable). It gives a platform to culinary specialty dishes, prod-
ucts and craftsmanship in the Upper Austrian Danube Region.
One member of this tasty group is Schörgi, a bakery and cake
shop in Grein. It creates special Austrian sweet dishes and
pastries from the good old days such as delicious Batzlguglhupf
plus delicious innovations. The new “Kostbarkeiten & Köstlich-
keiten” (= precious and delectable) initiative puts Upper Austrian
enjoyment businesses in the limelight along with monuments of
the culinary arts such as the famous Linzer torte. This beloved
dessert is a sweet ambassador and export hit and also con-
sidered one of the most venerable tortes in the world.
REGIONAL SHOPPING WITH E-MOBIL
A few Danube waves further to the east, Philipp Essl has greatly
expanded the regional supplier network for Winzerstüberl, his
restaurant in Rossatz. The newcomer in 2015 offers a contem-
porary, smart Wachau cuisine – and includes the origin of the
ingredients on the menu.
THE BENEFITS OF REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE NOW BEING REDISCOVERED ELSEWHERE. ALONG THE DANUBE, THESE CHAINS HAVE A LONG TRADITION ROOTED IN REGIONAL CUISINE. BARBARA HUTTER
DELICACIESON THE DOORSTEP
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Many a restaurateur would let seabass or shrimp pass, but Josef
Floh is radical. Everything that possibly can be is purchased from
within a radius of 66 kilometers by E-Mobile, including furniture.
He can count the exceptions on one hand. “Most important is
respect for the product and the people,” the innkeeper says.
Every year he issues his own sustainability report. “Think about it
for a minute: How much do we spend on a liter of engine oil and
how much for a liter of oil for cooking?”
Another top chef of Lower Austria calls Göttlesbrunn home, a
town about 80 km downstream on the Danube. Adi Bittermann
has long been firmly established in his guild with his Vinarium. His
inn is housed in a former primary school and contains a regional
wine shop with top vintages from the immediate vicinity (Carnun-
tum wine region). He is also a world barbecue cham pion and
regularly serves excellent game supplied to him from the surround-
ing forests; delectables from just outside his front door you might
say. And what could be more organic than wild game anyway?
GOOD CONSCIENCE ALONG THE RIVER
The trend toward organic regional fare has long hit the cities as
well. Vienna is perfect for it, located as it is between the Vienna
Woods, the Danube wetlands and the Marchfeld. Many restau-
rants cook regionally and seasonally, so diners enjoy delicious
food as well as a good conscience. A fine example is Motto am
Fluss on the Danube Canal in Vienna. Head chef Martin Zeissl
considers it vital to work with organic farmers from the sur-
rounding area. They supply him with delicacies such as Oxheart
carrots or fragrant strasberries (Mieze Schindler strawberries)
as well as rare species of potato such as the Blaue Luise or
heritage varieties of cucumber. He also buys fish and meat in
// INFO BOX
Culinary tours Experience Vienna from its most enjoyable side on a tour of the restaurants, coffeehouses, heuriger wine taverns and markets of the city. www.wien.info/en/shopping-wining-dining
Vienna wine hiking days in September 2016
Gourmet festival in Stadtpark 6–8 May 2016
Best of Wachau hosts www.bestof-wachau.atWine roads along the Danube www.donau.com/enEnjoyable shopping www.donau.com/enWirtshauskultur Niederösterreich www.donau.com/enDanube Trail innkeepers www.donausteig.com/en„Precious and delectable’“ www.donauregion.at/enCulinary walking tour of Linz www.linz-austriaguides.at
the vicinity. Beers and half of the wine are from the region and
organic and the bread is baked on premises. Zur Alten Kaiser-
mühle is a restaurant built near the water and has some of the
most scenic outdoor seating in Vienna. Guests feel right away
like they are on vacation, especially because of the close ties
the owner has with Italian and Spanish producers for Mediter-
ranean delicacies. An interesting mix arises in combination with
Austrian cuisine and fresh regional ingredients. The view of the
Old Danube is peerless. Marina in the 2nd District is the visual
antitheses of venerable imperial traditions. It is ideal for chilling
out, with three terraces, a landing stage, huge windows at every
turn that afford appealing views summer and winter (with the fire-
place burning). The menu showcases Vienna specialty dishes,
seasonal fare ranging from asparagus to game plus vegetarian
and maritime cuisine.
