Popular Destinations in Austria
Graz
Hallstatt
Innsbruck
Kitsbuhel
Linz
St Anton am Arlberg
Salzburg
Schönbrunn Palace
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Vienna
Zell am See
Austria: History & Culture in Central Europe
Once the centre of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria’s status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria’s independence, and forbade unification with Germany.
A constitutional law that same year declared the country’s “perpetual neutrality” as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 and Austria’s entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the meaning of this neutrality.
A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.
Paris
Still there must be something that France is doing right. Their biggest attraction, their jewel in the crown, is Paris.
No doubt Walt Disney knew what they were doing when they chose this city for the site of their European Disneyland.
And as Audrey Hepburn said in the 1954 movie, Sabrina, “Paris is always a good idea”. Her character intimated that Paris was the most romantic destination in the world as has been depicted in popular imagination for centuries, a perception reinforced by films such as Amelie in more recent years.
The weather
French weather is clearly preferable to British weather especially for the holidaymaker.
Climatically, the north of France has weather quite similar to the southern part of the UK but as Frances stretches all the way down to the Mediterranean there is correspondingly ‘better’ weather.
The climate is relatively mild in the spring and autumn months and then, the lovely, warm summers, attract waves of sun-seekers every year!
French TV’s weather map looks more inviting than the UK’s!
Fine Dining
France was the first nation to have its food recognised by UNESCO as “intangible cultural heritage”, reinforcing the imperious reputation of French cuisine.
But does France deserve this reputation when, for example, Luxembourg has more Michelin stars per capita than France? And San Sebastian in Spain is now considered by many to be the fine dining capital of the world.
And the opening of a Burger King in Paris caused much less of a fuss than you would credit for a nation so proud of its own culinary heritage.
Fine wines
The New World may be giving France a run for its money on the wine-making front, but will sparkling wines from other parts of the world ever have the same prestige, as Champagne?
Whatever, France remains one of the great wine-producing countries in the world.
Skiing
The mountain ranges are varied and make France one of the world’s biggest destinations for excellent skiing especially in the Alps.
France, the United States and Spain are the countries with the most foreign tourists, but it is only in France that they derive a noticeable tourist benefit from ski resorts
Good Transport Links
The French TGVs have been the envy of the world, whisking passengers from one end of the country to the other in a fraction of the time it takes in the UK (that’s when there are no strikes in France, of course).
And if you’re not on the train, the roads outside Paris are more often emptier and freer flowing than they are in the UK. Having two-and-a-half times the space of Britain counts for something. Some even believe that French road manners are much improved these days.
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