Autumn in Austria
Charlotte Sector has an interesting article at ABC News about spending autumn in Austria
“I highly recommend touring the valley by bike (most inns and guesthouses rent them at the bargain price of $5 a day.) The well-maintained Donauradweg (that’s Donau = Danube + Rad = cycle + Weg = path) is clearly marked and follows the river banks, taking you from Krems, past Stein, to the breathtaking Durnstein, ending with Melk, a Benedictine abbey that inspired Umberto Eco’s novel “The Name of the Rose.” Definitely stop in Durnstein with its pastel stucco houses and Baroque church.
Restaurants, bars and guesthouses dot the villages, so you will never go thirsty or hungry. Along the winding roads you will see signs everywhere for “Gasthaus,” small, usually family-owned hotels. Not only does visiting Austria in the fall mean you can partake in the wine harvests, you also avoid the throngs of tourists. It’s best to reserve a room in advance if you visit the region during the busy summer season. My sister recounted a time when her then-boyfriend had once surprised her with an outing along the romantic river, hoping to stay the night, only to find themselves driving home because the guesthouses were all booked.
As for our final drink, my sister and I got to enjoy one of the region’s best, a dry white Gruner Veltliner. And yes, we kicked back a sturm too. After all, you can’t find the sweet elixir outside Austria so you might as well live up the glorious fall in local style.”
Photo by walk-austria.com
Filed under: Travel, Europe, Travel Guides