LisaG

Hello all you Austria experts and knowledgeable ones!

We are in Salzburg for 4 days, and then in Vienna for 4 days---but we have 3 days in between to fill. Does anyone have a recommendation for a place to visit that lies more or less on the way (meaning that we're not interested in a many-hour drive to get there)? I'm thinking of something like:

-- a beautiful small town or village
-- great views
-- good food
-- where we can fine a wonderful B&B (or the like)

I welcome anything you have to contribute. For clarity, we just got to Salzburg, so the timing of our visit is April 24-26.

Happy travels,

LisaG

joannyc

The lake district... most people here will recommend St. Gilgen, however, I like St. Wolfgang better.

Palenque

Hallstatt will more than fulfill all you requisites - a lovely small town on a lovely Alpine lake, sitting at the foot of high snow-girdled Alps - there is good hiking and Salt Mines you can tour - but the setting is so so romantic and you'll find oodles of cozy guesthouses and B&B -

Though Hallstatt is between Salzburg and Vienna it is a detour off the main rail/road routes - leaving that route at Attnang-Puchheim to traverse a sweet river valley to Hallstatt.

Sans car trains traverse the valley from Attnang-Puchheim to Hallstatt but stop on the opposite side of the tranquil lake and a small boat ferries passengers over to the dreamy town (as do buses)

Hallstatt Austria 2004 pictures published by richbell1.
travel.webshots.com/album/195043973ejvbSb

Hallstatt Austria pictures from europe photos on webshots
Sep 4, 2006 ... Hallstatt Austria pictures published by nesnahtra.
travel.webshots.com/album/553786218PpGuvp

elberko

Yup, Hallstatt is what I would say, too.

~Liz

KayF

Durnstein is a little further out of the way, closer to Vienna, but we really liked it. It's quite small and touristy and very pretty. It's situated right on the river and there's a walking path alongside it. We stayed here:

http://www.saengerblondel.at/

It's a hotel and restaurant combined. Almost two years down the track, we still talk about how good the food was and how hospitable the owners were. Great place, nice room, good location, wonderful food.

If you choose this option, you could visit the fabulous old abbey at Melk on the way.
http://www.stiftmelk.at/englisch/index.html

Kay

joannyc

Have to agree that both Hallstatt and Stift Melk are also both gorgeous!

Palenque

If you are going by car then i would strongly consider driving along the Wachau Valley - the most scenic part of the Blue Danube and stopping for the night in a dreamy riverside town like Durnstein - where in the now ruined castle hovering high above this wine town Richard-the-Lion-Hearted was once gaoled after being held for ransom after being nabbed whilst returning from some Crusade. If no car then i would do it as a day trip from Vienna - take the train to Melk - about 45 min and then hop the frequent boats thru the vineyard-studden Wachau Valley to Durnstein or Krems and then take the train back to Vienna from there - a really sweet day trip.

bettyk

The lakes area near Salzburg is absolutely gorgeous. We have visited Hallstatt on numerous occasions as well as St. Gilgen on Wolfgangsee. But there are many other lakeside towns also worth seeing as well as the Imperial City of Bad Ischl.

There are boat rides, mountain top vistas, steam trains and great hiking and biking.

http://www.salzkammergut.at/en

http://www.visit-salzburg.net/surrou...zkammergut.htm

http://www.austria.info/au/nature-an...t-1287102.html

LisaG

Wow! All great ideas. We have a car, and might actually do the lakes as a day trip since we'll be here a few days and this is not our first visit.

I will research all your suggestions, and let you know if I have questions.

As always, thank you so much for the great ideas.

If you've got more, I'll welcome them!

Happy travels,

LisaG

Palenque

If you have a car and want to take a very short detour off the main Salzburg-Vienna highway and would like to experience a Nazi Concentration camp then Mauthausen is just a few miles off the path. I have been to several camps but not this one and they are always a sobering experience.


Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp - Wikipedia
Mauthausen Concentration Camp and its sub Labor camp Gusen, combined to form the Mauthausen-Gusen Nazi concentration camp, were located near the villages of ...

History - Inmates - Liberation and post-war heritage - Memorials
en.wikipedia.org/.../Mauthausen-Gusen_concentration_camp

LisaG

Palenque,

Mauthausen is actually a great recommendation. We went there a number of years ago, almost on a whim, not knowing what the memorial would be like. It was one of the most sobering and moving experiences we have ever had. No one was there, and the "memorial" is a full-fledged camp with a well-done tour to do on one's own.