1 Josef “Pepi” Floh gets his ingredients from a radius of just 66 kilometers.
2 “Precious and delectable”: most (cider) specialist Erich Aumüller with his family in Obermühl.
3 Everything at Schörgi, a bakery and cake shop in Grein, always smells and tastes wonderful.
4 Young chef Philipp Essl with father Franz serves smart Wachau cuisine.
5 Head chef Martin Zeissl also enjoys cooking vegan cuisine in his restaurant Motto am Fluss.
6 Maritime flair awaits guests at Restaurant Marina Wien.
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With its splendid rooms and the Upper Austrian shipping mu-
seum, Greinburg is one of the many structures along the river
of art historical significance. The Danube landscapes have al-
ways been inseparably intertwined with culture. Even more, the
Danube supports and promotes culture. Finds like the Venus of
Willendorf attest to the favorable conditions for settlement the
river has offered since the Stone Age. The Danube was part of
the Roman limes, just as it was a major link between west and
east as a waterway. Wine was cultivated on Austrian territory
for the first time in the Danube region – and wine also led to
prosperity and an appreciation for art.
THE DANUBE CULTURAL REGION
When “Central Europe” entered the public discourse as a
longed-for place in the mid-1980s, people had a hard time ad-
equately defining this term geographically. One thing is clear,
however: The Danube is the blue ribbon that connects this enti-
ty. As the European Community grew, there was first an intellec-
tual opening and then, with the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, a
factual opening of the borders. The Danube region extending all
the way to the Black Sea was rediscovered and newly defined
as a common cultural region.
Long relegated to being a waterway and source of energy at
best, the Danube became imbued with new non-material, intel-
lectual meaning. That is especially true culturally. It is no wonder
that Lower Austria launched its Danube festival (Donaufestival)
in 1988, albeit with a somewhat different focus initially.
THE MOSAICS IN THE SALA TERRENA AT GREINBURG IN UPPER AUSTRIA
CONTAIN THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DANUBE PEBBLES: SHIMMERING ALABASTER, PINK AND GRAY, PASTEL
GREEN AND PIGEON BLUE. THE DANUBE AND ART MELD. A WAYS DOWNSTREAM
ON THE DANUBE AT CLAM CASTLE, CARLOS SANTANA PICKS UP HIS GUITAR …
MELLA WALDSTEIN
1 Centenary of the death of Emperor Franz Joseph
2 Guarantor of world class performances at Grafenegg: Rudolf Buchbinder whose Grafenegg Festival enters its tenth year in 2016.
3 International stars thrilling audiences at Clam Castle
4 Known for its unusual fare: Ars Electronica Linz
CULTURAL ROLLER-COASTERALONG THE DANUBE
1 2
DANUBE magazine 2016 // 17
DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ANCIENT AND THE MODERN
Today there are many festivals that take place along the Danube.
Opera in the arcade courtyard of Greinburg and concerts in the
Wilhering and Ardagger monasteries follow the objectives of the
Donaufestwochen im Strudengau, creating a dialog between
the ancient and the modern, in this case between early music
and modernism.
Modern international literature also has a place in Strudengau.
When the Swedish author August Strindberg married the
Viennese feature writer Frida Uhl, he visited her grandparents’
farm in Upper Austria near Saxen. In his “Inferno. Legends”
(1896), Strindberg described the Klamschlucht ravine and the
workers who used hydropower from the stream here. “Then the
blacksmiths, their torsos naked, in the midst of fire and sparks,
glowing iron and molten lead; a noise that rattles the brain to
its very base and sets the heart pounding in the chest …” The
Strindberg Museum in Saxen, the only Strindberg museum out-
side of Sweden, has original photographs and manuscripts on
display.
