danube. magazine 2016

FUSION OF THE CENTURIESDANUBE EXPERIENCES: Apps for hikers and other Danube travelers // DANUBE DELIGHTS: Radically regional // DANUBE CULTURE: Cultural roller-coaster from imperial to contemporary DANUBE LIFE: Tips and dates // DANUBE PACKAGES: Most recommended

magazine 2016

NATURE, CULTURE & RIVERSIDE REVERIE

We‘ll be staying a little longer. In Lower Austria‘s Bon Vivant Rooms

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The greatest thing about a great day is if it ends with a relaxing evening. At Lower Austrian hosts with Bon Vivant rooms (Genießerzimmer), you can look forward to the friendliest hospitality and a very special atmosphere. Whether you are in the city or out in the country, in a romantic hotel, a venerable castle or an idyllic winery – extra-special holidays are yours to enjoy throughout Lower Austria!

Information and packages: Phone: +43/2742/9000 9000www.lower-austria.info

Spitz an der Donau

Bon Vivant HostBarbara HolzapfelPrandtauerhofJoching-Wachau

Bon Vivant HostMichaela SchachnerHotel Krone und KaiserhofMaria Taferl

Bon Vivant HostBirgit SalomonGut OberstockstallKirchberg am Wagram

CONTENTS

PUBLICATION INFORMATION/DISCLAIMER: Responsible for content: ARGE Donau Österreich, Lindengasse 9, A-4040 Linz, Austria, T +43 732 7277-800, www.donau-oesterreich.at | Project Management: Petra Riffert | Editing & Production: LWmedia, Ringstrasse 44/1, A-3500 Krems, Austria. T +43 2732 82000, www.lwmedia.at. Management: Erwin Goldfuss | Editor-in-Chief: Fritz Gillinger | Art Director: Martin Bauer | Graphics: Christian Eckart | Copy: Fritz Gillinger, Anita Ericson, Barbara Hutter, Mella Waldstein | Photos: LWmedia Archive/Shutterstock, zVg, Alexander Haiden, WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Peter Podpera, Niederösterreich-Werbung/Robert Herbst. WienTourismus/Lois Lammer huber, WGD Donau Ober österreich Tourismus GmbH/Hochhauser, Stift Göttweig/Markus Haslinger, WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud, Kromus/PID, Best of Wachau/Rita Newman, Donau Niederösterreich/Steve Haider, Donau Niederösterreich/Klaus Engel mayer, Jürgen Skarwan, Rita Newmann, Motto am Fluss/Zeißl, Marina Wien Restaurant/Felicitas Matern, WienTourismus/Christian Stemper, Grafenegg/Klaus Vyhnalek, Burg Clam/www.foto-schadauer.com, Ars Electronica/Florian Voggen eder, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Collection Vienna/Jens Ziehe 2015, LinzTourismus/Philipp Greindl, Schloss Hof/Jutta Kirchner, LinzTourismus/Andreas Röbl, Helmut Lackinger/Klang raum Krems Minoriten kirche, WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Erber, WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Weissenbrunner, BRANDNER Schiffahrt, ARGE Donau/Weissenbrunner, LW/Gerald Lechner, Donaukanaltreiben/deladap, Donau Niederöster-reich/Rita Newman, Rock in Vienna/Florian Matzhold, WienTourismus/Karl Thomas, Stadtgemeinde Tulln. As of: November 2015. All information is provided with no guarantee of completeness and accuracy. Subject to errors and changes.

// Fresh ideas with tradition

People think they know the Danube in Austria, the towns and sights

along its banks. But no matter how often you drive, cycle or hike

along the Danube, no matter how often you travel on it in a ship, you

can always discover something new. It may be something genuinely

and truly new – buildings and attractions that have sprung up in recent

years – or “the new in the old.” The locals along the Danube in Austria

have always had a magic touch for taking the heritage of this land-

scape shaped over millennia by nature and man and linking it to the

needs and interests of the present.

So, when today’s Danube travelers set off on a spiritual trek along

the river to ancient places imbued with special energy, they are fully

in step with the current zeitgeist of deceleration while also sharing

in ancient tradition with pilgrims and other seekers of meaning. And

when Cuban dancers present a fusion of ballet and street dance in the

former horse stables of the imperial family, their performance is very

much in keeping with a river region that understands how to draw

on fresh ideas to imbue its cultural treasures with new splendor.

Fritz GillingerEditor-in-Chief of DANUBE Magazine

Cover photo: Grafenegg Festival I © Alexander Haiden

COMPLETE INFORMATION ON THE DANUBE IN AUSTRIA

Danube in Upper Austria WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Lindengasse 9, A-4040 Linz, Austria T +43 732 7277-800 [email protected] www.donauregion.at/en

Danube in Lower Austria Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH Schlossgasse 3, A-3620 Spitz/Donau, Austria T +43 2713 30060-60 [email protected] www.donau.com/en

Vienna Tourist Board Tourist-Info Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse, A-1010 Vienna, Austria T +43 1 24 555 [email protected] www.vienna.info

www.donau-oesterreich.at

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ENCOUNTERS

Three Austrian provinces, one river

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TRAVELS ALONG THE DANUBE

Sightseeing in motion

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DANUBE DELIGHTS

Radically regional

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DANUBE CULTURE

From imperial to contemporary

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POINTS OF DEPARTURE

Tips and dates

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PACKAGES

Just book and take off

Precious and delectable discoveries along the Danube in Upper Austria.

Hiking on the Wachau World Heritage Trail with magnificent view of Dürnstein.

The Vienna Spanish Riding School in St. Michael’s Wing of Hofburg Palace is the oldest riding school in the world.

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Danube Competence Centerdanube.travel

ARGE Route of Emperors and Kings strassederkaiserundkoenige.at

4 // DANUBE magazine 2016

Donauschlinge

WHERE THE DANUBE LEANS INTO THE CURVEThe Schlögener Schlinge is one of the most famous

meanders a European river takes. The Danube

describes nearly a 360 degree curve around its

banks here, creating a landscape that has always

captivated people. Hikers enjoy a superb view of

this spot from the Danube Trail (Donausteig). This

long-distance hiking trail runs along the mighty river

a total of 450 km from Passau to Grein. Hikers can

look forward not only to seven summits and 41 loop

trails shooting off from the main one for exploring

the hinterland but also about 50 hospitable Danube

Trail taverns and inns. Anyone keen on experiencing

the region with special intensity should come on

17 April 2016. That is the date the cycling season

on the Danube Cycle Path opens. Cyclists can revel

in a car-free Danube Valley between Passau und

Schlögen. It is a birthday present of sorts for the

“25th Anniversary of Danube Upper Austria” to be

celebrated in 2016.

www.donauregion.at/en

DANUBE magazine 2016 // 5

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upper austria // ENCOUNTERS


Stift Göttweig

A PLACE OF QUIETCONTEMPLATION FOR CENTURIESGöttweig Abbey has perched on its hilltop on the

south bank of the Danube for some 900 years.

