Austria's World Heritage Sites

Austria is known for its outstanding cultural and natural heritage. Hi! Welcome to watchmojo.com. I am your host, Maria and today, we'll be profiling a few of the country's world heritage sites.

Number one: The Semmering railway, it was constructed between 1848 and 1854. Added to the list of world heritage sites in 1998, this railway is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the considerable altitude difference that was mastered during its construction. The unique travel experience contributed significantly to the original opening of the Semmering region for tourism. A trip on the railway, which is in full use 150 years after its construction, still impresses the traveler as a special experience by its varied landscape, the typical style of its mansions, and the characteristic sequence of viaducts and tunnel constructions.

At number two is Schlossberg. It is a hill topped by a castle in the center of the City of Graz, Austria. Among Graz's most famous tourist attractions, the castle was once a place of refuge for Graz's residents. It was turned into a public park in 1839. The Schlossberg contains a clock tower which functions as a recognizable icon for the city.

Number three: Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Australia and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg's Old Town with its world famous Baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting of parts of the musical and film "The Sound of Music" which features famous landmarks in Austria but focuses mainly on Salzburg.

Number four is the Hallstatt-Dachstein region. 3000 years ago this area was the salt mining capital of Europe, In fact, an entire 1000-year chapter in the story of Europe is called "The Hallstatt period." A museum next to the tourist office shows off Hallstatt's salty past. For a better look, you can tour the world's first salt mine, located at thrilling funicular ride above downtown Hallstatt.


Number five: Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace and the gardens illustrate the tastes, interests and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. From the 18th century to 1918, Schonbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. Beside of the world's first zoo in 1752, it is full of outstanding examples of decorative art. It is a remarkable ensemble of Baroque traditions.


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