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<p>The skiing opportunities in Austria are simply breathtaking. Deeply embedded into the culture of this landlocked Alpine nation during the winter months, the pastime is taken super seriously. Most forms of winter sports are available, with alpine and Nordic skiing the most common, while snowboarding, cross-country skiing and sledging are also popular.</p>



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<p>For those attracted to nightlife as well as outdoor leisure, many of the famous ski resorts have also accrued a reputation for their après-ski shenanigans as much as for the skiing itself – none more so, perhaps, than St Anton am Arlberg in the west of the country.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Topping the lot</h3>



<p>The global reputation of the Arlberg ski region emerged in the late 19th century, following the opening of the Arlberg railway tunnel in 1884. Ski-Club Arlberg, the first ski club in the Alps, opened in 1901 and St Anton’s inaugural ski school was established in 1924. The sleepy village was well on the way to becoming an iconic venue for winter sports enthusiasts.</p>


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<p>St Anton is now considered the zenith of Austrian alpine skiing, and the country’s renown as a ski paradise came partly on the back of this amazing resort. It is connected by state-of-the-art ski lifts and cable cars to nearby villages to form one huge contiguous ski area. The Arlberg massif region in Vorarlberg boasts a vast ski terrain encompassing 300 kilometres (186 miles) of slopes.</p>



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<p>The sport is certainly challenging here, and there are plenty of off-piste opportunities for those who want to test themselves, with about 200 kilometres of backcountry terrain beckoning thrill-seekers. The adrenaline will certainly be pumping on many of the exhilarating descents, not least the Kandahar run on Galzig. The views are stunning, and the well-maintained slopes provide top-notch exercise for much of the winter.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ski stars</h3>



<p>Arlberg boasts three top-notch ski resorts: St Anton – St Christoph – Stuben, which are connected by cable car; its over-the-valley neighbour Lech – Oberlech – Zürs; and Warth-Schröcken. St Anton’s epic Run of Fame is a spectacular marathon taking in the entire Ski Arlberg area. As the longest ski circuit in the Alps, covering 85 kilometres and an altitude difference of 18,000 metres (59,055 feet), it takes the best part of a day to complete and traverses three mountain passes – Arlberg, Flexen and Hochtannberg. The route pays homage to the many ski pioneers, athletes and movie stars who have popularised these slopes over the years, leaving their indelible footprints in the snow.</p>



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<p>Indeed, Ski Arlberg has so much to offer for all levels of skiers. There are endless signposted runs, ultra-modern cable cars, fantastic powder-snow slopes, and practice areas for young skiers and beginners, as well as a multitude of sports facilities, from fun parks to carving areas to race courses.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Food with a view</h3>



<p>Part of the joy of skiing in Austria are the scrumptious culinary delights served in the local restaurants and huts, and St Anton offers some of the best. Perched at 2,085 metres and billed as one of the highest gourmet restaurants in Europe, Verwallstube is worth a visit for the amazing mountain views alone. In the winter months, it opens daily for lunch, while weekly evening candlelight dinners accompanied by piano music are a special experience. Meticulously arranged dishes infused with uplifting flavours range from bouillabaisse to beautifully tender veal cheeks braised in red wine. Truffle mash adds additional charm to the meal.</p>



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<p>On the edge of St Anton village, Museum Restaurant-Café is another excellent choice with a wonderful ambience. Housed in the St Anton Museum, this charming wood-panelled venue serves Austrian cuisine and offers private dining and vegetarian and vegan options. It has the most succulent Tyrolean beef, lamb or trout on a menu prepared with both creativity and tradition. Try the winter salad with caramelised nuts, pear and smoked goose breast, then treat yourself to the mouth-watering crème brûlée.</p>



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<p>The fine international cuisine and excellent wine list at Hazienda, located in the basement of the four-star M3 Hotel, draw in gourmet skiers. Superb pasta dishes and veal are a forte. Classic Austrian restaurant Fuhrmannstube by Buffy is a cosy hideaway, great for tucking into venison stew, traditional dumplings known as knödel, or copious helpings of strudel.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Après adventuring</h3>