FESTIVALS, UPSTREAM AND DOWN
OneRepublic, Carlos Santana, Hubert von Goisern are just
three of the top acts from the concert lineup of one year at
Burgarena Clam. It all began with a combination brewery and
inn established by Georg Clam. When the young lord of the
castle invited the legendary Austrian musician Ostbahn-Kurti
to perform in the 1990s, his expectations were far exceeded.
“The concertgoers were packed into our restaurant’s outdoor
seating area like sardines, they sat on the roof, on the swaying
pergola, you even saw spectators up in the trees …” Ever
since then, this castle in Upper Austria has been the place for
all generations to go for good vibrations. The festivals along
the Danube are not limited to the summer season. The buds
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have barely appeared when the Easter festival Imago Dei
presents its top-caliber cultural program in the Church of the
Friars Minor in Krems. This rondel just keeps going strong in the
Wachau and ends with “Wachau in Echtzeit”, (Wachau in real
time) an autumn festival full of crowd-pleasers plus cultural and
historical journeys. In Krems the cultural program is concen-
trated in the Kunstmeile with its many cultural venues, such as
Kunsthalle, the Caricature Museum or Forum Frohner.
SOUND MEETS SCENERY
A ways downstream, in the castle park of Grafenegg, the
Wolken turm beckons. The breathtaking concrete structure
banks up into the sky like a tower of clouds yet remains open
at the same time. “Sound Meets Scenery” occurs again in
2016 for the tenth time at the Grafenegg Festival. The best in
classical musicians will perform during this anniversary festival
(19 August to 11 September 2016): the Cleveland Orchestra,
conductors like Christian Thielemann, Franz Welser-Möst and
Daniele Gatti along with soloists such as Hilary Hahn, Klaus
Florian Vogt and Camilla Nylund. The composer in residence
in the anniversary season is Christian Jost. The festival will be-
gin with the premiere of his “Opening Fanfare”. Grand finale:
Grafenegg director and pianist of international renown Rudolf
Buchbinder will play all five Beethoven piano concertos with
the Vienna Philharmonic. A stroll through the English style
castle park is a wonderful way to get into the right mood for
a concert.
Builders and architects have used water as an architectural ele-
ment from time immemorial. Facades reflected in water expand
representational structures and let them grow above and be-
yond themselves. The London docks set off the rediscovery of
riverbanks as urban space. Linz followed suit. The city at night
is reflected in the Danube. The lights of the glass facades swing
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back and forth in the water. On the left bank of the Danube
is the lucid glass façade of the Ars Electronica Center, on the
right bank the glowing cube that is the Lentos Museum,
both substantiate the position of Linz as a modern metro -
polis. Musiktheater Linz is a further building that attracts not
just music lovers to the Upper Austrian capital but also archi-
tecture enthusiasts. The various performance venues consider
themselves as more than stages, they are places of cultural
exchange and communication. The large KlangFoyer is archi-
tecturally impressive with its fine wood and refined technology.
The HörBar is a bar in the evening and an audio library during
the day. The SchallMauer consists of wood panels. When
touched, this noise barrier makes noises palpable. Fifty-six
contact speakers were installed behind the individual panels
making up the 25 meter long wooden wall. They transmit the
noises of the city and open up the music theater acoustically to
the outdoors.
LINZ NOW A UNESCO CITY OF MEDIA ARTS
The new Linz Mural Harbor is another remarkable feature. Inter-
national street art and graffiti artists turned gray industrial build-
ings there into an open-air gallery best admired from aboard a
boat or ship on the river. The murals have become one of the
highlights of the Linz port tours conducted daily for tourists. It
is no accident that the city of Linz was recently admitted to the
illustrious group of UNESCO Cities of Media Arts. As a pioneer
in digital media art, Linz can contribute vast expertise and
years of experience to this network of future-oriented cities and
metro polises from around the globe while continuing to benefit
from its reputation as a center of creativity in Europe.
