Eastern Alps: Places to Explore

You cross over to Altenmarkt by leaving St. Johann im Pongau on Route 163 heading east across Wagrain and Reitdorf. Altenmarkt is small, but the Church of St. Mary contains the Schöne Madonna, an outstanding... Read more

Though it traces its roots all the way back to the 15th century, this resort, one of Europe's leading spas, gained renown only in the 19th century, when VIPs from emperors on down to impecunious philosophers... Read more

The Gartl Waterfall is a short stroll from the center of town—in summer, you can safely walk through the spray to feel the water's power and refresh yourself on a warm day.... Read more

Filzmoos, one of the most romantic villages in Austria, is still a well-kept secret. Though skiing in the nearby Dachstein mountains is excellent, the inexpensive winter resort (which is part of the Salzburger... Read more

One of the most photographed places in the country, Heiligenblut remains Austria's most picturesque Alpine village. With the majestic Grossglockner—Austria's highest mountain—for a backdrop... Read more

The swift Gail flows along the southwest edge of Carinthia through small scattered villages with ancient churches and aged, often wooden, farmhouses. The narrow valley is peacefully soft, with many old... Read more

Most sightseers travel to Kötschach and Mauthen, its twin across Route 111, to enjoy the natural beauty the area has to offer and to pay a call on Kellerwand, one of Austria's top restaurants. The... Read more

Tucked in at the confluence of the Drau and Isel rivers, the resort town of Lienz is the capital of the region. The awe-inspiring peaks rising around the town might make your first impression one of human... Read more

Because of its strategic location on one of the easier north-south routes over the Alps, Matrei in Osttirol has a long history to look back on, including Celtic and then Roman periods.... Read more

Despite wars and fires, the walled town of Radstadt still retains its 12th-century character. Standing guard over a key north-south route, Radstadt was once granted the right to warehouse goods and to... Read more

Noted skiing headliners Saalbach and its neighbor Hinterglemm are part of an area comprising also Kaprun and Zell am See, that becomes a ski circus in winter. A clever layout of lifts and trails enables... Read more

Saalfelden nestles at the foot of the Steinernes Meer (Sea of Stone), the formidable ridge that divides Austria from Germany. The town, farther up Route 311 from Saalbach Hinterglemm, is a climber's dream... Read more

In the 14th and 15th centuries Schladming was a thriving silver-mining town, then in 1525 the town was burned in an uprising by miners and farmers. Most of what you see today dates from 1526, when reconstruction... Read more

Few American tourists venture into the Defereggen mountain range, although its craggy slopes are sprinkled with unspoiled villages. The small resort of St. Jakob in Defereggen is one of the most charming... Read more

St. Johann has developed into a full-fledged year-round resort. The area is favored by cross-country and intermediate downhill skiers, as the gentle slopes provide an almost endless variety of runs.... Read more

The small size of Werfen, adorned with 16th-century buildings and a lovely Baroque church, belies its importance, for it actually is the base for exploring three extraordinary attractions: the largest... Read more

This lovely lakeside town got its name from the monks' cells of a monastery founded here in about AD 790.... Read more