Austria - Europe's Charm

Austria has it all—sophistication, rustic simplicity, antiquities, riches, excellent restaurants, music festivals, towering mountains, green valleys, flowers during the summer and world-famous snow during the long winter season.

Geographically, three-quarters of the country is covered with mountains. The Alps cut a curved swathe across Austria's face, sparing only sections in the south and eastern regions. Lush valleys flank the river courses, the most famous being the River Danube, Europe's longest. Austria's other rivers—the Inn, the 111, the Drau—as well as its many lakes also are extremely scenic.

Austria is bordered to the north by Germany, to the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein, to the south by Italy, Slovenia (formerly part of Yugoslavia) and Hungary, and to the east by the Czech Republic. Austria itself is divided into nine regions or states:

Voralberg, Tyrol, Salzburg Land, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland, Styria and Carinthia.

In Austria Snow begins in late November and continues through May in the higher regions. Summer (which means from Easter to mid-October) brings warmer temperatures, with periodic rains.

High season depends on your itinerary. For skiers, peak times run from December through April. Many ski resorts and hotels close down during some or most of the warmer months. For Austria city touring, any time is fine, but beware that in July and August Salzburg is inundated
with music lovers who come each year to its famous festival. During all the major holidays (Christmas, New Year's, Easter weekend), throngs invade the cities and popular ski spots.

Off the beaten track, the smaller towns provide all the charm without the crush of people. Away from the major hubs, daily life retains its rustic rhythms, preserving old- world customs.