LisaG

LisaG

Thanks everyone for your very good suggestions. Palenque, we are going to Durnstein for a couple of days, and I'm sure it will be idyllic. KayF, we are staying at the Saenger Blondel -- your recommendation made a big difference.

Bettyk and joannyc, today we are going to the lakes near Salzburg as a day-trip. I'm sure it will be gorgeous as today has finally turned sunny!

Bye for now!

Happy travels,

LisaG

KayF

To LisaG,
I hope you really enjoy your trip and like the Saenger Blondel as much as we did. The owners were very hospitable and the hotel and restaurant had a comfortable feel. We wished we could have stayed longer and had a few more meals there.

Kay

LisaG

KayF,

Unfortunately, the restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday, the 2 nights we will be there. So we'll not have the good luck to try their food. If we get there before 3:30 on Sunday, we may be able to sneak in a Sunday lunch before they close!

Everyone,

We went to St. Gilgen and Hallstatt yesterday! What a great drive and great recommendations by all. Beautiful beyond words.

LisaG

Amy

Don't know if you'd have time to fit this in, but the castle in Werfen (Hohenwerfen) is wonderful with its birds of prey show--participants all dressed in Renaissance finery. (We stayed in Pfarrwerfen, and went into Kuchl often as well.) Here are some pix: http://travel.webshots.com/album/115...bDEdt?start=12

molker

Regarding the Sanger Blondel in Dürnstein and food - if you miss their closing time on Sunday. - still various dining options -

Alter Klosterkeller - a 3 minute walk- nice atmosphere with views over wine gardens to the Danube . Fine wine and a mixed menu

www.alter-klosterkeller.at

they open at 12 on weekends - 15:00 week days

Just across the small way from the Sanger Blondel- Richard Lowenherz Hotel - I think they open this weekend for the season. A fine dining terrace if weather permits or a dining room.
www.richardloewenherz.at

A short distance away- 5 minute driving time in Loiben a village toward Krems
the Loibnerhof
www.loibnerhof.at

excelent wine list - the son is in the kitchen to prepare austrian specialties.

Please note that the village of Dürnstein is mainly a pedestrian zone . Only those living in the village or hotel guests are permitted on the narrow streets - drive slow as you share them with those walking and on bikes .

bettyk

LisaG, glad you enjoyed St. Gilgen and Hallstatt. I'm looking forward to going there again in September.

Also, moelker's recommendation of Richard the Lionhearted Hotel in Durnstein is a good one. When we lived in Vienna, we would drive over there on the weekend and sit out on the terrace overlooking the Danube with a nice glass of wine and Champignons Gebacken (fried mushrooms), one of my favorites!

scatcat

I can't wait to get back to both St. Gilgen and Hallstatt. I arrive June 6 at St. Gilgen for 4 nights, then 2 nights in Hallstatt.

bettyk

scatcat, you sound like me! I keep thinking I should try someplace new, but I just keep going back to St. Gilgen and/or Hallstatt. To me, it's such a beautiful area.

In 2002, we took our best friends to Europe and Hallstatt was one of their favorite places. The husband, who had been my husband's best friend since they were children, died last December. He was cremated and we are taking his wife back to Hallstatt where she wants to scatter a few of his ashes. This will be an emotional trip for all of us.

LisaG

Everyone,

Yeay! I'm back on line and ready to give you some actual reviews!

We are now in Vienna, having arrived from Durnstein. We loved it! Thank you so much to everyone who recommended the town. Our stay at the Sanger Blondel was a real treat, and the hosts were so attentive, the beds a dream! We voted theirs the best sheets of the trip.

We ate dinner one night at the Richard Lowenherz, and one night at the Alter Klosterkeller. Both were excellent, and different each from the other. The weather has just turned warm here, and we took advantage of the opportunity to sit outside at the AK. What a treat. The Richard Lowenherz was quite wonderful. My husband had the trout (one of the ones in the tank when you walk in) and pronounced it the best trout he'd ever had.

Another thing we did was rent bicycles from one of the bike stations right in town. You just call a number and they give you the combination to unlock a bike (once they have your credit card number). What a great way to drink in the vineyards!

I am especially grateful to all your replies because Durnstein would never have come up on our radar were it not for you all. Thank you to each and everyone for memories that we will not easily forget.

Happy travels!

LisaG