Thursday, October 31, 2013

RTW 2013 / Austria / Salzburg Part 2

The Salzkammergut stretches from Salzburg, eastwards, along the Austrian Alpine Foreland and the Northern Limestone Alps to the peaks of the Dachstein Mountains.
We took an early morning local bus ride from Salzburg, ninety minutes, to Strobl on the eastern tip of the Wolfgangsee.
Here we came across a yarn shop before sitting in the warm sunshine drinking coffee and waiting for our lake cruise. The proprietor's lack of English, the co driver's lack of German and my bad 'wool/yarn' German amused the shop's customers no doubt. But we did end up with what we wanted with everyone there wishing us multiple 'Aufwiedersehens' on our departure.
The trip across the lake stopping at various villages and resorts along the way was magic.
No description needed, just the pictures.



















































































We left the boat in St. Gilgen and after a very late lunch of beer, goulash and dumplings caught the bus back to town.





















Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau had Altenau Palace built in 1606 as a token of his love for Salome Alt. The palace fulfilled its purpose with fifteen children born of their union.
After Wolf Dietrich's death, the palace was renamed "Mirabell" by his successor, Markus Sitticus von Hohenems.
Today Mirabell Palace houses the offices of Salzburg's mayor and the municipal council.
The famous Mirabell Gardens were redesigned around 1690 under Prince-Archbishop Johann Ernst Graf von Thun to plans by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and completely remodeled around 1730 by Franz Anton Danreiter. The Gardens were opened to the public by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1854. Today they are regarded as a horticultural masterpiece and popular backdrop for photographers.
It was a pleasant late afternoon walk around this area and a good way to end our quick visit to Salzburg.

















Our Austrian adventure will continue to the Wachau and the village of Duernstein the next morning.

1 comment:

Kay said...

Beautiful