Recently in Austria Category

There have been restrictions of foreign ownership and on buying holiday homes in certian areas. Permissions are required to buy property from the local authority office. But since joining the European Union, Austrian rules will change to apply equally to EU and Austrian citizens.

When buying real estate in Austria, a deposit of 10 percent is usual though not mandatory and it will be returned if the deal falls through. A common solicitor can handle the deal for both parties and when purchase contracts are signed, the funds are deposited with a trustee till the completion.

The price of a studio apartment is about $75,000.
A small apartment can come for anything from $87,500.
Large apartments are priced at around $145,000.
Detached homes can be about $365,000.

The cost of living in Austria is high but the EU membership should start to reduce the cost of imported goods.
Ski resorts and sumer holiday homes in hiking regions are popular with buyers.

You can find your own ideal apartment, farmhouse, chalet, castle, villa or just a plain simple home by exploring all the possibilities.

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A medieval castle is for sale! Let me say it again - a medieval castle is for sale! I'm sorry, i'm just excited. Okay... down to the particulars. The castle (!!), I shall now be prosaic... has 60 rooms, has recently been reroofed and the plumbing, heating and phone systems have been upgraded. It has its own free spring water supply and is half surrounded by a nationally-protected public park. The castle itself is a national monument. With a host of noble names in its history, this 1268 castle rises out of the Innvalley, flanked by the Alps and has a baroque chapel, 6 storey tower and 12 guest suites. You can either use it for your really large family or turn it into a hotel (please don't!) or just keep it for your own happy power trip with your own little flag flying out of the top! And the cost of this kingdom - a mere $3,780,000.

A baroque castle with drawbridge consists of a main building and annexes with three separate apartments, a guest's wing, a villa, a gardening house and caretaker's house! There's even a pavillion for parties and stable with room for 5 horses. (A hotel I stayed in in India had very beautifully converted old stables into the nicest rooms... but that's for another time). Old marble, parquet and stone floors have been restored, 30 bedrooms and bathrooms with all the modern conveniences have been thought of. A library, a music room and a piano add sufficiently to the castle air. To top it off, it's just 10 minutes away from an 18 hole golf course designed by golf legend, Jack Nicklaus.

The Hann Chalet in Tirol has 5 bedrooms spread over three levels that can house 14 people. A large terrace with its own deck chairs gives you a lovely view of the mountains and the countryside. You have luxurious private grounds and gardens with a sunning area, swimming pool and children's playground in addition the game room within. Depending on the season, the weekly price differs from $1,795 to $3,036.

Look through more castles and chalets, manor homes and country houses before you start your dynasty.

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A cottage in Afritz has 4 bedrooms and can house up to 13 people. It's situated in the heart of the hiking area and right next door 16 km of different ski slopes and a ski school. The house has an indoor swimming pool and sauna. The garden comes with its own furniture, sand pit and barbeque. There's even a play area with table tennis!

A cosy holiday cottage with 2 bedrooms situated in Ried close to other cottages is furnished in much comfort while maintaining an outdoorsy look. It allows pets and has a balcony and terrace, a communal swimming pool and with ski slopes no more than 200m away you can even rent skiing equipment. The energy and electricity costs are covered in the rental.

Another cottage in the Danube Valley is a renovated farmhouse that gives you a peaceful view of the river. The property is the second oldest in the area, Vichtenstein, which is one of the prettiest holiday villages. The area is great for cross country skiing and boasts a ski lift in the village. With the local mountain and a 800 year old church, the cities of Passau and barokstad Schaeding within 20km distance, there are a few tourist spots worth visiting. The house has 3 bedrooms that can house 7 people and space for 2 pets.

The main attraction of this cottage in Untertilliach in the Tirol region for me is the simple fact that you don't get to be isolated in your own little world here - you live among the locals! Built in 1750, it has its own natural plot and mountain view. It can house up to 4 people and doesn't allow pets.

Make a choice of more holiday cottages in the Salzburg, Tirol, Karnten or other regions.