There are many places in Vienna that make evident the skill
with which this city links its imperial past to the present day.
A superb example is the MuseumsQuartier (MQ) with is many
cultural institutions and with mumok – the biggest museum
of modern art in Central Europe and the biggest collection of
Vienna Actionism. Hallen E+G are in the heart of MQ just steps
away from the art history and natural history museums (KHM
and NHM) and serve as established venues for many cultural
highlights in the city. Besides the Wiener Festwochen, Tanz-
quartier Wien and the young Vienna music theater scene, Hallen
E+G are proven venues for myriad international music, theater
and dance productions. In the Baroque park in the Au garten,
patron of the arts Francesca Habsburg and her Thyssen-
Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21) offer an unusual art
program with alternating exhibitions and performances. More
than 40 galleries display and sell contemporary art. A former
bread factory in the 10th district houses an impressive ten insti-
tutions devoted to contemporary art. Experts and collectors
gather in September for viennacontemporary. Soon thereafter
– in November – the Vienna Art Week turns the Danube metro-
polis into a magnet for contemporary art. In music, the city also
relies on new approaches besides Strauss & Co.: Wien Modern,
one of the most important festivals for contemporary music,
has been a red-letter event on the festival calendar since 1988.
In public space, visitors likewise encounter installations by
artists such as Franz West, Heimo Zobernig or Peter Kogler.
Rounding out this enjoyment of contemporary culture is the
vibrant restaurant scene in Vienna. Culinary art, architecture
and interior design combine to create a gesamtkunstwerk for all
the senses in establishments such as Kussmaul, Shiki, Skopik
& Lohn, or Das Loft.
IN HOMAGE TO EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH
Schönbrunn Palace is certainly another gesamtkunstwerk of
historic dimensions. The life of Emperor Franz Joseph I began
and ended there. On the centenary of his death in 2016, there
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DANUBE magazine 2016 // 19
impressive // DANUBE CULTURE
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will also be an exhibition at Schönbrunn Palace devoted to this
man who shaped and held together the Danube Monarchy for
68 years. Schönbrunn was initially built as a hunting lodge in
the late 17th century by order of Emperor Leopold I. It became
the imperial summer residence a half century later under Maria
Theresia, whose 300th birthday will be celebrated in 2017. Maria
Theresia was also the ruler who had the Gloriette built in the
famous park of Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn Palace re-
mains as appealing as ever to leading statesmen, artists and
millions of visitors. The grand architecture and impressive
staterooms make Schönbrunn Palace a sight of international
caliber.
BAROQUE GESAMTKUNSTWERKHof Palace is not far from Niederweiden and always worth a visit.
The estate was built by the general Prince Eugene of Savoy
and later owned by Empress Maria Theresia. The Baroque
gesamt kunstwerk continues across the gardens, which extend
to the bottomland of the March. The box hedges bordering of
the plantings are like precious frames; the arrangement of the
flowers, like a painting. Façade ornamentation and passing
cloud formations are mirrored in the fountains.
Although the main purpose of Baroque palaces was to glorify
the owner, these complexes were certainly more than just a
collection of luxurious residential celebratory rooms. Hof Palace
is a perfect place to understand this fact. The lovingly restored
manor farm of the palace – with kitchens, rooms for crafts and
trades, livestock and the palace nursery – also help visitors to
understand a palace or castle as an organism and economic
entity in its own right.
An imperial world from long ago … – it is good that visitors
catch sight of the silhouette of Bratislava beyond the garden
walls. This view pulls them back into today’s world.