The words “Pax – Friede” stand over the entrance

to the Benedictine monastery, wishing peace to

everyone who arrives. This message is also directed

today at the thousands of annual visitors. Places of

quiet contemplation are more coveted nowadays

than ever before. The abbey with the proverbial

Benedictine hospitality is a favorite excursion

destination for travelers on cruise ships berthing

in Krems. People who know this route well are

convinced that Göttweig Abbey is something

very special in the series of impressive excursion

destinations along the Danube. This conviction

may also stem from there being no building on

shore that remains visible to ship passengers

as long as this abbey does …

www.donau.com/en


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Schloss Schönbrunn


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FEELING IMPERIALLYROYALSchönbrunn Palace was once the summer

residence of the imperial family. Today it is on the

UNESCO World Heritage list and Austria’s most-

visited sight. Palace and gardens form a gesamt-

kunstwerk, a synthesis of the arts with a special

appeal to every generation. Visitors are welcome

to view the originally furnished residential and

representational rooms of the imperial family and

see where Emperor Franz Joseph I was born on

18 August 1830 (the centenary of his death is

celebrated in 2016). They can also explore the

maze and labyrinth in the palace garden or visit

the children’s museum. The gardens are also

a popular place for jogging or taking a stroll.

The Vienna Philharmonic Summer Night Concert

in the palace park is a legend in its own right.

This brilliant open-air classical music concert

is set this year for 26 May 2016.

www.vienna.info

vienna // ENCOUNTERS


If you adopt the theme “Habsburgs and Baroque”, the Danube

Cycle Path becomes an imperial grand tour. The cycling trip begins

with Passau, a Baroque gem. Although this city is in the German

state of Bavaria, it has strong connections to the Habsburgs.

They were adversaries of the prince-bishops of Passau in the fight

for power. One of these prince-bishops also founded Engelszell

Abbey in what is today Upper Austrian terrain. The abbey is like-

wise on the cycle tour and has an impressive church in pure

Rococo style. Incidentally, Engelszell is where soon-to-be Empress

Sisi was first welcomed to Austrian soil on her trip down the Danube

to marry the emperor. Cyclists keen on art and history gain further

insights into the world of the high nobility at Starhemberg Castle

and can delight in the figurative sumptuousness of Rococo in

the abbey church in Wilhering. Ultimately they land in Linz, the

forgotten residence. In the late 15th century Linz was the official

residence of the Habsburg court under Friedrich III. The abbeys

of Melk, Göttweig and Klosterneuburg and then Hof Palace com-

plete this cycling tour on a historical note in Lower Austria.

SIGHTSEEING IN MOTION

IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH IMAGINATION TO

PICTURE WHAT A TRIP ALONG THE DANUBE

IN AUSTRIA MIGHT BE LIKE. EVERYONE

KNOWS THAT THERE ARE CULTURAL,

SCENIC AND CULINARY DELIGHTS AT EVERY

TURN. THE ONLY QUESTION THAT REMAINS

IS THIS: SHOULD WE HOP ON OUR BIKES,

LACE UP OUR HIKING BOOTS OR BOARD

THE NEXT SHIP PASSING BY?

ANITA ERICSON

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1 Liberating hiking adventures high above the Danube in Upper Austria, with Grein in the background.

2 From the Danube Cycle Path, you can proceed straight to the center of Vienna, to the Ring for example.

3 Informative hikes: The “Wachau Hiata” guides accompany you and tell you all about their region.

action-packed // DANUBE TRAVELS

The imperial display of splendor naturally peaks in Vienna, the

former imperial-royal capital of the Habsburg Monarchy. Whole

days can be spent visiting the top sights alone: St. Stephen’s

Cathedral, the Hofburg, Schönbrunn Palace and the magnifi-

cent buildings along the Ringstrasse – and there is still so much

more to discover. A practical way to explore Vienna is on a bi-

cycle. The city has 1,200 km of bike paths, bike lanes and bike

routes through areas with little traffic. To go from the Danube

Cycle Path to the center of Vienna, you turn onto the Danube

Canal Bike Path near Nussdorf on the north edge of Vienna and

cycle on it down to the Urania observatory. This spot is the be-

ginning (and end) of the “Ring Rund”, the sightseeing bike path

that circles the historical center on the magnificent Ringstrasse,

enabling side trips into the first district.

AMUSEMENT PARK IN RIVERSIDE FORESTS

The link between the historical center and the Danube is the

Prater, which – like so much in Vienna – has an imperial history.

This riverside forest rich in game was declared an imperial hunting

grounds in 1560 by Emperor Maximilian II. It was not opened

to the public until the reign of Josef II, at which time the famous

“Wurstelprater” amusement park also came into being. The year

was 1766. In 2016 the Prater will be celebrating its 250th anniver-

sary as a public park. Today the Prater is a modern amusement

and recreational park with a touch of nostalgia. The people that

run the park have naturally come up with some great ideas to

celebrate this anniversary. Beyond the merry-go-rounds and

bumper cars, the Prater has retained much of its green space.

The main artery in the Prater, the Hauptallee, takes cyclists, skat-

ers, horse-back riders, joggers, walkers and dalliers from the

hubbub of rides to quiet areas in riverside forests that are still

recognizable as such. Of course, Vienna is a paradise for ambi-

tious urban walkers, too, with a unique green beltway surround-

ing it. There are a total of 11 routes that let hikers explore Vienna

and its direct environs. They range from the classic city hiking

trail “Stadtwanderweg 1” to the more strenuous “Rund umadum-

Wanderweg”, which lets hikers circle the entire city in 24 legs.

HIKING THROUGH A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE

LANDSCAPE

Some people will want to hike in earnest. They are advised to

leave the city limits to lace up their hiking boots. The Danube

countryside is enchantingly scenic on the Wachau World Heritage

Trail (Welterbesteig Wachau), the 180 km long-distance trail that

passes through the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage land-

scape. This 30 km long water gap between Melk Abbey and

the city of Krems was granted this honor because of “its archi-

tecture, human settlements, and agricultural use, principally

the terraced vineyards that vividly show a medieval landscape

that has developed organically and harmoniously over time.”