<p>St Anton is noted the world over for its après-ski options – think crazy, fun-filled drinking houses brimming with raucous revellers on a high from the day’s excursions on the glorious Alpine slopes. At the legendary MooserWirt, which has been opening its doors to boisterous skiers since 1989, expect loud Austrian music and party-goers dancing on tables, sweating in their salopettes. To the backdrop of non-stop après-ski hits mixed by famous DJs, guzzle down a wide variety of beers to your heart’s content – the venue reportedly gets through a staggering 5,000 litres a day. It’s also a wonderful place to make new friends for the following day’s skiing, but make sure you leave your skis in a safe, easy-to-find spot as you will need them to get back down the slope after your drinking games.</p>



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<p>There are plenty of other notable après-ski hangouts. Sennhütte has a lovely sunlit terrace affording superb mountain views. Tables bounce with skiers swaying with delight to local bands playing country or rock music designed to get the party in full schnapps-happy swing. Just to its north is Heustadl, another hotspot usually bursting at the seams. Located near the end of run no. 50, it offers live music to 6 pm.</p>



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<p>Billed as St Anton’s oldest après-ski haunt, Krazy Kanguruh – owned by Austrian skiing legend Mario Matt – is a lively slopeside bar with a great terrace overlooking the village. It is usually loud, fun and jam-packed from 5 pm to closing around 8 pm. Enjoy the moment as you swig intoxicating tequila and consume quality nosh before getting back on your skis to slide gracefully down to the valley.</p>



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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other runs around</h3>



<p>The villages of Lech and Zürs are linked to St Anton over the mountains but are still relatively isolated. With distance comes exclusivity, and Zürs, in particular, has garnered a reputation as one of the most renowned winter sports resorts in the Alps, beloved by the well-heeled and international glitterati.</p>



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<p>Austria has many splendid ski areas aside from Ski Arlberg. The season at Ischgl in Tyrol normally runs until early May since it sits at 2,872 metres above sea level and offers 239 kilometres of pistes, with some as long as 11km. It provides skiing for all levels, and the more accomplished aficionados will be attracted by its daunting slopes of 70% gradient or steeper.</p>



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<p>Silvretta Arena ski resort comprises Ischgl and the Swiss village of Samnaun in the Grisons, which has the added advantage of being a duty-free zone. The Smuggler’s Trail, straggling the Austria-Switzerland border, allows skiers and snowboarders to explore old smuggling routes. The season here starts on 30 November 2024 when English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding performs at the Top of the Mountain Opening Concert at Silvretta car park against the unforgettable backdrop of the Tyrolean mountains. Another bonus is the foodie’s paradise of Ischgl’s many restaurants.</p>



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<p>Schladming-Dachstein in Styria has some of Austria’s most impressive mountains for skiing and a 230km-expanse of slopes. A high altitude ensures reliable snow coverage at SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser – Brixental in Tyrol, which has had the distinction of being voted the best ski resort in the world on several occasions. Blessed with wide pistes and panoramic views, Tyrol’s Zillertal Arena has the claim to fame for hosting one of the country’s longest descents. It also offers plentiful après-ski entertainment.</p>



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<p>Meanwhile, having Austria’s only ski area with three peaks topping 3,000 metres as well as two glaciers, the popular resort of Sölden in Tyrol is guaranteed to produce wow moments.</p>


Alpine Attitude: In winter, Austria’s Arlberg hills are alive with the sound of skiers – and après party animals