// INFO BOX
UPPER AUSTRIA
UNESCO City of Media Arts www.cityofmediaarts.at, www.linztourismus.at
Donaufestwochen StrudengauAnnual dialogue of early music and modernism.Opera rarities at Greinburg Castle, unknown works by masters from the history of music, concert series at historical venues. 29 July–15 August 2016 | www.donau-festwochen.at
Clam concertsThe large area at the foot of the castle in Upper Austria is used as an open-air special-event venue. Highlight 2016: Simply Red on 7 August! www.burgclam.com
Summer festival at Stadttheater Grein 2 July–30 August 2016 | www.sommerspiele-grein.at
St Florian Bruckner Festival 14–20 August 2016 | www.brucknertage.at
Danube Advent November/December 2016 | www.donauregion.at/en
Dance, theater, song, jazz, music, cabaret in Strudengau www.fussfrei.at
LOWER AUSTRIA
Easter festival Imago Dei 4–28 March 2016 | www.klangraum.at
Donaufestival 29 April–7 May 2016 | www.donaufestival.at
International Baroque Festival at Melk Abbey 13–16 May 2016 | www.barocktagemelk.at
Egon Schiele Weekend 10–12 June 2016 | www.tulln.at/erleben/schiele
Sommerspiele Melk (annual theater festival with a view of Melk Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage structure) 16 June–14 August 2016 | www.sommerspielemelk.at
Haydn Festival Rohrau 24–26 June 2016 | www.kultur-management.at
Art Carnuntum Festival June/July 2016 | www.artcarnuntum.at
Stockerau Festival 28 June–6 August 2016 | www.festspiele-stockerau.at
Glatt&Verkehrt (annual summer and fall festival of traditional and contemporary folk music) 1–31 July 2016 | www.glattundverkehrt.at
10th Anniversary Grafenegg Festival 19 August–11 September 2016 | www.grafenegg.com
Glatt&Verkehrt HerbstZeitlos (Smooth&Inverted, Timeless Autumn) 30 September–2 October 2016 | www.glattundverkehrt.at
Wachau in Echtzeit (Wachau in Real Time) October to November 2016 | www.wachauinechtzeit.at
VIENNA
Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830–1916) Four exhibitions to mark the centenary of his death: – Schönbrunn Palace: “Man & Monarch”– Imperial Carriage Museum in Vienna: “Majesty & Modesty”– Imperial Furniture Collection: “Festivities & Everyday Life”– Niederweiden (estate in Lower Austria): “Hunting and Recreation” www.schoenbrunn.at
15th anniversary of MuseumsQuartier The MuseumsQuartier celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2016 with exhibitions, concerts and much more. www.mqw.at
10th anniversary of Vienna Design Week In 2016, Vienna will become a gathering spot for fans of product, furniture and industrial design for the tenth time already! www.viennadesignweek.at
6
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1 Unusual: Francesca Habsburg’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21)
2 Mural Harbor – The harbor gallery in Linz with a picture by Aryz from Barcelona
3 Chill-out atmosphere in MQ with Hallen E+G in the background
4 Built by the great general Prince Eugene of Savoy: Hof Palace
5 Epicenter of the cultural scene in Linz: Lentos
6 Klangraum Krems, Church of the Friars Minor (Glatt&Verkehrt)
// Special events in LinzLinz as a hotspot for exciting and trailblazing events in art and culture. For instance nextcomic, one of the most important comic festivals in German speaking countries, the film festival Crossing Europe or classic events such as Ars Electronica, Klangwolke and the Bruckner Festival.
www.nextcomic.org I 10 to 20 March 2016www.crossingeurope.at I 20 to 25 April 2016www.aec.at I 8 to 12 September 2016www.klangwolke.at I 10 September 2016www.brucknerfest.at I 18 September to 9 October 2016
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// Rad Total (Nothing but Bicycles)The annual “Rad Total” in the Danube Valley (Nothing but Bicycles) opens the season, attracting thousands of cyclists to the Danube Cycle Path in Upper Austria. All communities along the Danube between Passau and Schlögen take part, offering a diverse line-up of events for the occasion.
