Add Austria And Germany To Your World Travel Plans

If you are considering traveling the world in the near future, you should add Austria and Germany to your world travel plans. There are many things to do in both countries that offer fun and entertainment for the whole family.

In Austria, you can experience the best music festivals in the world. The world's biggest and probably most famous music festival is the Salzburg Festival. There is also the Haydn Festival of Vienna and the International Chamber Music Festival. Tickets can be found from the Austrian National Tourist Office for these events, and you can almost assuredly find them cheaper in Austria than online or in your home country.

Austria offers the best horsemanship of any country in the world. In Hofburg, you can find the 400 year old Spanish Riding School, where the noble white stallions are trained. These stallions descend from the Spanish horses that were imported by the emperor Maximilian II in the 16th century. These amazing horses can dance to Viennese music and guided by expert riders. Performances are held each Sunday at 10:45 am and some Wednesday nights from March to June and September to December. Tickets are very hard to attain, and it is recommended to try to book your visit six months in advance if possible.

Austria is also home to one of the most romantic hotels. The Schloss Durnstein is located less than one hour from Vienna and presides over a wide curve in the Danube river. This magnificent castle is located deep in the wine district of Wachsu among vine covered hills and old world ruins. It is surrounded by picturesque villages filled with one-lane streets and is said to be the legendary reunion spot where King Richard the Lionhearted was reunited with his faithful minstrel after searching across Europe for his master.

In Germany, Heidelberg is likely the most romantic city around. It is the hub of German romance. Goethe fell in love here and Schumann began his career as a romantic composer here as well. Heidelberg is the oldest university town and has lots of places to sample German coffee and spend time at a quaint cafŽ. There is an area called Philosopher's Walk where Goethe and Hegel once meandered, and from there, you will have a wonderful view of the city and Heidelberg Castle.

The city of Worms likely has the strangest name and an equally strange history. It was named for the legendary giant worm that had fangs and webbed feet and lived in the Rhine River demanding human sacrifices. Worms was the capital of the legendary fifth century Nibelungs. The tribe left the area after the wicked Hagan slew their hero and threw their treasure into the river. There is now a huge statue of Hagan that commemorates the legend. The town was also destroyed in AD 436 by Atilla the Hun. In the center of the old section of town is the cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, built in the 11th and 12th centuries. There are also many other historical sights in Worms, which make it a popular place to visit.

Hitler's favorite hideout is now a restaurant where you can enjoy a dinner and wonderful view of the setting below. The Kehlsteinhouse sits on a rocky overlook above the town of Berchtesgaden. No wonder it was Hitler's favorite hideout, the view from the secret hiding place-turned restaurant is breathtaking. From this area, you can see peaks of the Alpines rising above the cloud levels and watch the sun glisten off of the snow-capped mountain peaks. Dining is available from mid May through Mid October.

The next time you are planning an overseas excursion, add Germany and Austria to your world travel plans.