Friday, August 19, 2011

AUSTRIA

(does not include Salzburg & Vienna)

BURGENLAND
Stegersbach
Hotels
Balance Resort – 1 Panoramaweg; 011-43-033-265-5155; balance-resort.at; beautiful; connected to Stegersbach Thermal Spa.



CARINTHIA
Wörthersee (in English, Lake Worth; includes surrounding communities, such as Dellach and Maria Worth)
Hotels
Emberger Alm – Berg im Drautal – Spittal an der Drau); 011-43-04-712-794; embergeralm.at/en or bergfex.com/embergeralm; family ski resort.
F.X. Mayr & More – 2 Golfstrasse (Maria Worth-Dellach); 011-43-042-733-1117; viva-mayr.com; spa; in modern concrete and glass building; management unrelated to Viva Mayr; meals are dry rusks, broth, and little else.
Viva Mayr – 11 Seepromenade (Maria Worth); 011-43-042-732-5110; mayrandmore.com; spa; in old-style Austrian chalet; management unrelated to F.X. Mayr & More; meals are dry rusks, broth, and little else.



LOWER AUSTRIA
Durnstein
Restaurants
Wieser Wachau – 39 Altstadt; 011-43-027-118-0544; wieser-wachau.at; café and shop at which can sample Wachauer Marille, several apricot varieties only grown in Austria’s Wachau Valley; offers bitters, chutney, marmalade, and/or schnapps.



STYRIA
Admont
Sights & Sites
Admont Library & Monastery – 1 Admont; 011-43-0361-3231-2601; stiftadmont.at/english/museum/bibliothek/stiftsbibliothek.php; Benedictine monastery located on Enns River; oldest remaining monastery in Styria; 2nd largest monastic library in world (after one in Mafra, Portugal).
Gesäuse National Park – 2 Gesäuse; 011-43-0361-3211-6020; nationalpark.co.at/en; Austria’s newest national park; pristine region of jagged mountain ridges, rock towers, deep valleys, alpine pastures and dense spruce forests; traditional farming still allowed on selected meadows; divided into 2 uneven halves by Enns, fast-flowing alpine river that eventually spills into Danube River (near Mauthausen; of 6 peaks over 2000m within park, Hocktor is highest.

Hartberg-Furstenfeld
Bad Blumau
Hotels
Rogner Bad Blumau – 100 Bad Blumau; 011-43-03-383-5100; blumau.com; .
Services
Rogner Bad Blumau – 100 Bad Blumau; 011-43-03-383-5100; blumau.com; located in Styria thermal region; not only luxury spa hotel, but complete artwork; colorful patchwork façades & green roofs, without single straight line; arranged like city with various districts; indoor ring-shaped spa in center, with diverse range of accommodation, swimming, bathing & restaurant areas branching out into open landscape.

Tragöß
Sights & Sites
Gruener See – Municipal Office Tragöß - 41 Pichl; 011-43-03-868-8227; gruenersee.at or tragoess.at; park that lies submerged under snowmelt for entire summer; strange emerald green; can dive and look at park benches, etc., which are eerily visible during summer months and usable in winter months.



