A scenic drive along the Danube River is the final leg of a travel loop that takes the vacationer through Austria's remarkable cities, villages, mountains and lakes.
The full travel loop begins in Munich, Germany, and continues on to Austria's Salzburg, Hallstatt, and Vienna, followed by this picturesque view of Durnstein and Melk on the banks of the Danube River. This riverside portion of the journey contains three and a half hours of pure driving, not including time spent exploring the villages. This final travel leg begins upon departure from Vienna and culminates in Munich, the city easiest to fly in and out of in order to tour Austria.
Durnstein
- Durnstein is a charming town on the bank of the Danube, as you drive from Vienna. The blue baroque tower of the Stiftskirche, known as the Blue Church, protrudes from the edge of the cliff town and welcomes visitors. Durnstein lies in the heart of the Wachau district, famed for its vineyards and Riesling wine. In addition to grapes, apricots flourish here and Durnstein shop owners often offer free samples of their apricot Schnapps.
- It was in Durnstein that Richard the Lionhearted was held captive from 1192 to1193. Legend has it that the king’s crime was insulting Austria’s Duke Leopold. The king tried to evade capture disguised as a peasant, but was recognized and imprisoned. His faithful and persistent minstrel Blondel sought and found him. King Richard the Lionhearted’s freedom was secured through a ransom that supposedly cost England 23,000 kilos of silver. Ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where he was imprisoned, still stand atop the small mountain, and a forty-five minute hike up the approachable mountainside allows adventurous sightseers to get a better view.
Melk
- The enormous yellow and white Melk Abbey towers over and dominates the quaint, sleepy village beneath it. The site dates back to 976 when it was Leopold I’s castle. His successor gave it to Benedictine monks in 1089, and the castle became an abbey. The abbey is still active, run by monks, and contains a church, school, museum, library, courtyard and restaurant. A parking lot allows tourists to arrive by car, and a walking path allows visitors to stroll up the hill to the abbey from the village. Melk Abbey is open to the public mid-March until the beginning of November, and is open for guided tours only the remainder of the year.
Munich
- Munich is all about food and drink. Snack on wienerschnitzel (breaded, fried veal), a warm salted pretzel and a liter of beer, while swaying to the music of a traditional German band at the Hofbrauhaus, one of the city’s oldest beer halls, where it is Oktoberfest all year long. Savor schwein haxen (crispy, roasted pig knuckles) with kartoffelsalat (vinegary potato salad) at the Hax’nbaur restaurant around the corner from the Hofbrauhaus. The restaurant is recognized by the rotating spits of roasting pig knuckles in the front window. Stroll through the open air market called the Viktualienmarkt, located just off the famous square named Marienplatz, and taste the weisswurst (white sausage) with mustard and sauerkraut.
- Marienplatz is a must see in Munich. This lively square is home to the Glockenspiel, a gigantic clock atop the town hall. When the bells chime and the life-size figurines dance in circles, acting out a royal wedding and a battle, people walking through the square stop and stare. This melodious show can be seen and heard at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. year-round.
Munich is a foodie’s perfect final course to a vacation filled with Austrian history, majestic beauty, and hearty German fare.
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