Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

For our early spring roundup, we cherish Austrian traditions like Austrians do. One of the best times to experience this love of traditions first hand is around Easter, when Easter Markets abound and crafts are on display everywhere. Since local customs are deeply rooted in landscape and nature, it comes as no surprise that Austrians also care deeply about the environment. One of Austria’s most eco-conscious businesses is the Zotter Chocolate Factory in Styria’s Vulkanland, a region that is, as a whole, committed to sustainable business practices.  Aside from its chocolate tasting experience and Edible Zoo, Zotter also offers some creative Easter treats. One might argue that Alpine skiing has become somewhat of an Austrian tradition as well, and there is no better place to indulge in some springtime skiing than Tirol’s capital Innsbruck.

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler

Manager of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info
tel 212 575 7723 x 119

www.austria.info 

You literally cannot stay in Austria during the Easter holidays and not stumble across traditional crafts markets or observe local traditions. The most accessible events for travelers are the local Easter Markets which feature stalls selling goods from hand-painted Easter eggs for decorating traditional palm bushes to Easter candles and items for the traditional Easter “Jause”, a feast celebrating the end of lent. Usually, they are accompanied by a fun event program with music, entertainment for children and culinary highlights.

Below you’ll find a list of our favorite markets which we selected based on accessibility for travelers and historic background. For a full list of markets and other events and traditions around the holiday, click here. Easter traditions differ from region to region and there are many other fun events worth exploring. If you are lucky, you’ll witness a “Palmbuschen Weihe” (blessing of the palm leaves) or an Easter procession, which can be quite beautiful to watch or participate in, especially in rural regions.

When it comes to rural travel experiences in Austria, there are few regions that are as accessible for travelers, yet as pristine and unspoiled as the Vulkanland in Western Styria. Small farms focus on culinary specialties such as pumpkin seed oil. Family owned businesses are responsible stewards of the local landscape. One of them stands out with its commitment to sustainability and providing visitors with an outstanding experience: the Zotter Chocolate Factory. Come for chocolate tastings - leave with a sense of optimism and the knowledge that sustainability can be fun, rewarding and delicious!

Relatively unknown to visitors from the US, the region is very popular with travelers from Austria and Europe for its historic sights, culinary highlights and natural beauty.  Perched on an extinct volcano, one of Austria’s most impressive castles, the Riegersburg, overlooks an enchanting region dotted with vineyards. Wonderful themed hiking trails lead through the hilly landscape. Everywhere, the friendly local Buschenschank – wine tavern – invites guests to taste the culinary delights of the region, such as the famous Styrian pumpkin seed oil. In keeping with the local philosophy of environmental stewardship, some wineries have gone organic, such as the Winkler-Hermaden Winery, which also operates a nearby castle hotel.

At the previously mentioned Zotter Chocolate Factory you can find out how chocolate is made during this fascinating tour of the factory, then sample to your heart’s content at the various uniquely designed tasting stations. At the organic adventure farm »Edible Zoo«, the focus is on showing how food is made, where the ingredients come from, and what an ecologically sound farm should look like. At the Edible Zoo, you’ll find old, indigenous breeds and regional fruit and vegetable varieties. The Öko-Essbar restaurant serves organic food and drinks, made with ingredients from the gardens and pastures.

All this is in line with the business’s philosophy of sustainability and fair trade: They only use organic and fair traded raw materials, run their business with 100% clean energy, produce their own power with a photovoltaic generator, and use a fleet of electric vehicles. The organic farm covers 80 hectares, from which they get many ingredients for the free, organic lunch for 200 employees. Needless to say, you’ll come away from this experience not only with a full belly, but with a new outlook on what is possible when a region works together to make sure sustainability and hospitality go hand in hand.

If you don’t want to take the drive from the nearby city of Graz and prefer to relax in the countryside, hotels such as the Genusshotel Riegersburg, the Spa Hotel Rogner Bad Blumau - an experience in itself - or the Loisium Suedsteiermark (located more to the south, in the South Styrian Wine Region) are perfect bases for exploring.

Only in the Tirolean capital can you go directly from the pedestrian zone to one of the most spectacular ski resorts in the Alps. Then, after a good day’s skiing, Innsbruck has a wealth of bars and restaurants that beckon with everything from steakhouses to vegan burger joints. Whether you are headed from the slopes straight to the beer garden or in the mood for fine dining, there is something for every taste and occasion.

Innsbruck’s legendary local mountain, the Nordkette, is so much more than just a classic ski area. Boasting a sunny location on the southern slopes of the Karwendel range, it is nevertheless one of the snowiest peaks in the Alps. Up here the Seegrube, in the last two months of the ski season in particular, is transformed from a small yet delightful skiing area into a sunny theater high above the capital of the Alps.

Perfect places to enjoy a refreshing break after a day’s skiing:
Cloud 9 - The best view of the city can be had as you sip a drink in the Cloud 9 igloo bar on the Seegrube. The sun loungers make an ideal place to relax after a day’s skiing.
Café Bar Hungerburg - Bistro, café and bar: the Café Bar Hungerburg is located right at the bottom station of the Nordkettenbahn funicular, serving snacks and cakes to hungry winter sports enthusiasts.
Marktbar am Inn - The Marktbar is Innsbruck’s meeting place for sun lovers, serving delicious homemade cakes as well as seasonal and regional dishes. Located right on the river, not far from the market hall, it offers magnificent views of the Nordkette.
Kater Noster - Just when you decide to stop at Kater Noster is entirely up to you. A café during the day, serving a variety of waffles, cakes and desserts, while in the evening it turns into a bar with a fine selection of beers, long drinks, and cocktails.
Moustache Café Bar - The Moustache Café Bar is a popular Innsbruck hangout located just a short way from the Congress station. Here you can enjoy small snacks and play table football while still wearing your ski boots, or perhaps savor a selection from the excellent drinks menu.
Stiftskeller - Tirolean specialities meet Bavarian beer: the Stiftskeller is located in the middle of the old town, within easy walking distance of the Congress station. After a hard day’s skiing, this is the place for winter sports fans to enjoy springtime in the beer garden.