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A completely awesome penthouse in Vienna is available for $1,800,000. It's built over two floors with light flooding through the glass windows. While the apartment is hidden away from prying eyes on the street with patios that break up the glass front, it gives you a panoramic view over Vienna.

A series of one bedroom and studio apartments in Central Vienna are available for short or long term stays and are suited to house 1-5 people. Besides a fully furnished kitchen, the apartments have aliving and dining room, a bathroom and a separate toilet. All the apartments come with cable TV, telephone, fax, stereo, microwave, dishwasher, coffee nachine, etc. The apartments are for about 2540 USD to 3000 USD per month for 2 people with discounts for stays beyond 3 months.

A apartment in a farmhouse 20km from Salzburg offers you the the best of rural living. You can horse ride, take tractor rides, hike through beautiful trails, take care of your own chicken nest and hobby rooms with darts and Table Tennis and foosball for when it's raining. With a lake and flower-filled meadow close by, make use of the horse drawn carriage rides.
The apartments are one bedroom but can sleep upto 4 people.

A two bedroom apartment on the first floor of a house in Styria comes with independent kitchen, shower and toilet. It's just 3 km away from ski slopes ad is baby friendly with baby cots and highchairs available. You'll also get a private parking spot for your car an doutdoor furniture if you want to sit in the garden to smell the fresh air.

Refine your apartment search with region, number of bedrooms and facilities for the perfect Austrian match.

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The Hohe Schule is a self-catering 2 bedroom villa situated in Loosdorf. It's quite an exciting property, being part of an 16th century former school building as is built together with with a closely situated church and castle. It has a dining room, royal gardens, front yard and a hall which comes under monument care! It's just 60km away from Vienna and close to beuatuful mountain hikes, convents, vineyards. All this grandness can be yours for 296 to 610 euros per week.

A lovely 3 storey villa in Baden gives you breathtaking views of the town and the mountains. The villa has played home to famous guests like King Saud and Bryan Adams. (I wonder if he composed a suitably lilting song while staying there?!)
The villa is priced at a negotiable 3,300,000 euros and with features like an elevator tat can take elederly people from basement to roof, three terraces for enjoying the sun at different times of the day, a winter garden enclosed by glass (I have no clue why the words 'winter garden' always strike me as very pretty and hopeful), indoor swimming pool with sauna and more make it well worth the price!

Villa Marie on the outskirts of Vienna is nestled among woods with a glass verandah overlooking rolling hills. The 2 bedrooms can sleep up to 5 people and the kitchen comes fully equipped with grill, fridge, dish washer, et al. The garden comes with barbeque and garden chairs and teh house keeps you in touch with broadband, satellite, cable, DVD and radio. Getting to St. Stephen's square in Vienna will take you as less as 30 minutes so you can keep up with your sightseeing and cultural events while you cocoon yourself in greenery at the Villa Marie.

This villa with the unfortunately imaginative name of Obj. No. 2273 (like something out of an Ayn Rand book) is one hell of an impressive residence with wainscoting ad tapestry and rooms straight out of some regency set. The white facade looks over a nice big garden and there are lovely green plants in the verandah with a solarium and indoor pool to boot. Object number (amusing isn't it?) 2273 is on the block for 5,100,000 euros.

Villa Seeblick in Upper Austria is divided into three separate properties - the Lakeview Main House with 6 bedrooms, the Lakeview Studio with three bedrooms and the garden apartment with three bedrooms again. The villa in St. Georgen overlooks Lake Atter beyond a beautiful landscaped garden with chairs. All possible facilities and luxuries are available from central heating to saunas and jacuzzis, bicycles thoughtfully provided to open galleries and firplaces. It's a lovely place and just a km away from shops and restaurants with Salzburg and Linz no more than 50 km away.

The late 19th century Harruck villa has been recently renovated with modern conveniences while keepingin mind the grand flavor. Ten bedrooms spread over four floors inside a V -building with a tower at its center make for atmospheric living. Pine forests and meadows aside, you'll also have the free run of your own spa, tennis court, gym, wine cellar (hmm...), believe it or not... 25 rooms other than the bedrooms!!! (might as well have a wedding here) and magnificent views. It's priced surprisingly lower than other villas i've mentioned at 980,000 euros.

