Austrian Lake District

This delightful lakeside town perches steeply by the shore of shimmering Lake Wolfgang. Backed by the deep green of the alpine forest, it is known for the impressive carved altar in its waterside church. St Wolfgang is also home to the Schafberg Mountain Railway, an unforgettable cog railway which makes a steep climb, affording stunning panoramic views of the lake.

The beautiful baroque city of Salzburg is endlessly charming throughout the seasons. Whether it’s basking in sunshine or sparkling in the snow, Salzburg’s turreted skyline rises prettily and is topped by the indomitable Hohensalzburg Fortress. Salzburg’s old town has a maze of medieval alleyways, was Mozart’s birthplace, and is home to the elegant Mirabell Gardens.

Gateway to the Salzkammergut region, the beautiful spa town of Bad Ischl is packed with charm – so much so, that this was where the emperors of the Austro-Hungarian Empire chose to spend their summers. Kaiservilla was the imperial summer residence of Franz Joseph I and hosted the cream of Europe’s aristocracy during his reign – and it’s also from here that he declared war with Serbia, thus providing the catalyst for World War I. Today, the tranquil, elegant villa evokes the grandeur of the 19^th century with its buttery-hued neoclassical facade.

Picture-postcard Hallstatt is dwarfed by the majestic Dachstein Mountains at its back. The tiny settlement is mirrored in the clear lakewaters of Hallstätter See, doubling the prettiness of this idyllic village nestled into the dramatic UNESCO-listed landscape. Known for its millennia of history as well as its beauty, this is a wonderful place to take to the water and absorb the incredible scenery.