By now every football fan knows that one of the countries hosting the Euro 2008 is Austria. Most of you also know where exactly the matches will be played. As I came to think of it, I am sure that some of you who will visit Austria for the Euro 2008 will take advantage of the situation and go a little sightseeing. So I decided to make a short list of the places one might want to see in the cities, where the matches will be played.
Let’s start with the capital of Austria - Vienna. The city is located in the Vienna State, in the south-eastern part of the country. It is famous for its many places of interest - there is something there for everyone. There you can go to numerous museums, opera houses, concert halls, parks and historic sites. Among the most popular places you can visit is the Schönbrunn Castle - the summer royal residence. There you can see 40 of the magnificent rooms of the baroque building, plus the gorgeous garden around it. Another landmark is the baroque St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Its wooden altarpiece is amazingly carved and dates back to 1447. Another place of interest is the Austrian Gallery Belvedere - a summer residence which includes a castle and a garden, now turned into a gallery. Some other places you should not miss include the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Vienna State Opera and the Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury). From the hotels there or the Tourist Information Centre you can buy the Vienna Card which will provide you with free use of the public transport for 72 hours as well as discounts on many tourist attractions and restaurants.
Innsbruck is another city where the Euro 2008 will be carried out. It is the capital of Tyrol, situated in the western part of the country. The city is a huge winter resort popular for its many skiing opportunities. The landscape around it is magnificent - the most beautiful part of the Alps. There are also many places one should not miss. The Imperial Palace (Hofburg) is a gothic building from the 15th century. In the Old Town you will find the landmark of the city - the Golden Roof. It is actually a 3 storey balcony from the 15th century which roof is capped with nearly 3 000 copper tiles plated in gold. The Swarovski Kristallwelten (Crystal Worlds) is also magnificent. It is located under an artificial hill and consists of seven halls with different themes, but all in honour of the Swarovski crystals. You may also visit the Ambras Castle and the Cathedral St. Jacob.
The third city of the Euro 2008 in Austria is Salzburg. It is the capital of the Salzburg State, situated on the banks of the Salzach River. The city is the birth place of the great Mozart and you can visit the building, in which he was born and lived. Salzburg has many historical sites to offer and it is a protected heritage site by UNESCO. Salzburg’s Cathedral is very popular and the first church on the place was built in 767. It was later twice burned and renovated and now it impresses with a gorgeous facade and a huge dome. Hohensalzburg Fortress was built in the 11th century and is now among the best preserved and large fortresses in central Europe. Hellbrunn is a beautiful summer residence built in Italian style. There you can see the Hellbrunn palace and some amazing gardens with fountains. Other interesting places include the Festival Halls, the Untersberg Mountain, Mirabell Palace, Salzburg’s Zoo, the Holy Trinity Church and more.
The last town which will hold the Euro 2008 in Austria is Klagenfurt. It is the capital of Carinthia, located in the most southern parts of the country. There are a total of 23 different castles in the city, most of them built in the 12th century. You can even spend the night in the St. Georgen am Sandhof and the Hallegg Castle. As far as churches are concerned, there you can find 56 of them. The most popular of them is of course the Cathedral. If you like nature you can also go to Lake Ossiacher and Lake Worther (Worthersee).
With this ends my list of interesting places around the Euro 2008 in Austria. I do hope many of you will take the opportunity and visit some of the gorgeous places in this country.
Ivaylo Yordanov is the author and can provide you with additional information about Austria, by using the Contact Us page of the site below. Additionally, more comprehensive information is available at http://www.austria-trips.com
