Austria 🇦🇹 Top 7: Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Hallstatt, Hochosterwitz Castle, Kufstein, Linz

Austria, largely mountainous landlocked country of south-central Europe. A great part of Austria's prominence can be attributed to its geographic position. It is at the center of European traffic between east and west, along the Great Danubian Trade Route and between north and south through the magnificent Alpine Passes, thus embedding the country within a variety of political and economic systems. Vienna, Austria's capital, lies in the countries east on the Danube River. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its imperial palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs' summer residence. In the museum's quartier district, historic and contemporary buildings display works by Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt and other artists. Vienna's history dates back to the first post-Christian century, when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. Today's cityscape is characterized by the abundance of Baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia and Franz Joseph, who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture in the city's center. Salzburg is an Austrian city on the border of Germany, with views of the eastern Alps. The city is divided by the Salzburg River, with medieval and Baroque buildings of the pedestrian Altstadt, Old City, on its left bank, facing the 19th-century Neustadt, New City, on its right. The Altstadt birthplace of famed composer Mozart is preserved as a museum displaying his childhood instruments. Innsbruck, capital of Austria's western state of Tirol, is a city in the Alps that's long been a destination for winter sports. Innsbruck is also known for its imperial and modern architecture. The Nerdkette funicular, with futuristic stations designed by architect Zaha Hadid, climbs up to 2,256 meters from the city center for skiing in winter and hiking shore in Austria's mountainous Salzkammergut region. A funicular railway connects to Salzwelten, an ancient salt mine with a subterranean salt lake, and to skywalk Hallstatt Viewing Platform. A trail leads to the Echern Valley Glacier Garden with glacial potholes and Wolbachstrobe waterfall. Hallstatt is at the core of the Hallstatt Dachsteinsalzkammergut cultural landscape, declared as one of the World Heritage Sites Austria's most impressive medieval castles. It is on a 172-meter-high dolomite rock near St. Georgian am Langsee. First mentioned in 860, Hatshastowitz Castle is the secret landmark of Carinthia. With its 14 stunning gates and 5 drawbridges, the medieval fortress and stronghold is not only an architectural beauty, but the gates also ensured it was Tirol. The medieval Kufstein Fortress, accessible by funicular or steep path, has views of the Lower Inn Valley and the Alps. It is also home to a local history museum and the huge open-air Hero's Organ. Narrow streets like Romerhofgasse are lined with traditional Tyrolean houses. The Riedel Glass Factory has been family-run since 1756. you