<p>According to The Economist’s annual Global Liveability Index – a report that measures the stability, healthcare, culture, environment, education and infrastructures of 140 cities around the world each year – the highest quality of living is enjoyed by residents of Vienna, the Austrian capital. It’s an accolade that the metropolis has laid claim to for two years running and one that, no doubt, at least partly accounts for the growing number of new arrivals in the city every year. In fact, according to a report by a Bloomberg report, the city is gaining roughly 25,000 new residents per annum, about one percent of its overall population of two million. In addition to its Economist endorsement, many are no doubt also drawn by the city’s low crime rate, economic success, fantastic public transport, laidback vibe and rich cultural heritage.</p>
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<p>Although the area was initially settled in the first century AD by the Ancient Romans, contemporary Vienna owes much of its current stature and size to the Hapsburgs, the notoriously inbred dynasty that, in its heyday, ruled both the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as providing kings for countless other European monarchies. As the seat of the Hapsburgs, over the centuries, their patronage was responsible for much of the immense architecture, vivid culture and rich artistic legacy that continues to attract more than seven million tourists each year.<br />
Though it would take a multitude of visits to explore the wealth of sights that Vienna has to offer, there are a number of clear highlights that just have to be on the itinerary of any truly discerning traveller. Key among these is the Schönbrunn Palace, the truly massive 1,441-room Hapsburg summer residence. Built in 1642 by Eleanor von Gonzaga, wife of Emperor Ferdinand II, this Baroque pleasure palace sits on land that spans some 186 acres.</p>
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<p>Make sure you set aside a full day to explore this huge site, as it encompasses several visit-worthy attractions. In particular, any junior members of your party will relish a trip through the Tiergarten Schönbrunn (also known as the Vienna Zoo). Founded to house the imperial menagerie in 1752, it is the oldest zoo in the world. Elsewhere, flora aficionados will enjoy meandering through the myriad plants, flowers and shrubs housed within the Palmenhaus, the largest greenhouse in the city, as well as the desert botanical exhibits at the Wüstenhaus. The palace proper, meanwhile, is positively brimming with historical artefacts, with the artwork-laden Bergl Rooms and the lavishly appointed apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Sisi meriting priority visits.</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56897" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2.jpg" alt="gafencu travel Oh Vienna So mystic and soulful... (2)" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-2-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a><br />
A 15-minute drive to the east then takes you to yet another stunning Hapsburg-era residence – the Belvedere Palace. Built in the early 18th century by Prince Eugene of Savoy, one of the empire’s most successful military commanders, it is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Impressively, its majestic wrought-iron gates open out onto the Belvedere Gardens, where expansive manicured lawns await, all fronted by a ginormous water basin and punctuated with a host of stunning sculptures.</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpeg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56898" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpeg" alt="gafencu travel Oh Vienna So mystic and soulful..." width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpeg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-200x300.jpeg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-186x280.jpeg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-120x180.jpeg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-400x601.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a><br />
The palace proper, meanwhile, has been repurposed as the Belvedere Museum and now houses an immense collection of Austrian art spanning from the Middle Ages to times far more contemporary. A particular highlight here is the Art around 1900 tour, which allows visitors to view some of the palace’s most famous artworks, including works by such luminaries as Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, the renowned Austrian symbolist painter best known for such iconic works as The Kiss and Judith and the Head of Holofernes. The expansive ceiling painting in the Marble Hall – painted by famed Italian maestro Carlo Carlone – is also one of the building’s most photographable sights.</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56896" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpg" alt="gafencu travel fine art Oh Vienna So mystic and soulful..." width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-fine-art-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /></a></p>
<p>To get a glimpse of the inner workings of power in the Hapsburg Empire (and the many associated luxuries), stop off at the Hofburg Palace just two kilometres north in the Innere Stadt (‘inner city’) district. Once the dynasty’s winter residence, it has since been transformed into the official residence and workplace of the country’s president. Within its precincts, you will find many of the city’s most popular attractions, including a 500-year-old Spanish Riding School, which stages regular performances by the famous Lipizzaner Stallions. Should the mood take you, you can also browse the imperial apartments, gaze upon the imperial crown and other treasures or simply explore the imperial silver collection.</p>
<p><a href="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-56893" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpg" alt="gafencu travel austria Oh Vienna So mystic and soulful..." width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful....jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/gafencu-travel-austria-Oh-Vienna-So-mystic-and-soulful...-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></a><br />
As the Hofburg is set right in the middle of Vienna’s bustling commercial and shopping district, it is simplicity itself to take a break from your historical explorations and indulge in a little retail therapy or a mesmerising meander through the eminently-civilised local coffee culture. The best way to wrap up any trip to the city, though, is to spend an evening at the Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsope). One of the world’s best opera venues – easily on par with La Scala or The Met – the performance schedule changes daily here, leaving you almost literally spoilt for choice. It is, after all, the most apt final destination in a city that’s been home to many of the true giants of classical music, including both Beethoven and Mozart.</p>
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gafencu travel feature Oh Vienna So mystic and soulful...

Oh Vienna: So mystic and soulful…

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