Or one can take a cruise through the Wachau valley, an especially beautiful area along the Danube. The majestic Benedictine Abbey of Melk , towering above the river; the vintner's villages Spitz , Dürnstein and Weissenkirchen ; hills, on which exquisite wines are grown - all of this is part of the colorful kaleidoscope of profound impressions.

The southern part of the Vienna Woods can easily be visited in half a day: one should not miss Heiligenkreuz Abbey if one takes such a trip. Also, one should visit the seemingly modest hunting mansion of Mayerling , which gained some notoriety due to the mysterious death of Crown Prince Rudolf. The tranquil resort town of Baden (about 20 kilometers south of Vienna) with its sulfur springs, casino and racetrack is definitely worth a detour.

Lake Neusiedl , southeast of Vienna, can be reached by car in about one hour. This is the largest steppe lake in central Europe; it is located at the rim of the small Hungarian lowland plain, surrounded by a broad belt of reeds with a unique bird sanctuary. Some vintner's villages around the lake, such as Rust or Mörbisch are especially charming; the latter is ecially well known because of its lake festival during the summer.
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Burgenland : Sport and relaxation from Lake Neusiedl to the Thermal World.
Information: www.burgenland.info

Lower Austria : Wine and culture in a wide country.
Information:
niederoesterreich.info