The World Heritage Trail running high above the free-flowing

Danube (with corresponding lookout points) follows historical

paths to link together the 13 communities of the Wachau Valley.

There are so many aha moments along the way: 20 fortresses,

ruins and castles, the Wachau wine area with its stone terraces

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monasteries and Jauerling, the highest mountain any where

along the Danube at 960 m above sea level. And speaking of

Jauerling: The nature park there recently underwent a major

improvement. A themed trail guides hikers through the history

of the national park in ten stations. A specially developed app

is helpful along the way. It lets walkers use their smartphones

to hear tales told by two local characters from Jauerling. The

high point in the most literal sense of the word is the 960 m

high summit of Jauerling, which has been inaccessible for 50

years. A new lookout platform, the rebuilt Wachau terrace and

oversized seating make the two-hour hike a wonderful sensory

experience.

Hikers like to be individualists, but occasionally miss fascinating

facets of the countryside through which they are moving. One

of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local culture of the

Wachau is to join up with a “Weinhiata”, “wine keeper” in Aus-

trian dialect. In olden days they would watch over the precious

grapes in the vineyards. The modern “Wachau Hiata” person-

ally present this UNESCO World Heritage landscape to guests.

They can be growers of apricots and other fruit, wine makers,

and woods and herbal instructors from the region. They are

available on many different days to take hikers by the hand and

tell them about the local traditions and countryside, culinary

and cellaring techniques, vineyard work and wild herbs.

LEGENDARY NIBELUNGENGAU

The World Heritage Trail (Welterbesteig) with its commendable

design served as the model for the long-distance Nibelungen-

gau Trail, which has directly adjoined it to the west since 2014.

The 110 km route between Ybbs and Melk follows scenic trails

north and south of the Danube, passing through a charming

landscape and leading to excursion destinations steeped in

history. Although this swath of land is less well known than the

neighboring Wachau, it is ideal for explorers and anyone seek-

ing peace and quiet.

Five of the highlights along the route are the Oskar Kokoschka

Center in Pöchlarn, Maria Taferl Basilica in High Baroque style

and fairytale-like Artstetten Castle with its seven onion towers,

the 800-year-old Castle of Europe in Leiben and the modern

Danube power station in Ybbs-Persenbeug.

SPIRITUAL TREKS

If you go a bit further to the west, the Danube Trail (Donausteig)

hooks up with the two long-distance Lower Austrian hiking

trails. This 450 km trail runs along the Danube from Passau

to Grein. It is routed to showcase the scenic diversity of the

Danube region in Bavaria and Upper Austria. The journey on

foot along the river takes you from wooded banks and cultivated

farmland to plains and cities, then on to wild and romantic

ravines and canyons. There are 41 loop trails forking off into the

hinterland of the mighty river. Hikers keen on exploring urban

trails will find Linz a worthwhile destination. There are no fewer

than eleven city hiking trails passing through Linz and into the

neighboring countryside. They can be covered in two to three

hours and even include the Linz section of the Way of St. James.

Opened in 2010, the Danube Trail recently received several new © W

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action-packed // DANUBE TRAVELS

// INFO BOX

DANUBE ADVENTURES – FUN SPORTS ALONG THE RIVER

By bicycle – Habsburgs and Baroque along the Danube www.donau-oesterreich.at/kultur/habsburger-barock/fahrrad/

VIENNA

Bicycling in Vienna www.wien.info/media/files/bicycle-information.pdf

City hiking in Vienna Eleven routes totaling 121.5 km – covering recreational areas such as Kahlenberg, Bisamberg, Sofienalpe, etc. App: available from Playstore and from iTunes. https://open.wien.gv.at/site/wanderwege-wien-2/ www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/green-vienna/hiking-in-around

Vienna Prater www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/prater/green-prater

Vienna waterway Hiking or cycling around the Upper and Lower Old Danube. There are 21 select locations with interesting information about history, fauna, flora and the ecosystem. App: available from Playstore and from iTunes. www.wiener-wasserweg.at

LOWER AUSTRIA

Wachau World Heritage Trail (Welterbesteig) www.welterbesteig.at

Exploring with a Wachau.Hiata guide www.wachau-hiata.at

Enjoy peak Danube vistas from the Jauerling-Wachau Nature Park www.naturpark-jauerling.at

Nibelungengau Long-Distance Hiking Trail www.nibelungengau.at

Great outdoors in the Danube Wetlands National Park Exploring the Danube wetlands with national park rangers on guided hikes and in rides in inflatable boats and canoes. www.donauauen.at

Taking day trips with the Carnuntum guides www.carnuntum-marchfeld.com

The Marchfeld Canal Bike Path Cycling on a well-designed 62 km themed trail. www.marchfeldkanal-radweg.at

By ship on the Danube Sailing through the Wachau, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. www.brandner.at, www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

UPPER AUSTRIA

Danube Cycle Path www.donauradweg.at/en

Danube Trail (Donausteig) “Art along the Danube Trail” – new: In “Pesenbach Valley – Paths to Healing” At Feldkirchen, hikers can follow in the steps of Father Kneipp, a founder of naturopathic medicine (Kneipp Cure) to mystical places with special energies. St. Agatha offers “Paths to the Inner Self” with eight stations that take hikers to sources of energy and worldly wisdoms. Both attrac-tions feature a metal sculpture by the artist Miguel Horn as an introduction to the gallery “Art on the Danube Trail.” www.donausteig.com/en

City hiking in Linz The city hiking trails in Linz invite outdoor enthusiasts to explore, unwind and slow down. www.linztourismus.at/stadtbesichtigung/wandern

By ship on the Danube Take a seat and enjoy the Danube cruise from Regensburg to Passau and on to Linz. www.donauschiffahrt.at, www.donaureisen.at/en

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facets. With deceleration and the search for meaning becoming

ever more important, spiritual aspects have successfully been

added to the route. The attention of Danube Trail hikers is drawn

to traces of the saints and ancient cult sites, to places charged

with energy and symbolism. Meditative, spiritual moments

occur. On the Wolfgang loop trail in Pupping (Puppinger Wolf-

gangrunde), hikers can encounter St. Wolfgang, patron saint

of sculptors, woodworkers, charcoal makers, carpenters and

boat men. He built a reputation as a courageous church re-

former and the following words ascribed to him and prepared

for this loop trail reflect this aspect of his life: “Muster courage

to risk something for your visions and build a new life, muster

courage to leave old paths and take new ones.” A good saying

for Danube travelers.

