Vienna/Hallstatt, AT - 10 Things I learned Along the Way
- regankubena353
- Jun 15, 2023
- 5 min read
It was easy to get distracted watching the countryside in Austria. It was a three-hour bus ride from Vienna to Hallstatt, and I was caught between staring out at the picturesque-Austrian rolling countryside and listening to our tour guide, Olivia's soothing voice as she regaled us with historical stories and facts about Austria. Austria was beautiful. It was easy to see why the rolling hills and majestic mountain backdrops inspired Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven (both German composers) to repeatedly return and compose music in Vienna. Beethoven even famously once wrote, "Perhaps heaven will permit me not to have to give up Vienna as my permanent abode."
Vienna was full of impressive and ornate decoration, architecture, grandeur, and rich history. We learned so much from exploring the city and, even more so, from Austrian-born, Olivia. Who set next to us during a coffee break and gladly answered my (many) questions. She was currently enrolled in university and filled her weekends guiding tours. She confided to us that of all the places she has visited, nothing beats Vienna. "If anything" she laughed "Vienna is like a magnet, always pulling you back."
I couldn't agree more.
In addition to being caught up in beautiful views and cobbled streets, below are some fun, interesting, and terrifying things I learned about Austria along the way:
1. Adolf Hitler was born in Austria (and he was an artist). Due to Hitler's affinity to Germany, I wrongly assumed he was German. Hitler made Vienna his home from February 1908 - May 1913 where he lived as a struggling artist. In May 1913, he moved to Munich, Germany to avoid arrest for evading service in the Austrian Military. As an aside, military service is compulsory in Austria. All male Austrian citizens above the age of eighteen are subject to compulsory military service (...maybe we won't move to Austria after all). It wasn't until the outbreak of WWI in 1914, that Hitler abandoned his watercolors for a military and eventual dictatorship lifestyle. Read more here.
2. Austrian National Library is the largest library in Vienna. I travel for libraries and bookstores and the Austrian National Library is making it to the top of my bibliophile travel list. It was jaw-dropping, it was beautiful, and it made me want to replicate it in my own home. This library houses thousands of historical volumes and books and is #homelibrarygoals. Read more here.
3. One of the world's most famous cakes, the Sacher Torte, was invented in Vienna. To be honest, Derek and I went to Hotel Sacher (where 16-year-old apprentice chef, Franz Sacher originally concocted the Sacher Torte in 1832), and I wasn't a fan of the cake (Derek loved it). Don't throw the cake at me, it was just missing that extra-sweet factor that I look for in a cake. If you like subtle flavors in your cake, the Sacher Torte may be for you. Read more here.
4. The Schönbrunn Zoo (est. 1752) is the world's oldest zoo still in operation. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being a part of the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens. My favorites were watching the penguins swimming around their tank and the panda bears munching on bamboo. We stayed until closing time, but it was easily one of my favorite parts of the trip.
5. The famous Empress Elisabeth of Austria, a beloved Austrian royal, was assassinated by a sharp file. On the way to Hallstatt, Olivia told us the tragic, but true, story of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen of Hungary ("Sisi"). Sisi is famously known for her renowned beauty and knee-length hair. She famously bathed herself in olive oil and washed her hair with eggs and cognac. In the 1880s, beauty-queen Sisi was obsessed with preserving her youthful skin and bright complexion. She was adored by the Austrians and Hungarians alike. However, to preserve her image, she would take on unhealthy habits like obsessively working out and not eating. Even after four pregnancies, Sisi kept her weight at roughly 110 pounds and maintained a 16-inch waist. Despite being born into royalty, Sisi was often miserable. She was unhappy in her marriage with Emperor Franz Joseph (who reportedly, loved her unconditionally). To make matters worse, her son was killed in a murder-suicide. Later, Sisi herself would be assassinated during a trip to Geneva in 1898. Luigi Lucheni, a poor man full of rage for the upper nobility, ran towards Sisi as she walked by on the promenade and stabbed her directly into her heart with a self-made small sharp file. But neither the empress nor her lady-in-waiting realized what happened. Thinking it was a robbery attempt, they went on to board the ship. A few minutes later, Sisi lost consciousness and died. Read more here.
6. In Hallstatt, you can buy original cans of Hallstatt Air for 10 Euros. That is right, fresh, alpine, Hallstatt air, for sale. It is a popular tourist item since so many people come to Hallstatt to breathe in the fresh alpine air. They are even sold on Amazon: https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Hallstatt-Air/dp/B08GPBKJ3Q
7. Hallstatt gets more than a million tourists a year. It is easy to see why. Hallstatt is a beautiful alpine village tucked away in the mountains and untouched by time. It has a certain charm that is rumored to be the inspiration for Arendelle, the fictional setting in Disney's "Frozen." I wish we spent a couple of days here getting lost in the cobbled streets and exploring more of the village. It felt like we stepped out of reality and into the pages of a fairytale.
8. Austria is very much a cash-based society. Austria’s preference for cash payments can be seen in the saying “Nur Bares ist Wahres” (only cash is true). This isn't to say that you can't pay by card in most places, but even so, cash is preferred. Admittedly, we had a couple of hiccups with cash-only places since we didn't realize the majority of establishments preferred cash.
9. You can become a sponsor of your favorite rose in Volksgarten Park. Volksgarten Park is famous for its lovely rose garden that stretches around the park. Opened in 1823, the Volksgarten owes its existence to Napoleon’s army who destroyed and blew up portions of the city on their way out. Vienna authorities didn't let the destruction deter them and turned one of the ruins into a beautiful park. I plan to sponsor a rose for my Mom. She had a fascination with roses and even grew her rose garden while we were growing up. She would have loved Volksgarten Park, and there will be a rose just for her there. Read more here.
10. You toast in Austria by saying "Prost" (Cheers!). Olivia explained that there are certain rules you must maintain when saying 'prost'. Clinking glasses and making eye contact is an absolute must. Some Austrians will tell you it is bad luck (or a sentence for "seven years of bad sex") not to look into the eyes of the person you are cheering with. Also, do not start drinking until everyone has clinked glasses and said 'prost'. Not waiting for the prost to finish before taking a swig of beer is akin to skipping the line and is considered very rude. Read more here.
I loved my time in Austria, and probably the most important thing I learned was to lean into adventure. Stand at the top of the mountain. Get lost in your favorite library. Eat your favorite foods. You are beautiful and worthy of great things, don't let cloudy skies or society's preconceptions stop you from dancing in the rain. Prost to new adventures!
Did you know any of these Austria facts? Do you have something more interesting to add? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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