Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

We'll continue our exploration of the outdoors with a lesser known region in Tirol, the Wilder Kaiser Mountain Range, which is arguably one of the most serene and beautiful in Austria. From there, we'll take you straight back to Vienna, where we are eagerly awaiting news on the celebration of the 300-year anniversary of the Belvedere, a palace/art museum which was built by an eccentric prince and houses one of Austria's most famous paintings, Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss."

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 

Untamed mountain wilderness and neatly cultivated Alpine meadows: This fascinating contrast defines the Wilder Kaiser region and its bucolic villages Ellmau, Scheffau, Going and Soell. Best of all: thanks to the walkable terrain, excellent infrastructure and the natural way the villages developed over centuries, you can do all your exploring and adventuring without a car. Enjoy a completely stress-free and serene stay in one of the most beautiful, and eco-conscious, regions in Austria.

The Wilder Kaiser range (which translates as “wild emperor”) is indeed a majestic sight to behold. It is part of an even larger nature reserve and ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities from beautiful walks to challenging hikes in high-Alpine territory. The region has received several awards for its network of hiking trails. There are also gentle e-bike tours available, as well as mountain biking or canyoning and rafting. For conservation reasons, there is only one chairlift leading up the Kaisergebirge, so you’ll be able to enjoy easy access to a pristine natural landscape otherwise untouched by infrastructure developments.

The famous winter sports region (with an extensive lift network on the opposite side of the Kaisergebirge) is beloved in summer for its culinary highlights. There are several fun, delicious-sounding festivals and initiatives such as the Culinary Weeks in September and October, the Kaiserschmarrn (picture the fluffiest pancakes you ever had, scrambled, with plum compote or apple sauce) Festival on May 28, and the Marketplace Wilder Kaiser, which highlights local gourmet products. Our favorite is the Breakfast on the Mountain program: imagine getting up at the break of dawn for a sunrise hike up the mountains (or a more relaxing ride on a chair-lift) to reward yourself with a hearty breakfast at one of the mountain huts.

Once there, you’ll probably discover that the idyllic setting and historic farmhouses of the Wilder Kaiser region also appealed to the producers of one of the most successful series on German television. Instead of focusing on capitalizing on this popularity, however, the region has had the foresight to look ahead and devise a comprehensive strategy for improving the quality of life in the region, both for visitors as well as locals. The plan includes nature conservation efforts, CO2 reduction initiatives and community programs.

Visitors will find accommodations for every taste and budget in the Wilder Kaiser region. From two five-star hotels, the Biohotel Stanglwirt and the Hotel Kaiserhof, to farmhouses straight out of a fairy tale, rooms can be conveniently booked through the website of the local tourist office.
The region is located about an hour's drive from Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich, and is easily accessible via public transport from the Kufstein, Wörgl, or St. Johann in Tirol train stations.

Vienna's Belvedere Palace is a stunning Baroque building complex which is as much worth a visit as the world renowned art exhibition it houses. With its 300-year anniversary coming up in 2023, we wanted to introduce you to the building, the art collection and the palace’s intriguing history.

Its history dates back to the 18th century when Austrian general Prince Eugene of Savoy commissioned the renowned Baroque architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to build a summer residence. After the death of the prince, Empress Maria Theresia acquired the entire complex and transformed the Upper Belvedere into an exhibition location for the imperial collections – making it one of the first public museums in the world.

Today, the heart of the renowned Belvedere collection is formed by the 24 paintings by Gustav Klimt, including Austria’s most famous work of art, “The Kiss.” The permanent exhibition at the Upper Belvedere was completely redesigned in 2018: a total of 420 works can be seen in seven themed rooms on three floors. Thematically, the tour starts with the history of the Belvedere. Other rooms house works of art from the Middle Ages, Baroque, Classicism and Biedermeier. A separate, large area on the first floor is naturally dedicated to Vienna Modernism and the art of 1900. Finally, the art of the inter-war and post-war periods is shown on the second floor.

While the Upper Belvedere was all about representation, the Lower Belvedere, a separate building at the other side of the garden complex, acted as the residential palace of Prince Eugene. The lavish splendor of the owner is reflected in the Groteskensaal (Hall of the Grotesque), the Marble Gallery and the Golden Room. Special exhibitions are held in the Lower Belvedere and the Orangery.