GUIDE APP FOR EXPLORING THE DANUBE

Danube talesAn audio experience of a special kind: This guide app has 40 audio re-cordings by major regional figures and about the Danube region. Inter-ested listeners are taken behind the scenes and can immerse themselves in the mythical landscape that is the Danube. The topics include Danube shipping – regulation of power stations, culinary delights – farm goodies, the great outdoors – animals in the Danube, ancient trade routes, Danube markets but also cultural and historical subjects.

Wachau – Nibelungengau – Krems ValleyWith the free tour planner for iPhone and Android, you can work out an ideal tour in no time whether choose cycling or hiking, speed walking or mountain biking.

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1 Backdrop for a cycling tour: Engelszell Abbey.

2 Hikers on the Danube Trail work up a big appetite and thirst. Taking a lunch break at Speckalm in Bad Kreuzen.

3 The Wachau at your back and the World Heritage Trail in front of you.

4 Backdrop for a cycling tour: the legendary Nibelungengau.

5 Most of the municipal hiking trails in Vienna pass by vineyards.


To the left and the right of the silvery river you can see fruit trees

and asparagus fields, rows of grapevines and berry bushes, herb

gardens and vegetable beds. The tradition of self-sufficiency has

a delicious consequence – regional cuisine. “Regional cuisine is

a given for me”, Erich Aumüller says with conviction. His fish

restaurant in Obermühl is right on the Danube not far from the

Schlögener Schlinge, the famous meander. “Most” is German

for fermented cider and his cellar “Donautaler Mostkellerei“ holds

treasures galore. The fruits for his most come from his own

orchard or from neighboring farmers. The dishes that are

served are also exemplary: fish from the Danube usually caught

by the Aumüllers themselves, game from their own hunting

grounds, Eferding asparagus when it is in season and beer

from the nearby Mühlviertel breweries Schlägl and Hofstetten.

Aumüller: “The demand for down-to-earth fare is on the rise

and that is my philosophy.”

Aumüller’s inn is one of 23 restaurants to have joined the brand

new initiative “Kostbarkeiten & Köstlichkeiten” (= precious and © J

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delectable). It gives a platform to culinary specialty dishes, prod-

ucts and craftsmanship in the Upper Austrian Danube Region.

One member of this tasty group is Schörgi, a bakery and cake

shop in Grein. It creates special Austrian sweet dishes and

pastries from the good old days such as delicious Batzlguglhupf

plus delicious innovations. The new “Kostbarkeiten & Köstlich-

keiten” (= precious and delectable) initiative puts Upper Austrian

enjoyment businesses in the limelight along with monuments of

the culinary arts such as the famous Linzer torte. This beloved

dessert is a sweet ambassador and export hit and also con-

sidered one of the most venerable tortes in the world.

REGIONAL SHOPPING WITH E-MOBIL

A few Danube waves further to the east, Philipp Essl has greatly

expanded the regional supplier network for Winzerstüberl, his

restaurant in Rossatz. The newcomer in 2015 offers a contem-

porary, smart Wachau cuisine – and includes the origin of the

ingredients on the menu.

THE BENEFITS OF REGIONAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE NOW BEING REDISCOVERED ELSEWHERE. ALONG THE DANUBE, THESE CHAINS HAVE A LONG TRADITION ROOTED IN REGIONAL CUISINE. BARBARA HUTTER

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culinary // DANUBE DELIGHTS

Many a restaurateur would let seabass or shrimp pass, but Josef

Floh is radical. Everything that possibly can be is purchased from

within a radius of 66 kilometers by E-Mobile, including furniture.

He can count the exceptions on one hand. “Most important is

respect for the product and the people,” the innkeeper says.

Every year he issues his own sustainability report. “Think about it

for a minute: How much do we spend on a liter of engine oil and

how much for a liter of oil for cooking?”

Another top chef of Lower Austria calls Göttlesbrunn home, a

town about 80 km downstream on the Danube. Adi Bittermann

has long been firmly established in his guild with his Vinarium. His

inn is housed in a former primary school and contains a regional

wine shop with top vintages from the immediate vicinity (Carnun-

tum wine region). He is also a world barbecue cham pion and

regularly serves excellent game supplied to him from the surround-

ing forests; delectables from just outside his front door you might

say. And what could be more organic than wild game anyway?

GOOD CONSCIENCE ALONG THE RIVER

The trend toward organic regional fare has long hit the cities as

well. Vienna is perfect for it, located as it is between the Vienna

Woods, the Danube wetlands and the Marchfeld. Many restau-

rants cook regionally and seasonally, so diners enjoy delicious

food as well as a good conscience. A fine example is Motto am

Fluss on the Danube Canal in Vienna. Head chef Martin Zeissl

considers it vital to work with organic farmers from the sur-

rounding area. They supply him with delicacies such as Oxheart

carrots or fragrant strasberries (Mieze Schindler strawberries)

as well as rare species of potato such as the Blaue Luise or

heritage varieties of cucumber. He also buys fish and meat in

// INFO BOX

Culinary tours Experience Vienna from its most enjoyable side on a tour of the restaurants, coffeehouses, heuriger wine taverns and markets of the city. www.wien.info/en/shopping-wining-dining

Vienna wine hiking days in September 2016

Gourmet festival in Stadtpark 6–8 May 2016

Best of Wachau hosts www.bestof-wachau.atWine roads along the Danube www.donau.com/enEnjoyable shopping www.donau.com/enWirtshauskultur Niederösterreich www.donau.com/enDanube Trail innkeepers www.donausteig.com/en„Precious and delectable’“ www.donauregion.at/enCulinary walking tour of Linz www.linz-austriaguides.at

the vicinity. Beers and half of the wine are from the region and

organic and the bread is baked on premises. Zur Alten Kaiser-

mühle is a restaurant built near the water and has some of the

most scenic outdoor seating in Vienna. Guests feel right away

like they are on vacation, especially because of the close ties

the owner has with Italian and Spanish producers for Mediter-

ranean delicacies. An interesting mix arises in combination with

Austrian cuisine and fresh regional ingredients. The view of the

Old Danube is peerless. Marina in the 2nd District is the visual

antitheses of venerable imperial traditions. It is ideal for chilling

out, with three terraces, a landing stage, huge windows at every

turn that afford appealing views summer and winter (with the fire-

place burning). The menu showcases Vienna specialty dishes,

seasonal fare ranging from asparagus to game plus vegetarian

and maritime cuisine.

1 Josef “Pepi” Floh gets his ingredients from a radius of just 66 kilometers.

2 “Precious and delectable”: most (cider) specialist Erich Aumüller with his family in Obermühl.

