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Winter
holiday in the Austrian sun.
If you had to guess who would book a trip to Austria, your first answer
would probably be someone looking for a winter sports holiday.
| You would not be wrong, seeing as Austria has
some stunning ski resorts that rank among the best in the world.And
as popular as the country is with those winter sport fans, Austria
also draws people to it through its rich history, its vitality and
the fact that it is such an uncomplicated place to fit in to. The
country has a fantastic location in the heart of Europe and
although the main language in Austria is German, the majority of
Austrians speak good English. |
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Skiing-wise the most famous resort would have to be Innsbruck, as its Olympic past means passionate skiers have a huge choice of
slopes, which are linked together by an impressive network of about 80 cable cars and
lifts. The skiing schools mean seasoned skiers and tentative beginners can find their niche on the
slopes.
But lets look beyond the ski resorts and see why people from all walks of life are booking holidays to
Austria. The capital city of Vienna is one major reason why.
One of the oldest European cities, Vienna manages to balance its history with modern
architecture. Sitting on the banks of the Danube in the north east of the country, Vienna has some striking buildings, including Belvedere
Palace, the Burgtheatre (national theatre) and St Stephen's Cathedral. More modern structures found in the city include the Vienna International
Centre, which is one of the four duty stations of the United Nations.
With its comfortable coffee houses, welcoming inns and fine restaurants offering fabulous local and international cuisine, Vienna can keep holidaymakers entertained from dawn 'til
dusk, and beyond.
Another famous city in Austria is Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg, which is a hive of activity all year
round. Found in Austria's Alpine Region about 130 miles from Vienna, Salzburg is a bustling memoriam to the famous composer. There are tours available that can take tourists to his
birthplace, his house and the graves of his father and widow. Although the city gave him little support and recognition when he was
alive, it now revels in the legacy its most famous son left behind.
Austria has a temperate climate, with hot days and cool evenings in the summer and cold winters. The skiing season in the Alps is between December and April, and outside of these months walkers tend to make the most of the beautiful scenery and the warm
temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the busiest in
Austria, but this country is really a year-round destination, with the offer of skiing and snowboarding during the colder times of the
year. The Euro is the currency of Austria. It replaced the Austrian shilling in January 2002.
As it can be seen, Austria is a country just waiting to be explored, whether it is by the tourists who want to sample the Austrian way of
life, or the winter sports holidaymakers who want to show off their skills on the
slopes.
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