Browsing: Austria

It’s been almost 60 years since The Sound of Music was released (1965). Everyone remembers Julie Andrews singing “The Hills Are Alive,” but not many know where the Alps behind her are. They are in Austria, along with the rest of the locations used for the movie. It was the home of the real von Trapp Family, and it’s possible to relive one of the world’s favorite family films during a tour in that European …

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Considered the jewel of the Austrian Alps, the Gastein Valley lies an hour south of Salzburg, in the heart of the majestic Austrian Alps. Other than the fantastic thermal spa and panoramic views of the Hohe Tauern National Park, the mountains surrounding Gastein are what it’s all about.

From the west side of the valley, cable cars rise two miles to the summit of Stubnerkogel. From there, a variety of ski runs and several lifts …

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Who has not been captivated by tales of knights and dragons, of medieval feuds, battles, and betrayals? Serving as the backdrop for each of these stories is a castle. Visiting a castle can provide a playground for the imagination, allowing the mind to revel in legend and lore. Walking through grand halls past suits of armor, torches, and tapestries, one cannot fathom so many stories embedded in stone. More than a getaway from the stresses …

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