3 Everything at Schörgi, a bakery and cake shop in Grein, always smells and tastes wonderful.

4 Young chef Philipp Essl with father Franz serves smart Wachau cuisine.

5 Head chef Martin Zeissl also enjoys cooking vegan cuisine in his restaurant Motto am Fluss.

6 Maritime flair awaits guests at Restaurant Marina Wien.

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With its splendid rooms and the Upper Austrian shipping mu-

seum, Greinburg is one of the many structures along the river

of art historical significance. The Danube landscapes have al-

ways been inseparably intertwined with culture. Even more, the

Danube supports and promotes culture. Finds like the Venus of

Willendorf attest to the favorable conditions for settlement the

river has offered since the Stone Age. The Danube was part of

the Roman limes, just as it was a major link between west and

east as a waterway. Wine was cultivated on Austrian territory

for the first time in the Danube region – and wine also led to

prosperity and an appreciation for art.

THE DANUBE CULTURAL REGION

When “Central Europe” entered the public discourse as a

longed-for place in the mid-1980s, people had a hard time ad-

equately defining this term geographically. One thing is clear,

however: The Danube is the blue ribbon that connects this enti-

ty. As the European Community grew, there was first an intellec-

tual opening and then, with the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, a

factual opening of the borders. The Danube region extending all

the way to the Black Sea was rediscovered and newly defined

as a common cultural region.

Long relegated to being a waterway and source of energy at

best, the Danube became imbued with new non-material, intel-

lectual meaning. That is especially true culturally. It is no wonder

that Lower Austria launched its Danube festival (Donaufestival)

in 1988, albeit with a somewhat different focus initially.

THE MOSAICS IN THE SALA TERRENA AT GREINBURG IN UPPER AUSTRIA

CONTAIN THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DANUBE PEBBLES: SHIMMERING ALABASTER, PINK AND GRAY, PASTEL

GREEN AND PIGEON BLUE. THE DANUBE AND ART MELD. A WAYS DOWNSTREAM

ON THE DANUBE AT CLAM CASTLE, CARLOS SANTANA PICKS UP HIS GUITAR …

MELLA WALDSTEIN

1 Centenary of the death of Emperor Franz Joseph

2 Guarantor of world class performances at Grafenegg: Rudolf Buchbinder whose Grafenegg Festival enters its tenth year in 2016.

3 International stars thrilling audiences at Clam Castle

4 Known for its unusual fare: Ars Electronica Linz

CULTURAL ROLLER-COASTERALONG THE DANUBE

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DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE ANCIENT AND THE MODERN

Today there are many festivals that take place along the Danube.

Opera in the arcade courtyard of Greinburg and concerts in the

Wilhering and Ardagger monasteries follow the objectives of the

Donaufestwochen im Strudengau, creating a dialog between

the ancient and the modern, in this case between early music

and modernism.

Modern international literature also has a place in Strudengau.

When the Swedish author August Strindberg married the

Viennese feature writer Frida Uhl, he visited her grandparents’

farm in Upper Austria near Saxen. In his “Inferno. Legends”

(1896), Strindberg described the Klamschlucht ravine and the

workers who used hydropower from the stream here. “Then the

blacksmiths, their torsos naked, in the midst of fire and sparks,

glowing iron and molten lead; a noise that rattles the brain to

its very base and sets the heart pounding in the chest …” The

Strindberg Museum in Saxen, the only Strindberg museum out-

side of Sweden, has original photographs and manuscripts on

display.

FESTIVALS, UPSTREAM AND DOWN

OneRepublic, Carlos Santana, Hubert von Goisern are just

three of the top acts from the concert lineup of one year at

Burgarena Clam. It all began with a combination brewery and

inn established by Georg Clam. When the young lord of the

castle invited the legendary Austrian musician Ostbahn-Kurti

to perform in the 1990s, his expectations were far exceeded.

“The concertgoers were packed into our restaurant’s outdoor

seating area like sardines, they sat on the roof, on the swaying

pergola, you even saw spectators up in the trees …” Ever

since then, this castle in Upper Austria has been the place for

all generations to go for good vibrations. The festivals along

the Danube are not limited to the summer season. The buds

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have barely appeared when the Easter festival Imago Dei

presents its top-caliber cultural program in the Church of the

Friars Minor in Krems. This rondel just keeps going strong in the

Wachau and ends with “Wachau in Echtzeit”, (Wachau in real

time) an autumn festival full of crowd-pleasers plus cultural and

historical journeys. In Krems the cultural program is concen-

trated in the Kunstmeile with its many cultural venues, such as

Kunsthalle, the Caricature Museum or Forum Frohner.

SOUND MEETS SCENERY

A ways downstream, in the castle park of Grafenegg, the

Wolken turm beckons. The breathtaking concrete structure

banks up into the sky like a tower of clouds yet remains open

at the same time. “Sound Meets Scenery” occurs again in

2016 for the tenth time at the Grafenegg Festival. The best in

classical musicians will perform during this anniversary festival

(19 August to 11 September 2016): the Cleveland Orchestra,

conductors like Christian Thielemann, Franz Welser-Möst and

Daniele Gatti along with soloists such as Hilary Hahn, Klaus

Florian Vogt and Camilla Nylund. The composer in residence

in the anniversary season is Christian Jost. The festival will be-

gin with the premiere of his “Opening Fanfare”. Grand finale:

Grafenegg director and pianist of international renown Rudolf

Buchbinder will play all five Beethoven piano concertos with

the Vienna Philharmonic. A stroll through the English style

castle park is a wonderful way to get into the right mood for

a concert.

Builders and architects have used water as an architectural ele-

ment from time immemorial. Facades reflected in water expand

representational structures and let them grow above and be-

yond themselves. The London docks set off the rediscovery of

riverbanks as urban space. Linz followed suit. The city at night

is reflected in the Danube. The lights of the glass facades swing

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back and forth in the water. On the left bank of the Danube

is the lucid glass façade of the Ars Electronica Center, on the

right bank the glowing cube that is the Lentos Museum,

both substantiate the position of Linz as a modern metro -

polis. Musiktheater Linz is a further building that attracts not

just music lovers to the Upper Austrian capital but also archi-

tecture enthusiasts. The various performance venues consider

themselves as more than stages, they are places of cultural

exchange and communication. The large KlangFoyer is archi-

tecturally impressive with its fine wood and refined technology.

The HörBar is a bar in the evening and an audio library during

the day. The SchallMauer consists of wood panels. When

touched, this noise barrier makes noises palpable. Fifty-six

contact speakers were installed behind the individual panels

making up the 25 meter long wooden wall. They transmit the

noises of the city and open up the music theater acoustically to

the outdoors.