www.radtotal.at | 17 April 2016www.donauradweg.at
// „Donau in Flammen“ (Danube on Fire) In 2016, this event series will focus once again on myths and legends from the Danube region. Musical fireworks on the Danube will be staged in three communities. The fireworks will be accom-panied by a Danube legend. Visitors can enjoy the spectacle from the shore or from aboard a ship from the fleet of Donauschiffahrt Wurm+Köck.
www.donauinflammen.com 14 May (Passau), 27 May (Linz), 12 August 2016 (Aschach/Feldkirchen)
Being mobile in Vienna
11 Danube Canal, Twin City Liner Station www.twincityliner.com
12 Port of Vienna/Handelskai (DDSG) Scheduled service Vienna–Wachau www.ddsg-blue-danube.at
13 Hauptbahnhof (main train station) www.hauptbahnhof-wien.at
14 Westbahnhof (west train station) www.bahnhofcitywienwest.at
Being mobile in Upper Austria
01 Donauschiffahrt Wurm+Köck Scheduled service Passau–Linz–Vienna www.donauschiffahrt.de Schifffahrt Donau Touristik www.donaureisen.at
02 Passau Hauptbahnhof (main station) www.oebb.at
03 Linz Hauptbahnhof (main station) www.oebb.at
Schifffahrt Donau Touristik www.donaureisen.at
04 Donauuferbahn Linz–Grein (rail line along Danube) www.oebb.at
05 Donauschiffahrt Ardagger www.donauschiffahrt-ardagger.at
Being mobile in Lower Austria
06 Wachau Schifffahrt www.brandner.at www.ddsg-blue-danube.at
07 Wachau Linien (bus lines) www.n-mobil.at
08 Rental Bikes from “nextbike” www.nextbike.at
09 Wachaubahn (rail line) www.noevog.at/wachaubahn
10 RadTramper Donau (Vienna to Passau by train and bicycle) www.erlebnisbahn.oebb.at
© W
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DANUBE magazine 2016 // 21 Beer Most (cider) Wine
// Weinfrühling & WeinherbstWine has created additional seasons of the year along the Danube in Lower Austria. In spring and autumn, there are hundreds of tasting opportunities and events for wine experiences full of tradition and diversity.
www.donau.com/en
// Tulln celebrates Egon SchieleOn the centenary of Schiele’s birth on 12 June, the great painter’s town of birth Tulln will be focusing solely on its most famous favorite son. Venues will be the birthplace at the main train station and the Schiele Trail; a Schiele Symposium devoted to the subject “Schiele’s Art in a Contemporary Context”; the Schiele Museum, where select early works by the artist will be displayed.
www.tulln.at/erleben/schiele10 to 12 June 2016
// Rock in ViennaRammstein and Iron Maiden were confirmed as the first headliners for this festival on the Danube Island in Vienna. Headbanging guaranteed.
www.rockinvienna.at | 3 to 5 June 2016
// wachau GOURMETfestivalThe new version of the successful wachau GOURMET-festival is becoming a culinary milestone. Top chefs from the region join with international guest chefs for rendezvous at special places in the Wachau. Wine serves as the fitting accompaniment.
www.wachau-gourmet-festival.at | 31 March to 14 April 2016
© LW/Gerald Lechner
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// Donauinselfest 2016It is and remains Austria’s largest open-air event: This year is the 33rd time this festival is being staged on the Danube Island in Vienna. Once again, top-flight stars will present music of all genres on numerous stages. The accompanying entertainment program is also quite impressive.
www.donauinselfest.at | 24 to 26 June 2016
Veltlinerland
Westliches
Weinviertel
Traisental
Wachau
Kremstal
Kamptal
Wagram
Thermenregion
Carnuntum
// 10th anniversary of DonaukanaltreibenLively scene along the Danube Canal in Vienna with free admission: DJ sets, dance workshops, fashion shows, sports along with a variety of culinary delicacies – and a whole lot of live concerts performed by top bands largely from Austria.
www.donaukanaltreiben.at May 2016
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points of departure // DANUBE LIFE
22 // DANUBE magazine 2016
Through Hungarian Puszta to Belgrade, the “White
City“ of Serbia with its impressive fortress.
