Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria and fellow travelers,

With Thanksgiving in the rear window, the Holiday Season upon us, and the New Year approaching fast, we thought it a good idea to bring you up to speed with a tradition that is particularly relevant for any type of celebration in Austria: the Viennese Waltz.

We are also highlighting nine of Austria's most precious off-the-beaten-path museums for pre- or post waltzing explorations. Read on to discover hidden cultural gems that are well worth a little detour, especially when paired with stunning vistas, delectable food and other cultural highlights. 

And last but not least, if you are in the mood for some romantic armchair traveling during the holidays, check out Amazon Prime's "Sachertorte" - a feel good RomCom starring Vienna and its most beloved cake - the Sachertorte. (available in German with English subtitles)

With warmest regards,
Sigrid Pichler & Helen Bitschnau

Managers of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info
helen.bitschnau@austria.info 
tel 212 575 7723 x 119 or x 112
www.austria.info 

We are highlighting nine specific museums that are not on the radar of most travelers but deserve more attention:

As a country of 8.9 million, Austria boasts nearly 750 museums, which is a testament to its affinity for culture and arts. Temples to the fine arts such as the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna or the Albertina, to name just a few, are renowned all over the world. There is also a large number of worthy museums that speak to more specific interests, such as viticulture, coin collecting, or women’s history. Many are located outside of major cities, but well worth a day trip, especially in connection with exploring local food, culture and stunning scenery.

The Loisium Weinwelt in Lower Austria is about an hour’s drive away from Vienna, located in the picturesque wine growing area along the Danube river. Aside from explaining the wine making process, the museum does an excellent job of highlighting local wine growing history. Almost at the other end of the country, near Innsbruck, Tirol, lies Ambras Castle, which houses a magnificent collection of art and curiosities amassed by generations of Habsburg rulers. Also in Tirol, the Kitzbühel Museum is proudly showcasing its collection of Alfons Walde paintings depicting winter landscapes, as well as the history of one of the Alpine Ski Worldcup’s most famous competitions, the Hahnenkamm race.

St. Anton am Arlberg is known first and foremost for its fantastic Alpine skiing, but its little known Arlberg Museum is well worth a visit on its own for all those who are interested in the history of the sport. The Hall Mint Museum in the town of Hall in Tirol used to be home to the world’s first coin minting machine 500 years ago. The mint produced much sought after Thalers, the very early precursors to the Dollar. Even further west, in Vorarlberg’s Bregenzerwald region, the Frauenmuseum Hittisau is the country’s only women’s museum. Founded in 2000, it highlights relevant aspects of local and international topics regarding women's history.

For those who love cars, the Porsche Automuseum in Gmünd near Salzburg is the world’s only private institution focussed on the storied brand. Back in Vienna, the Sigmund Freud Museum is located in the former home of the father of psychoanalysis. Visitors can tour the family’s private rooms as well as the practice rooms, and peruse Freud’s publications in the world’s largest library dedicated to psychoanalysis. Mythos Mozart, located in the composer’s final home in Vienna, features multimedia installations which bring the famous composer’s music pieces to life.

The Viennese Waltz is such an integral part of Austrian culture that each New Year's Eve, the first piece of music broadcast by local radio stations right after the countdown is the most famous waltz of all: The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II. And half the country dances to it, too, whether clad in snow boots, celebrating by the slopes at a ski resort, in evening gowns attending a glittering ball, or out in the streets at one of the numerous open-air celebrations all over the country.

What is it about the Waltz that has Austrians so enamored that they can’t seem to do without it? And how can travelers experience the magic in ¾ time themselves? Let’s explore:

A brief history: The waltz goes back to simple country dances such as the Landler, a favorite with people in the countryside and the suburbs, where courtly etiquette mattered little. Among polite society, it was frowned upon for the longest time as indecent - after all, you had to embrace your dance partner to maintain balance when spinning across the room. It was not until the late 18th century that the waltz euphoria also gripped the ballrooms of Vienna and from there spread across Europe. By the time of the Viennese Congress, the Viennese Waltz was all the rage and balls without it unimaginable. Composers Johann Strauss father and son would achieve rock-star-status with waltzes and polkas whose popularity transcended class barriers. Today the Blue Danube has become Austria’s secret national anthem.

The Viennese Waltz today: From January to Faschingsdienstag (aka Mardi Gras) each year, the ball season still enthralls the country. Nearly every professional association, even every class graduating from high school, hosts its own event. The grand ballrooms in Austria's castles and palaces with all their grandeur are the perfect locations for such occasions. In Vienna, the Ball Calendar features over 400 events that are open to visitors and can be experienced by anyone with a ticket and the proper attire. Among the most famous balls are the Opera Ball and the Confectioner's Ball. Consequently, there is a large number of dance schools which teach ballroom dancing and prepare visitors for attending such an event. And you can rent ball gowns and tuxedos or tail coats at specialized stores. Of course, you don’t need to dance to enjoy a proper Viennese ball, as there is plenty of food, drink and entertainment to be had, but it would only be half as much fun and nobody will judge your actual dancing skills. 

New Year’s Eve traditions centering around the Waltz: Aside from the aforementioned celebrations in major cities, such as the Silvesterpfad in Vienna, there are cultural highlights such as Johann Strauss’s operetta Die Fledermaus, a loving celebration of the Viennese Ball season which is performed every year on New Year’s Eve and on New Year’s Day at the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna Volksoper. And of course, the Vienna Philharmonic is performing their annual New Year’s Concert in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. Tickets are very hard to come by, but the concert is broadcast by television stations across the entire world. While the program varies a bit each year, it is essentially a love letter to the Viennese Waltz, with its Strauss waltzes and polkas.

The concert’s enduring worldwide popularity proves that the Viennese Waltz still enthralls audiences today. And once you’ve joined the crowd on the dance floor and experienced the magic yourself, you’ll understand why. So come and dance with us!