LINZ NOW A UNESCO CITY OF MEDIA ARTS

The new Linz Mural Harbor is another remarkable feature. Inter-

national street art and graffiti artists turned gray industrial build-

ings there into an open-air gallery best admired from aboard a

boat or ship on the river. The murals have become one of the

highlights of the Linz port tours conducted daily for tourists. It

is no accident that the city of Linz was recently admitted to the

illustrious group of UNESCO Cities of Media Arts. As a pioneer

in digital media art, Linz can contribute vast expertise and

years of experience to this network of future-oriented cities and

metro polises from around the globe while continuing to benefit

from its reputation as a center of creativity in Europe.

There are many places in Vienna that make evident the skill

with which this city links its imperial past to the present day.

A superb example is the MuseumsQuartier (MQ) with is many

cultural institutions and with mumok – the biggest museum

of modern art in Central Europe and the biggest collection of

Vienna Actionism. Hallen E+G are in the heart of MQ just steps

away from the art history and natural history museums (KHM

and NHM) and serve as established venues for many cultural

highlights in the city. Besides the Wiener Festwochen, Tanz-

quartier Wien and the young Vienna music theater scene, Hallen

E+G are proven venues for myriad international music, theater

and dance productions. In the Baroque park in the Au garten,

patron of the arts Francesca Habsburg and her Thyssen-

Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21) offer an unusual art

program with alternating exhibitions and performances. More

than 40 galleries display and sell contemporary art. A former

bread factory in the 10th district houses an impressive ten insti-

tutions devoted to contemporary art. Experts and collectors

gather in September for viennacontemporary. Soon thereafter

– in November – the Vienna Art Week turns the Danube metro-

polis into a magnet for contemporary art. In music, the city also

relies on new approaches besides Strauss & Co.: Wien Modern,

one of the most important festivals for contemporary music,

has been a red-letter event on the festival calendar since 1988.

In public space, visitors likewise encounter installations by

artists such as Franz West, Heimo Zobernig or Peter Kogler.

Rounding out this enjoyment of contemporary culture is the

vibrant restaurant scene in Vienna. Culinary art, architecture

and interior design combine to create a gesamtkunstwerk for all

the senses in establishments such as Kussmaul, Shiki, Skopik

& Lohn, or Das Loft.

IN HOMAGE TO EMPEROR FRANZ JOSEPH

Schönbrunn Palace is certainly another gesamtkunstwerk of

historic dimensions. The life of Emperor Franz Joseph I began

and ended there. On the centenary of his death in 2016, there

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will also be an exhibition at Schönbrunn Palace devoted to this

man who shaped and held together the Danube Monarchy for

68 years. Schönbrunn was initially built as a hunting lodge in

the late 17th century by order of Emperor Leopold I. It became

the imperial summer residence a half century later under Maria

Theresia, whose 300th birthday will be celebrated in 2017. Maria

Theresia was also the ruler who had the Gloriette built in the

famous park of Schönbrunn Palace. Schönbrunn Palace re-

mains as appealing as ever to leading statesmen, artists and

millions of visitors. The grand architecture and impressive

staterooms make Schönbrunn Palace a sight of international

caliber.

BAROQUE GESAMTKUNSTWERKHof Palace is not far from Niederweiden and always worth a visit.

The estate was built by the general Prince Eugene of Savoy

and later owned by Empress Maria Theresia. The Baroque

gesamt kunstwerk continues across the gardens, which extend

to the bottomland of the March. The box hedges bordering of

the plantings are like precious frames; the arrangement of the

flowers, like a painting. Façade ornamentation and passing

cloud formations are mirrored in the fountains.

Although the main purpose of Baroque palaces was to glorify

the owner, these complexes were certainly more than just a

collection of luxurious residential celebratory rooms. Hof Palace

is a perfect place to understand this fact. The lovingly restored

manor farm of the palace – with kitchens, rooms for crafts and

trades, livestock and the palace nursery – also help visitors to

understand a palace or castle as an organism and economic

entity in its own right.

An imperial world from long ago … – it is good that visitors

catch sight of the silhouette of Bratislava beyond the garden

walls. This view pulls them back into today’s world.

// INFO BOX

UPPER AUSTRIA

UNESCO City of Media Arts www.cityofmediaarts.at, www.linztourismus.at

Donaufestwochen StrudengauAnnual dialogue of early music and modernism.Opera rarities at Greinburg Castle, unknown works by masters from the history of music, concert series at historical venues. 29 July–15 August 2016 | www.donau-festwochen.at

Clam concertsThe large area at the foot of the castle in Upper Austria is used as an open-air special-event venue. Highlight 2016: Simply Red on 7 August! www.burgclam.com

Summer festival at Stadttheater Grein 2 July–30 August 2016 | www.sommerspiele-grein.at

St Florian Bruckner Festival 14–20 August 2016 | www.brucknertage.at

Danube Advent November/December 2016 | www.donauregion.at/en

Dance, theater, song, jazz, music, cabaret in Strudengau www.fussfrei.at

LOWER AUSTRIA

Easter festival Imago Dei 4–28 March 2016 | www.klangraum.at

Donaufestival 29 April–7 May 2016 | www.donaufestival.at

International Baroque Festival at Melk Abbey 13–16 May 2016 | www.barocktagemelk.at

Egon Schiele Weekend 10–12 June 2016 | www.tulln.at/erleben/schiele

Sommerspiele Melk (annual theater festival with a view of Melk Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage structure) 16 June–14 August 2016 | www.sommerspielemelk.at

Haydn Festival Rohrau 24–26 June 2016 | www.kultur-management.at

Art Carnuntum Festival June/July 2016 | www.artcarnuntum.at

Stockerau Festival 28 June–6 August 2016 | www.festspiele-stockerau.at

Glatt&Verkehrt (annual summer and fall festival of traditional and contemporary folk music) 1–31 July 2016 | www.glattundverkehrt.at

10th Anniversary Grafenegg Festival 19 August–11 September 2016 | www.grafenegg.com

Glatt&Verkehrt HerbstZeitlos (Smooth&Inverted, Timeless Autumn) 30 September–2 October 2016 | www.glattundverkehrt.at

Wachau in Echtzeit (Wachau in Real Time) October to November 2016 | www.wachauinechtzeit.at