Services: cruise in the booked 2-bed-cabin | harbour duties | 7 times full board | evening entertainment inthe board theatre | wine tasting | ÖBB train ticket to/from Linz/2nd class | 4 excursions
rrivals: Friday, 22nd April,10th & 24th June,2nd September
The Danube region is a cultural treasure chest! Explore the pic-
turesque landscape with castles and vineyards during cycling on
flat cycle paths.
Danube cruise 4****+ MS Primadonna
Danube leisure cycling holiday
Afrom € 799,- ppbooking code:
PRI16
from € 419,- pp
booking code:
DOCA16
2
3
4
5
1
6
7
8
Linz
Esztergom
Kalocsa
Belgrade
Mohács
Budapest
Bratislava
Linz
Services: 7 overnight stays in good 3*** & 4****hotels with breakfast buffet | train package to/from each train station in Germany/Austria/2nd
class | DonauCard | luggage service to Vienna | tour map & information
Arrivals: daily from 15th Aprilto 16th October
Donau Touristik GMBHLederergasse 4-12A - 4010 Linz/Donau
0043 732 2080 65 www.en.ms-primadonna.net
0043 732 2080 56 www.en.donau-radreisen.info [email protected]
Information & booking
Incl. 4
excursi
onsIncl.
train packa
ge
DANUBE magazine 2016 // 23
Comprehensive assistance during the tour
The most beautiful cycling routes
Elaborate travel documents
gg g Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
PERFECTLY ORGANISED CYCLING HOLIDAYS
Get yourDANUBE-BONUS
now! www.eurobike.at/danube-2016w
Ph
oto
: D
on
au
Nie
de
rös
terr
eic
h/F
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nz
Ha
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er
WINE HIKING.WACHAU VALLEYThis 5-day tour with 3 hiking days hiking in the heart of the UNESCO World
Cultural Heritage Valley of Wachau, is a true treat for the senses.
The luggage will be transported from one host to the next.
SERVICES INCLUDED:
4 overnight stays / half board in the selected companies
Daily hiking meals with regional products, prepared by the host
Luggage transportation by the overnight-stay selected company
(max 1 luggage per person)
Wine tasting with 3 wines at the winery
Danube cruise from Spitz – Krems
Hiking fi le with map, directions and information about the
world cultural heritage valley of Wachau
PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON: FROM € 448,– IN DOUBLE ROOM
Information & Reservations: Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH | Phone +43 2713 30060-60
[email protected] | www.wachau.at/vacation-packages
Not included: local tax € 1,50 per person/day (from15 years of age payable locally)
Reservation: 2 persons | Valid: April – October 2016 (starting April and October, limited ferry service)
A3
A93
A92
A8
A25
A8
A1
A9
A1
A10
A7
A1
A4
A2
A6
A4
D2
D2
D1
R1
M1
M3
M2
A8
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S10 (ab 2015)
A94 (in Bau/Planung)
Up
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Vienna
Isar
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Lower Bavaria
RegensburgStraubing
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Enns
Grein
Ybbs a.d. Donau
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Landshut
Trnava Nitra
St. Florian
Ba
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Ilz
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Clam Castle Artstetten Palace
Langenlois
Ceský Krumlov
Pannonhalma
PécsHallstadt/Dachstein
Bayerisc hes Golf- und The r menl an d
Freistadt
MunichAirport
Do n a u-Danu
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Ceské Budejovice (Budweis)
Nitriansky kraj0 km 10 km 50 km
The DanubeRoute of Emperors and Kings
Donau-Moldau Region
Motorway
City
Capital Citiy / Provincial Capital
Airport
UNESCO-World Heritage Site
D o na u- Mo
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Route of Emperors and KingsYour historical travel route along the Danube!Your journey on the historical route along the Danube will open up enchanting landscapes and remarkable cultural monuments. Whether by bicycle, boat, car or on foot – Europe’s second-largest river will astonish you, time and again.