A 3 bedroom villa in the Styrian region with beautiful wood facade and red tiled roof decorated with green creepers and red leaves is available for rent. It has a one acre garden and is close to historical sites, vineyards, mountain trails (for which bicycles have been provided) and other acitivities.

There are many villas and luxury homes - choices and choices in the varied beautiful regions of Austria. This is just the beginning.

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Maybe one day i'll go to a place untouched by both man and God. And there, in a different corner of the world than mine i'll just sit around. But not today and not Austria. This country has definitely been touched by magic hands.

Schönbrunn is the Habsburgs' ornate summer palace. Its grounds contain the world's oldest and only baroque Tiergarten (zoo), Palmenhaus - a glasshouse full of tropical ferns - and Schmetterlinghaus (butterfly house).

Salzburg is known as the Rome of the North due to the sheer number of churches it possesses. At the heart of Salzburg's Altstadt runs the city's busiest thoroughfare, pedestrianized Getreidegasse, lined with boutiques with old world wrought-iron shop signs. Number nine is Mozart's birthplace - the baby-sized violin he used as a child is on display, along with other instruments of the time. Also visit the Mirabell Palace, the white fortress Hohensalzburg overlooking the city, Mozart's college of music where The Magic Flute was composed and the High Altar of Franziskanerkirsche.

The Viennese funeral fetishism saw the opening of the Zentralfriedhof in 1874 when having a beautiful corpse was something to aspire to. The Zentralfriedhof is one of the biggest and most impressive cemeteries in the world.

The Hohe Tauern National Park lies at the foot of Austria's highest mountains. It is one of the last great wilderness areas in Europe and has been immaculately preserved and showcases nature at its best. The flora and fauna in the park is abundant and varies according to altitude. If you go higher you're likely to get pastoral delights with mountain goats and sheep. The lower levels are home to a variety of birds and deer, ibex and chamois. Besides the charm of watching nature, the park also offers plenty of activities including more than 450km of ski and snowboard slopes and a vast network of nature trails.

The Eisriesenwelt Caves are the largest ice caves in the world. On a tour of the caves you will be given a carbide lamp to guide yourself though gigantic columns and towers, waterfalls and glaciers of ice. The cave remains frozen throughout the year so definitely put it on your itinerary.

The Swarovski Crystal Walk Visitor Center is a vision with its breathtaking crystal halls - dome, meditation enter, theatre, ice lane and more.

Take a drive up the Grossglockner Alpine Road famous of all alpine roads terminating at the highest mountain and the largest glacier in Austria, the 3798m high Grossglockner.

In Vienna alone, there is a plethora of sightseer delights. From the Belvedere Palaces nestled amid splendid gardens, a magnificent view of the city from the Danube Tower, the medieval castle Hofburg, the Ring Boulevard to the Vienna Opera House, the famous St.Stephen's Cathedral reflected in the glass facade of Haas House and the beautiful white horses of the Spanish ridinh school dancing in concert to military music - the city enchants and could well entrap. But discover the smaller towns and rural places too!

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The Museum of the Future in Linz is a stunning exhibition of the colloboration possible between art, technology and society.
Technological wizardry from the 21st century is spread out over 5 levels.

The Benedictine Abbey founded in 1074 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg is a highly regarded cultural and artistic centre as well as an internationally renowned baroque museum. The Abbey was destroyed by fire in 1865, but the largest ecclesiastical Baroque library in the world was untouched. It is  an architectural masterpiece, crammed with awesome paintings, rare manuscripts and early printed books. It also showcases beautiful ceiling paintings by B. Altomonte.

The Archaeological Museum located in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg which used to be the most important Roman town in the Alps and dates from about 6 AD. Today, the town is preserved and the Archaeological Museum of Carnuntinum contains original pieces of Roman jewellery, coins and arms. The Roman mysteries of Mithras and other oriental religions and cults are revealed by pictures of worship and other objects. The whole town is like a museum with two amphitheatres, Roman baths, temples and military camp.