VIENNA

Emperor Franz Joseph I (1830–1916) Four exhibitions to mark the centenary of his death: – Schönbrunn Palace: “Man & Monarch”– Imperial Carriage Museum in Vienna: “Majesty & Modesty”– Imperial Furniture Collection: “Festivities & Everyday Life”– Niederweiden (estate in Lower Austria): “Hunting and Recreation” www.schoenbrunn.at

15th anniversary of MuseumsQuartier The MuseumsQuartier celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2016 with exhibitions, concerts and much more. www.mqw.at

10th anniversary of Vienna Design Week In 2016, Vienna will become a gathering spot for fans of product, furniture and industrial design for the tenth time already! www.viennadesignweek.at

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1 Unusual: Francesca Habsburg’s Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21)

2 Mural Harbor – The harbor gallery in Linz with a picture by Aryz from Barcelona

3 Chill-out atmosphere in MQ with Hallen E+G in the background

4 Built by the great general Prince Eugene of Savoy: Hof Palace

5 Epicenter of the cultural scene in Linz: Lentos

6 Klangraum Krems, Church of the Friars Minor (Glatt&Verkehrt)

// Special events in LinzLinz as a hotspot for exciting and trailblazing events in art and culture. For instance nextcomic, one of the most important comic festivals in German speaking countries, the film festival Crossing Europe or classic events such as Ars Electronica, Klangwolke and the Bruckner Festival.

www.nextcomic.org I 10 to 20 March 2016www.crossingeurope.at I 20 to 25 April 2016www.aec.at I 8 to 12 September 2016www.klangwolke.at I 10 September 2016www.brucknerfest.at I 18 September to 9 October 2016

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// Rad Total (Nothing but Bicycles)The annual “Rad Total” in the Danube Valley (Nothing but Bicycles) opens the season, attracting thousands of cyclists to the Danube Cycle Path in Upper Austria. All communities along the Danube between Passau and Schlögen take part, offering a diverse line-up of events for the occasion.

www.radtotal.at | 17 April 2016www.donauradweg.at

// „Donau in Flammen“ (Danube on Fire) In 2016, this event series will focus once again on myths and legends from the Danube region. Musical fireworks on the Danube will be staged in three communities. The fireworks will be accom-panied by a Danube legend. Visitors can enjoy the spectacle from the shore or from aboard a ship from the fleet of Donauschiffahrt Wurm+Köck.

www.donauinflammen.com 14 May (Passau), 27 May (Linz), 12 August 2016 (Aschach/Feldkirchen)

Being mobile in Vienna

11 Danube Canal, Twin City Liner Station www.twincityliner.com

12 Port of Vienna/Handelskai (DDSG) Scheduled service Vienna–Wachau www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

13 Hauptbahnhof (main train station) www.hauptbahnhof-wien.at

14 Westbahnhof (west train station) www.bahnhofcitywienwest.at

Being mobile in Upper Austria

01 Donauschiffahrt Wurm+Köck Scheduled service Passau–Linz–Vienna www.donauschiffahrt.de Schifffahrt Donau Touristik www.donaureisen.at

02 Passau Hauptbahnhof (main station) www.oebb.at

03 Linz Hauptbahnhof (main station) www.oebb.at

Schifffahrt Donau Touristik www.donaureisen.at

04 Donauuferbahn Linz–Grein (rail line along Danube) www.oebb.at

05 Donauschiffahrt Ardagger www.donauschiffahrt-ardagger.at

Being mobile in Lower Austria

06 Wachau Schifffahrt www.brandner.at www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

07 Wachau Linien (bus lines) www.n-mobil.at

08 Rental Bikes from “nextbike” www.nextbike.at

09 Wachaubahn (rail line) www.noevog.at/wachaubahn

10 RadTramper Donau (Vienna to Passau by train and bicycle) www.erlebnisbahn.oebb.at

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DANUBE magazine 2016 // 21 Beer Most (cider) Wine

// Weinfrühling & WeinherbstWine has created additional seasons of the year along the Danube in Lower Austria. In spring and autumn, there are hundreds of tasting opportunities and events for wine experiences full of tradition and diversity.

www.donau.com/en

// Tulln celebrates Egon SchieleOn the centenary of Schiele’s birth on 12 June, the great painter’s town of birth Tulln will be focusing solely on its most famous favorite son. Venues will be the birthplace at the main train station and the Schiele Trail; a Schiele Symposium devoted to the subject “Schiele’s Art in a Contemporary Context”; the Schiele Museum, where select early works by the artist will be displayed.

www.tulln.at/erleben/schiele10 to 12 June 2016

// Rock in ViennaRammstein and Iron Maiden were confirmed as the first headliners for this festival on the Danube Island in Vienna. Headbanging guaranteed.

www.rockinvienna.at | 3 to 5 June 2016

// wachau GOURMETfestivalThe new version of the successful wachau GOURMET-festival is becoming a culinary milestone. Top chefs from the region join with international guest chefs for rendezvous at special places in the Wachau. Wine serves as the fitting accompaniment.

www.wachau-gourmet-festival.at | 31 March to 14 April 2016

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// Donauinselfest 2016It is and remains Austria’s largest open-air event: This year is the 33rd time this festival is being staged on the Danube Island in Vienna. Once again, top-flight stars will present music of all genres on numerous stages. The accompanying entertainment program is also quite impressive.

www.donauinselfest.at | 24 to 26 June 2016

Veltlinerland

Westliches

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Traisental

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Kamptal

Wagram

Thermenregion

Carnuntum

// 10th anniversary of DonaukanaltreibenLively scene along the Danube Canal in Vienna with free admission: DJ sets, dance workshops, fashion shows, sports along with a variety of culinary delicacies – and a whole lot of live concerts performed by top bands largely from Austria.

www.donaukanaltreiben.at May 2016

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points of departure // DANUBE LIFE


Through Hungarian Puszta to Belgrade, the “White

City“ of Serbia with its impressive fortress.

Services: cruise in the booked 2-bed-cabin | harbour duties | 7 times full board | evening entertainment inthe board theatre | wine tasting | ÖBB train ticket to/from Linz/2nd class | 4 excursions

rrivals: Friday, 22nd April,10th & 24th June,2nd September

The Danube region is a cultural treasure chest! Explore the pic-

turesque landscape with castles and vineyards during cycling on

flat cycle paths.