Route of Emperors and Kings working group / c/o Linz Tourismus / Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2, 4020 Linz / Tel. +43 732 7070 2937
Get your free map: [email protected]
Eastern BavariaIn Eastern Bavaria, the Danube connects the Bavarian
Forest with the Bavarian golf and thermal spa region.
Untouched nature, varied landscapes, pulsating cities
full of history and charm, impressive architectural
monuments, magnifi cent monasteries and innumerab-
le leisure activities invite you to take a relaxed, carefree
holiday. www.ostbayern-tourismus.de
Regensburg – World Heritage SiteHere, the Danube connects people. Th e eventful
history of two millennia is visible in the form of
monuments in Regensburg. Th e Cathedral, the Town
Hall with the Reichssaalbau, museums, monuments
and art treasures of European importance. Th e city
was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.
www.regensburg.de
PassauGerman emperors and kings paid their respects to the
Th ree-Rivers City. Passau’s backdrop of towers, squares,
promenades and narrow streets was created by Italian ba-
roque masters. At the heart of the Old Town, St. Stephen’s
Cathedral is situated, where the largest Roman Catholic
church organ in the world resounds. Veste Oberhaus tow-
ers majestically over the city. www.tourismus.passau.de
Danube Upper AustriaNumerous landscapes varied beyond description
accompany you from Passau via Linz, the modern city
of culture, to Grein, the jewel of the Strudengau, and
off er breathtaking views and perspectives: magnifi cent
baroque monasteries and palaces, castles, ruins and
picturesque historical locations.
www.donauregion.at, www.donauradweg.at
Linz, European Capital of Culture 2009Linz was not only the European Capital of Culture
2009, but is also a UNESCO City of Media Arts. A
colourful, luminous cultural metropolis, where past,
present and future exist in harmony. Th e whole of
Linz is a venue for theatre, fi lm, music, cabaret and
much more. www.linztourismus.at
Danube Lower AustriaTh e region that stretches from the Nibelungengau and
the World Heritage Site of the Wachau to Römerland
Carnuntum-Marchfeld is rich in history.
It is a meeting place for those who love food, wine
and culture.
www.donau.comwww.wachau.at
Wien - Weltkulturerbe Wien zeigt Ihnen Kunst & Genuss in allen Facetten:
Vom Schloss Schönbrunn über den Stephansdom bis
hin zum Prachtboulevard Ringstraße. Die Hofburg ist
mit den Kaiserappartements, Sisi Museum und Silber-
kammer, Schatzkammer und Spanischer Hofreitschule
das imperiale Highlight der Altstadt.
www.wien.info
Bratislava - Die Krönungsstadt Sie ist die moderne Donaumetropole am Schnittpunkt
verschiedener Kulturen. Zehn ungarisch-österreichi-
sche Könige sind im Martinsdom gekrönt worden.
Der Hauch vergangener Jahrhunderte ist bei einem
Rundgang durch die sanierte Altstadt spürbar und
überall locken trendige Cafés und Restaurants.
www.visit.bratislava.sk
Budapest - Weltkulturerbe Die Hauptstadt von Ungarn hat eine wunderschöne
Lage und bietet zahlreiche Sehenswürdigkeiten, wie z.
B. das zum UNESCO-Welterbe gehörende Burgvier-
tel mit dem Donaupanorama , das Parlament, die
Stephansbasilika, das Stadtwäldchen mit der Burg Vaj-
dahunyad, die Margareteninsel und noch vieles mehr.
www.hungary.com