TYROL
Innsbruck (includes Pfaffenhofen)
Bakeries, Coffee, Ice Cream, Juice & Tea
Cafe-Konditorei Valier – 27 Maximilianstrasse; 011-43-051-258-6180; konditorei-innsbruck.at; among locals’ favorite pastry cafe.
Café Sacher Innsbruck – 1 Rennweg (Old Town); 011-43-051-256-5626; sacher.com/en-cafe-innsbruck.htm; part of Sacher chain.
Munding – 16 Kiebachgasse (Old Town); 011-43-051-258-4118; munding.at; claims to have served apple strudel and stollen since 1803.
Bars & Nightclubs
Aftershave – 8 Herzog-Otto-Strasse (Badgasse); 011-43-065-0829-5677; club-aftershave.at; often empty until 1 a.m.
Café Bar Lounge 360° – 18 Maria-Theresien-Strasse (at Lichtblick); 011-43-051-256-6550; restaurant-lichtblick.at; spills out from restaurant dining room; worth visit if only for drinks and view.
Cafe Sowieso – 8 Kapuzinergasse; 011-43-065-0553-0506; facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Sowieso-Innsbruck/203802736296919; gritty, romper-room-like student brew pub.
5th Floor – 3 Adolf-Pichler-Platz (at Hotel Penz); 011-43-051-257-5657; the-penz.com; rooftop bar notable for cocktails.
Sitzwohl Restaurant & Bar – Stadtforum (on Gilmstrasse); 011-43-051-256-2888; restaurantsitzwohl.at; housed in former primary school.
Weekender – 3 Tschamlerstrasse; 011-43-051-257-0570; weekender.at.
Hotels
Hotel Basic – 16 Innrain; 011-43-051-258-6385; basic-hotel.at; 24 gracefully decorated rooms; simple colors and rich wood accents.
Hotel Penz – 3 Adolf-Pichler-Platz; 011-43-051-257-5657; the-penz.com; decade-old; 94 rooms; clean, midcentury-inspired design; on quiet square not far from Maria-Theresien-Strasse (main shopping and entertainment strip.
Restaurants
Café Sacher Innsbruck – 1 Rennweg (Old Town); 011-43-051-256-5626; sacher.com/en-cafe-innsbruck.htm; part of Sacher chain.
Lichtblick – 18 Maria-Theresien-Strasse; 011-43-051-256-6550; restaurant-lichtblick.at; chic dining spot on Rathausgalerie’s 7th floor; takes name Lichtblick (“bright spot”) from location, as well as dining experience; vistas over Altstadt are without precedent in Innsbruck and especially dramatic at night; uses market-fresh ingredients to concoct sublime dishes on constantly changing menu.
Sitzwohl Restaurant & Bar – Stadtforum (on Gilmstrasse); 011-43-051-256-2888; restaurantsitzwohl.at; must have reservation; housed in former primary school; includes bar and deli; worth special trip.
Shopping
Swarovski – 39 Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse; 011-43-051-2573-1000; innsbruck.swarovski.com; crystals are produced ½ hour outside of town; worth visit just for multi-media show, Im Facettenreich (by Thomas Feuerstein).
Töpferstudio Kathrein – 1 Viaduktbogen; 011-43-051-257-3218; toepferstudio.at; stylish but functional, hand-thrown ceramics.
Sights & Services
Court Church – 3 Innrain; 011-43-051-259-8680; tyrol.tl/en/highlights/sights/court-church-innsbruck; Gothic royal court church and mausoleum built in 1553; features unsurpassed Emperor Maximilian tomb and elaborate Silver Chapel; built by Ferdinand I; also offers attractive little cloister, lovely Renaissance, porch and lofty Gothic nave with 3 aisles.
Hörtenberg Castle – Oberinntal (Pfaffenhofen); ruins once hosted homonymous Middle Ages court.
Hungerburgbahn Funicular – 145 Höhenstrasse 145; 011-43-051-229-3344; nordkette.com/en; designed by Zaha Hadid.
Museum of Tyrolean Folk Art – 2 Universitatstrasse (Old Town, next to Court Church); 011-43-051-25948-9510 tyrol.tl/en/highlights/museums-and-exhibitions/tyrolean-folk-art-museum.html; handicrafts, like combs, carved spoons, traditional costumes, and even complete living rooms, filled with carved wood and quirky regional design.
Swarovski Kristallwelten (Swarovski Crystal Worlds ) – 1 Kristallweltenstrasse (Wattens); 011-43-052-245-1080; swarovski.com/Web_US/en/index; Austria’s 2nd most visited attraction (after Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna); showcases Swarovski creations.

Kitzbuhel (includes Kirchberg & Soll)
Hotels
Grand Spa Resort A-Rosa – 7 Ried Kaps; 011-43-053-5665-6600; resort.a-rosa.de; massive and luxurious.
Hotel Schwarzer Adler – 15 Florianigasse; 011-43-053-566-911; adlerkitz.at.
Hotel Taxacherhof – 46 Aschauer Strasse (Kirchberg); 011-43-053-572-527; taxacherhof.at.
Hotel Tennerhof – 26 Griesenauweg; 011-43-053-566-3181 or 877-662-6988; tennerhof.com.
Hotel Goldener Greif – 24 Hinterstadt; 011-43-053-566-4311; hotel-goldener-greif.at.
Restaurants
KAPS – 7 Ried Kaps; 011-43-053-5665-6600; resort.a-rosa.de; Michelin starred; try “Poor Man’s Menu,” which has traditional, regional dishes.
Neuwirt – 15 Florianigasse (at Hotel Schwarzer Adler); 011-43-053-5669-1158; restaurant-neuwirt.at; updated Central European fare, like goose liver with baked almond milk and plums.
Rosengarten – 46 Aschauer Strasse (Kirchberg); 011-43-053-572-527; taxacherhof.at; 2 Michelin stars.
Restaurant Schindlhaus – 134 Dorf (Soll); 011-43-053-3351-6316; schindlhaus.com; Winkler brothers run kitchen known for dedication to local ingredients.
Hotel Stanglwirt – 1 Kaiserweg (Kitzbuhel); 011-43-053-582-000; stanglwirt.com; great pub food.
Shopping
Frauenschuh – 13-15 Josef-Herold-Strasse; 011-43-053-566-4261; frauenschuh.com; luxury alpine-wear.