Danube cruise 4****+ MS Primadonna

Danube leisure cycling holiday

Afrom € 799,- ppbooking code:

PRI16

from € 419,- pp

booking code:

DOCA16

2

3

4

5

1

6

7

8

Linz

Esztergom

Kalocsa

Belgrade

Mohács

Budapest

Bratislava

Linz

Services: 7 overnight stays in good 3*** & 4****hotels with breakfast buffet | train package to/from each train station in Germany/Austria/2nd

class | DonauCard | luggage service to Vienna | tour map & information

Arrivals: daily from 15th Aprilto 16th October

Donau Touristik GMBHLederergasse 4-12A - 4010 Linz/Donau

0043 732 2080 65 www.en.ms-primadonna.net

[email protected]

0043 732 2080 56 www.en.donau-radreisen.info [email protected]

Information & booking

Incl. 4

excursi

onsIncl.

train packa

ge


Comprehensive assistance during the tour

The most beautiful cycling routes

Elaborate travel documents

gg g Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel

PERFECTLY ORGANISED CYCLING HOLIDAYS

Get yourDANUBE-BONUS

now! www.eurobike.at/danube-2016w

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WINE HIKING.WACHAU VALLEYThis 5-day tour with 3 hiking days hiking in the heart of the UNESCO World

Cultural Heritage Valley of Wachau, is a true treat for the senses.

The luggage will be transported from one host to the next.

SERVICES INCLUDED:

4 overnight stays / half board in the selected companies

Daily hiking meals with regional products, prepared by the host

Luggage transportation by the overnight-stay selected company

(max 1 luggage per person)

Wine tasting with 3 wines at the winery

Danube cruise from Spitz – Krems

Hiking fi le with map, directions and information about the

world cultural heritage valley of Wachau

PACKAGE PRICE PER PERSON: FROM € 448,– IN DOUBLE ROOM

Information & Reservations: Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH | Phone +43 2713 30060-60

[email protected] | www.wachau.at/vacation-packages

Not included: local tax € 1,50 per person/day (from15 years of age payable locally)

Reservation: 2 persons | Valid: April – October 2016 (starting April and October, limited ferry service)

A3

A93

A92

A8

A25

A8

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A7

A1

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A2

A6

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D2

D2

D1

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M1

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A8

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RegensburgStraubing

Passau

Linz

Wien

Krems

Bratislava

Györ

Komárom

BudapestSalzburg

Deggendorf

Vilshofen

Aschach

Engelhartszell

Mauthausen

Enns

Grein

Ybbs a.d. Donau

MelkSt. Pölten

Tulln

Hainburg

Esztergom

Vác

Visegrád

Austria

GERMANY

HUNGARY

SLOVAKIA

D a n u b e

Upper Austria

Styria

Lower Austria

Burgenland

Györ-Moson-Sopron

Komárom-Esztergom

Pest

Budapest

Banskobystrický kraj

Bratislavsky kraj

Trnavsky kraj

WienerNeustadt

Wels

Eisenstadt

Landshut

Trnava Nitra

St. Florian

Ba

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Clam Castle Artstetten Palace

Langenlois

Ceský Krumlov

Pannonhalma

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The DanubeRoute of Emperors and Kings

Donau-Moldau Region

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Route of Emperors and KingsYour historical travel route along the Danube!Your journey on the historical route along the Danube will open up enchanting landscapes and remarkable cultural monuments. Whether by bicycle, boat, car or on foot – Europe’s second-largest river will astonish you, time and again.

Route of Emperors and Kings working group / c/o Linz Tourismus / Adalbert-Stifter-Platz 2, 4020 Linz / Tel. +43 732 7070 2937

Get your free map: [email protected]

Eastern BavariaIn Eastern Bavaria, the Danube connects the Bavarian

Forest with the Bavarian golf and thermal spa region.

Untouched nature, varied landscapes, pulsating cities

full of history and charm, impressive architectural

monuments, magnifi cent monasteries and innumerab-

le leisure activities invite you to take a relaxed, carefree

holiday. www.ostbayern-tourismus.de

Regensburg – World Heritage SiteHere, the Danube connects people. Th e eventful

history of two millennia is visible in the form of

monuments in Regensburg. Th e Cathedral, the Town

Hall with the Reichssaalbau, museums, monuments

and art treasures of European importance. Th e city

was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006.

www.regensburg.de

PassauGerman emperors and kings paid their respects to the

Th ree-Rivers City. Passau’s backdrop of towers, squares,

promenades and narrow streets was created by Italian ba-

roque masters. At the heart of the Old Town, St. Stephen’s

Cathedral is situated, where the largest Roman Catholic

church organ in the world resounds. Veste Oberhaus tow-

ers majestically over the city. www.tourismus.passau.de

Danube Upper AustriaNumerous landscapes varied beyond description

accompany you from Passau via Linz, the modern city

of culture, to Grein, the jewel of the Strudengau, and

off er breathtaking views and perspectives: magnifi cent

baroque monasteries and palaces, castles, ruins and

picturesque historical locations.

www.donauregion.at, www.donauradweg.at

Linz, European Capital of Culture 2009Linz was not only the European Capital of Culture

2009, but is also a UNESCO City of Media Arts. A

colourful, luminous cultural metropolis, where past,

present and future exist in harmony. Th e whole of

Linz is a venue for theatre, fi lm, music, cabaret and

much more. www.linztourismus.at

Danube Lower AustriaTh e region that stretches from the Nibelungengau and

the World Heritage Site of the Wachau to Römerland

Carnuntum-Marchfeld is rich in history.

It is a meeting place for those who love food, wine

and culture.

www.donau.comwww.wachau.at

Wien - Weltkulturerbe Wien zeigt Ihnen Kunst & Genuss in allen Facetten:

Vom Schloss Schönbrunn über den Stephansdom bis

hin zum Prachtboulevard Ringstraße. Die Hofburg ist

mit den Kaiserappartements, Sisi Museum und Silber-

kammer, Schatzkammer und Spanischer Hofreitschule

das imperiale Highlight der Altstadt.

www.wien.info

Bratislava - Die Krönungsstadt Sie ist die moderne Donaumetropole am Schnittpunkt

verschiedener Kulturen. Zehn ungarisch-österreichi-

sche Könige sind im Martinsdom gekrönt worden.

Der Hauch vergangener Jahrhunderte ist bei einem

Rundgang durch die sanierte Altstadt spürbar und

überall locken trendige Cafés und Restaurants.

www.visit.bratislava.sk

Budapest - Weltkulturerbe Die Hauptstadt von Ungarn hat eine wunderschöne

Lage und bietet zahlreiche Sehenswürdigkeiten, wie z.

B. das zum UNESCO-Welterbe gehörende Burgvier-

tel mit dem Donaupanorama , das Parlament, die

Stephansbasilika, das Stadtwäldchen mit der Burg Vaj-

dahunyad, die Margareteninsel und noch vieles mehr.

www.hungary.com

danube. magazine 2016

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