Krems

Krems marks the beginning (when traveling upstream) of the Wachau section of the Danube. The town is closely tied to Austrian history; here the ruling Babenbergs set up a dukedom in 1120, and the earliest Austrian coin was struck in 1130. In the Middle Ages Krems looked after the iron trade, while neighboring Stein traded in salt and wine, and over the years Krems became a center of culture and art. Today the area is the heart of a thriving wine-producing area, and Krems is most famed for the cobbled streets of its Altstadt (Old Town), which is virtually unchanged since the 18th century. The lower Old Town is an attractive pedestrian zone, while up a steep hill (a car can be handy) you'll find the upper Old Town, with its Renaissance Rathaus and a parish church that is one of the oldest in Lower Austria. Krems new Arts Mile boosts the contemporary cultural aspect of the area. It includes, besides galleries and eateries, the Karikaturmuseum; the Kunsthalle Krems; the brand new Frohner Museum, dedicated to the late Austrian graphic artist and painter; and the Lower Austria literature center.