An area of majestic mountains, crystal clear lakes

It is also an area that boasts world-famous sights such as the mysterious
Salt mine, the Eagle’s Nest (Hitler’s holiday home).

On a mountain summit and the 12th century chapel of St. Bartholomew on Lake Königsee, now a recognisable symbol of the Bavarian Alps.

The Eagle’s Nest was commissioned by Martin Bormann and the National Socialist German Worker’s Party before being presented to the fascist dictator Adolf Hitler as a gift on his fiftieth birthday. Since then, the idyllic setting and remarkable architecture of the Eagle’s Nest on the Kehlstein have been overshadowed by it’s close connection to the Third Reich. Although Hitler rarely stayed in the building himself, his wicked tyrannical image still hangs over it today.

In the afternoon one can travel to the City of Mozart – Salzburg, a jewel amongst the Austrian towns. Although the area around the city has shown signs of life for more than 7,000 years, it was only in the 17th century that Salzburg’s greatest period came into being giving the city it’s present Baroque appearance. Famous architects were commissioned by the ruling Archbishops to create the palaces and churches for them. Salzburg only became part of Austria in 1816 having endured a brief Napoleonic and Bavarian rule. Music became an important stimulus for cultural life in the 19th century and this acquired worldwide recognition through their annual festival.

Experience the Prussia of Austria –
a day’s roundabout in Upper Austria

Visit a couple of the local towns with a little tinge of Christmas to add to the flavour. Linz, is the capitol of the region, and in 1832 the first horse-drawn railway in continental Europe opened, it is located almost exactly between Salzburg and Vienna, Linz has definitely solved the problem of the old and the new living together in perfect harmony: over the past few decades, great pains have been taken to preserve the authentic feeling of the historic Old Town Quarter with its elegant and superbly restored patrician houses in the large pedestrian zone. This and many other attractions in the city centre bear witness to the past glory and present beauty of Linz. One of Austria’s foremost composers, Anton Bruckner, was closely associated with Linz. For many years, the man affectionately known as “God’s Musician” lived and composed in Linz, where he played the organ at the magnificent Old Cathedral (Alter Dom). This renown composer was laid to rest under his favourite organ in St. Florian.

Steyr is a town with a thousand years of history. A town made for promenades along the impressive main street, leafy avenues or the crystal clear river itself (inspiration for Schubert’s Trout Quintet). Steyr has one of the most beautiful old squares in Europe, where Gothic, Renaissance; Baroque and Rococo meet each other in harmony. In the middle of the town’s emblem – the lovely “Bummerlhaus”, a jewel of late Gothic architecture. It is the best reserved secular building in the province. Parts of the building date back to the 13th century. In the 19th century, the structure housed the “Zum Goldenen Löwen” (“To the Golden Lion “) Inn. The Lion, which can still be seen on the signboard, was lovingly dubbed “Bummerl” by the residents, meaning `little plump dog´. Thus the Inn was given the name “Bummerlhaus”.

The inner courtyard with it’s magnificent arcades and columns is definitely worth visiting.
The mighty Lamberg Castle towers high above Steyr on the foundations of the Styraburg. The very castle to which the town owns it’s founding. Then on to Christkindl where at Christmas time the local post office prepares a special franking service and stamp. It is here that the children send their Christmas letters to the “Christ Child” as our write to Father Christmas and Santa Claus with hopes that their wishes will be granted.