Gurk Cathedral built in the 11th century is regarded as the most outstanding example of Romanesque architecture in Austria. The magnificent baroque altar is adorned by 72 statues and 82 angels’ heads. The fresco paintings date from the second half of the 13th century and visit the wondrous 100-pillared crypt located deep beneath the cathedral.

The fine palaces of Belvedere are home to the Österreichisches Galerie, which take you through the nation's art history - from Baroque pieces by painters such as Rottmayr to an astounding collection of works by Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka.

The Mozart museum, the Leopold museum, the Jewish Theatre, and other galleries and multitude of musical events and the many other traditions over the year make Austria a completely exhilarating experience.

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Wherever you're staying in Austria, the other regions are all worth some serious exploring. The Alps to the Danube, hiking, skiing, galleries, monuments, mountains and lakes are spread across 9 federal provinces.
Vienna and the western provinces are traditionally more popular though the milder south is drawing its share of tourists.
The wooded hills of Burgenland where wine is cultivated, the passion play staged once in 5 years in St. Margarethen, an intensely rejuvenating spa experience or the silver mines and stud farms near Graz, these are all day long affairs.Whether you want to indulge in skiing, horse backriding or even if you're a glutton for more art and architecture, every little place in Austria has a wealth of beautiful churches and palaces. Plan your day out from your abode according to your preference for lounging or touring.
P.S: I'm personally fascinated by all the castles, the Seeschloss Orth in the middle of waves against a backdrop of mountains and trees, ordinary (?) castles tucked away in little country nooks, all so matter of factly grand.

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Skiing in the alpine slopes of Austria is a year round possibility. And if you don't like falling on your behind with embarrassing regularity, then you can always indulge in snowboarding, sledding, toboganning, ice skating and... hold your breath... ice golf!!

In summer, all you need are your hiking boots and you can just wander down any trail to find some of the most beautiful sights and green meadows and blue skies and red flowers along your way.

For more regular entertainment, The Prater is Vienna's most popular fun fair. The Prater ferris wheel gives you a classic view over Vienna. You can even play soccer in the Prater Stadium, be a part of harness racing, swim or lounge on the grass.

Nightclubs in Austria are thriving and great fun. Whether you dance away at Flex or become a part of the throng under an old pedestrian underpass recently converted into a club or an ex-porn cinema house madeover into a jazz club, and a gazillion other places to guzzle in some warmth or let the music do its work.

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Austrian Food is strongly meat based with an astonishing variety of desserts and cakes of renown. Tafelspitz is Austria's national food consisting mainly of boiled beef. The most popular dish is Wiener Schnitzel which is a fried cutlet, usually veal, covered in a coating of eggs and breadcrumbs. Then there is goulash, various types of smoked pork, dumplings and... mehlspeisen. That's the national term for cakes and puddings. Imagine this - you get 60 (!!) types of torte to be eaten with coffee, plum stew, cheese danish, dough filled with variety of fruits and a sprinkling of raisins and cinnamon - the ever popular strudel, pancakes... whew!
Most of the local wines are white with Riesling and Veltliner being recommended. Obstler is a strong, well-flavored drink distilled from fruits also widely drunk.
The best way to enjoy your wine is to spend a summer evening in a Heurige tavern. Marked by a pine bough over the door, with starlit picnic tables under grape arbors, this is certainly the way to drink.
To get a hold of these delicacies, find a restaurant in your town in Austria.
If you're in a particular mood, looking for vegetarian fare or a specific cuisine, make your search along those lines.

Winter sport equipment, high quality handbags, glassware and chinaware make up the best Austrain buys. I for one would also go for some typically Austrian products, like their wine or Almdudler - a herbal lemonade, or tell you that half the fun of shopping is in the atmosphere so be sure to visit the Christkindlmarkt, where you'll find some great local craft work at small stalls that'll sell you hot wine on a cold night.
If you're looking for style and substance Karntnerstrasse is like the Oxford Street in Vienna.
Another thing that's pretty to buy is an Austrian stamp. Be sure to collect a Sondermarken - stamp for a special occasion. An interesting souvenir from your trip.