Sölden (includes Längenfeld)
Hotels
Bergland Hotel Sölden – 114 Dorfstrasse; 011-43-052-542-2400; bergland-soelden.at; in Western Tyrol’s Ötztal Valley; hotel is directly in town center, with easy access to cable railway and ski area; crafted by local tradespeople, new 86-room resort has subtle old Austria hints, such as oiled oak floors and rocking chairs; next to main entrance, direct lift to ski slopes and in-house sports shop; herbs from hotel’s Alpine garden used at 1.7K sq m Sky Spa; 3 restaurants.
Hotel Das Central – 3 Auweg; 011-43-052-542-2600; central-soelden.at; elegant.
Restaurants
Feinspitz – 3 Auweg (at Hotel Das Central); 011-43-052-542-2600; central-soelden.at; for authentic Austrian schnitzel.
Services
Aqua Dome – 140 Oberlängenfeld (Längenfeld); 011-43-052-536-400; aqua-dome.at/en; giant spa complex (including 140 rooms); brine pools, cold pools, cool pools, hot pools; swimming pools, warm pools; 3 different sauna types.



UPPER AUSTRIA
Attersee (includes Lake Attersee & environs, such as Schörfling)
Hotels
Hotel-Restaurant Häupl – 20 Hauptstrasse (Seewalchen am Attersee); 011-43-766-229-860; hotel-haeupt.at/en; lakeview balconies & terraces.
Hotel Seegasthof Oberndorfer – 18 Hauptstrasse (Attersee am Attersee); 011-43-766-678-640; oberndorfer.info; 23 rooms on lake, with private dock.
Villa Paulick – 12 Promenade (Seewalchen am Attersee); 011-43-766-22412; attersee.salzkammergut.at/#oben; 7 rooms, only 1 of which has private bath.
Restaurants
Hotel-Restaurant Häupl – 20 Hauptstrasse (Seewalchen am Attersee); 011-43-766-229-860; hotel-haeupt.at/en; excellent meals by highly regarded chef.
Sights & Sites
Gustav Klimt Center – 30 Hauptstrasse (Schörfling); 011-43-664-828-3390; klimt-am-attersee.at; make sure to obtain self-guided, audio-tour of Gustav Klimt Theme Trail along lakefront.
Kammer Castle – Hauptstrasse (Schörfling am Attersee); 011-43-766-22578; attersee.salzkammergut.at/en/all-year/gustav-klimt/austria/poi/430003054/schlosspark-kammer.html; 1st military fortress constructed about 1200 by Haidfalk von Chammer; extended and modified from beginning of 17th Century onward; favored subject for Gustav Klimt.
Villa Paulick – 12 Promenade (Seewalchen am Attersee); 011-43-766-22412; attersee.salzkammergut.at/#oben; where Klimt family stayed; call in advance.

Gmunden
Ohlsdorf
Sights & Sights
Thomas Bernard Home & Museum – 2 Obernathal; 011-43-01-513-9650; thomasbernhard.at; must email for reservation; Obernathal consists of 3 barns and church; very beautiful.

Linz
Hotels
Pixel Hotel – 28 Altstadt; 011-43-065-0743-7953; pixelhotel.at; rooms are spread across 6 small, unused spaces throughout city – docket tugboat, art gallery, vintage camper inside old cabinetmaker’s shop – repurposed by local architects and designers.
Sights & Sites
ARS Electronica Center – 2 Hauptstrasse; 011-43-073-272-720; aec.at; shimmering on Danube River’s shore; technology resource center open to public; exhibits.
Lentos Art Museum Linz – 1 Ernst-Koref-Promenade; 011-43-073-27070-3600 or 3614; lentos.at; modern art museum.



VORARLBERG
Bezau
Hotels
Hotel Post – 35 Brugg; 011-43-05-5142-2070; hotelpostbezau.com; classic country inn with modern spa flair; in same family for 5 generations.
Restaurants
Engel das Wirsthaus – 29 Platz; 011-43-05-514-2203; gasthaus-engel.at; hearty Austrian classics.
Shopping
Devich – 186 Ellenbogen; 011-43-05-514-2236; holzshuhe.at; clogs.

Bregenz
Sights & Sites
Kunsthaus Bregenz – Karl-Tizian Platz; 011-43-0557-448-5940; kunsthaus-bregenz.at; glass and steel building showcasing rotating exhibits.

Feldkirch
Hotels
Hotel Alpenrose – 4-6 Rosengasse; 011-43-055-227-2125; hotel-alpenrose.net; great value; near Schattenburg Castle.
Restaurants
Schattenberg Castle – 1 Burggasse; 011-43-055-227-1982; restaurant said to have Austria’s largest schnitzels.
Sights & Sites
Schattenberg Castle – 1 Burggasse; 011-43-055-227-1982; built in early 1200s by Count Hugo von Montfort.

Lingenau
Shopping
Kasekeller – 423 Ziehanbuhl; 011-43-055-134-2870; kaesekeller.at; cheese coop.

Schwarzenberg
Hotels
Hotel Hirschen – 14 Hof; 011-43-055-122-944; hirschenschwarzenberg.at; 250 years-old.
Restaurants
Hotel Hirschen – 14 Hof; 011-43-055-122-944; hirschenschwarzenberg.at; good restaurant.
Shopping
Textil Hirschbuhl – 2 Hof; 011-43-055-122-994; crafts.

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