A must visit is the Naschmarkt, a Viennese institution dating back to the 16th century. This fruit and vegetable market is worth a visit even if you're all stocked up in apples and oranges.
In the 19th century, Wienfluss, Vienna's second river, was roofed over and some dealers put up their stalls on top of this roof and that was the origin of the present market. You can sit at one of the coffee shops and stalls in this spectacular location surrounded by the hustle-bustle of fruit sellers and watch the lazy meandering river.
On Saturdays, you can get anything from junk to antiques to early birds at Vienna's major fleemarket.

Shops in Austria generally stay open from 8am to 6pm on weekdays and 12am to 5pm on Saturdays. In the tourist season, shops extend their weekday timings till about 9pm and stay open on weekends up till 6pm.

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Austria is a car lover's country but finding parking space in the cities might not be the easiest thing. Fortunately, it has a very good public transport system comprising train and bus routes that complement each other with many bus timings matched to suit arriving trains.
You can get to most places in the county using train or buses, though maybe certain rural spots might be too out of the way and you may need to rent a car or cycle.
What's convenient is that you can get yourself a travelcard covering all forms of public transport in a particular zone. You could get one for a day, week or month depending on your plan.
Trains are fast, clean, comfortable and punctual! The bus service fills any gaps left by the rail. A reason to assume that a bus in Austria can get you anywhere is that one kind of bus service in the country is run by the post office... and if a letter need to get to an out of way place... you certaily can!
Take a boat ride down the Danube or buy a 15 day special ticket that gets you on excursions on any scheduled boat.
Cycling in Austria is a delight with cycling lanes and routes marked in cities and in the countryside. You can rent a cycle at railroad stations for $18 a day or get it reduced to $11 a day by showing a railroad ticket to the point of rental.
Get details on getting around Austria and make your trip so much the smoother.

When to go to Austria quite depends on where you want to go. Vienna with its busy festival calender is a year round destination. As are the other urban areas. If you are going to the mountainous regions, you'll get two distinct tourists seasons - winter sports and summer hiking.
For warm weather, go between April and October but if want to ski and see the snow, make your trip fom November to April. Though keep in mind that away from the skiing ranges and areas, the rest of the country is quite wet and miserable during the snow.
Weather conditions vary only slightly across the country. Upper and Lower Austria can be quite foggy, the lowlands in the north and the east enjoy more continental weather and sudden thunder showers are possible througout the year at the higher altitudes.
Vienna pulls quite a crowd at Christmas time, New Years and Fasching, the ball season. January sees not only the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra launching the year and the carnival but also the 'Eistraum' - or Dream on Ice, with the square betweeen the Town Hall and the Burgtheatre being converted into a giant ice skating rink with music and kiosks. The Dream on Ice lasts till mid-march.
January also sees the Mozart Week in Salzburg.
The last night of the Carnival in February sees the Opera Ball. You may not need an invite like the grand balls in Venice but you do need a rather expensive ticket.
March is the month of spring festivals with the world's greatest composers ushering in blooms and greenery into the country.
May and June play host to the International Music Festival where you'll hear orchestras and see conductors known over the world. You could hear old masterpieces performed like they were meant to be. The same months also stage operas, musicals, theatre, damces performed by amateus and the internationally acclaimed at the Vienna Festival.
On June 20 is the Midsummer Night celebration with bonfires and and folklores mumbled over them.
The Salzburg Festival is held in July and is a must on your Vienna calender if you can manage it. Cultural performances galore with chambermusic,plays, concerts, operas, the essential Mozart opera are performed at various venues in Salzburg.
The Vienna International Film Festival is held throughout October showcasing the experimental and the best of European cinema.
Christmas time is great in Vienna specifically, with open air markets decked with holly and ribbons springing up with toys and trees and roasted chestnuts and... just a little bit of Christmas cheer.
Austria has a hectic events calender mostly tinkling with music. No wonder Sound of Music was set in this country. (If you haven't seen the film, please do.)