Austria

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Austria has much to offer: high mountains and alpine pastures in the west, Mediterranean lakes in the south and scenic plains in the east. A land of majestic buildings and of the rural culture and history of past centuries. For more than 300 years Vienna was the residence of the emperor and the nobility had their fine palaces built in this city that was dominated by Baroque architecture. The Hofburg was the residence of the royal family and the legislative centre of the city, with 18 wings, 19 courtyards and more than 2,500. The mighty central cupola of the National Library spans thirty meters high above the most beautiful reading hall in the world and each day white Lipizzaner stallions are trained in the Spanish Riding School. The Wachau covers 36 kilometers of the Danube Delta with mediaeval old towns, castles and ruins, a Baroque monastery and an ancient vine growing culture. Linz is the capital of Upper Austria and is a dynamic industrial city with an old town that has a long history. It is the third largest city in Austria and is located on both banks of the Danube with several connecting bridges. Salzburg is a city of bishops and of music and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Austria as well as being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Grossglockner High Alps Road travels through one of the greatest natural landscapes in the world, the Hohe Tauern National Park, a remarkable mountain world in which nature is at its most glorious. Although this former powerful realm of the Habsburger is now a relatively small country, its history, traditions and the diversity of its remarkable landscapes have retained their irresistible allure. Austria will always be the majestic land in the very heart of Europe!

DVD. Naxos Scenic Musical Journeys. 60 Minutes. The Places Mozart's father Leopold settled in Salzburg in 1737 and in 1744 entered the service of the city's ruling Prince-Archbishop as a violinist. The city underwent various changes of regime in the first years of the nineteenth century, but in 1825 Schubert could express his wonder at the fine churches and palaces of the place. The Music The music includes movements directly connected with Salzburg, compositions for distinguisbed local families, members of the Mozarts' social circle, and works resulting from his visit in 1777-78 to Mannheim. Other compositions come from the remarkable final decade of Mozart's life, when he was living in Vienna, culminating in the Lacrimosa from the unfinished Requiem of 1791, a movement that he is said to have tried to sing, with his friends, on his death-bed.

DVD. The Greatest Journeys on Earth. 48 Minutes. Journeys Through the Springs and Salt Mines From the thirteenth century onward the name of the city of Salzburg is synonymous with wealth, opulence and magnificence. If at first prosperity is derived from mining salt and the turquoise water of its many lakes, it also comes from the romantic spirit floating in the air of Mozart's birth place. Austria also boasts it is the kingdom pastry and a gastronomy whose variety is equal only to its alpine views. The Greatest Journeys on Earth This collection of thirteen one-hour documentaries suggests unusual itineraries through some of the most beautiful places on earth. Each journey takes the viewer beyond the usual commonplace clichTs of travel destinations. Instead, through geography, history, architecture, culture, celebrations, leisure activities and gastronomy, viewers are able to appreciate the art of living in each destination. With interviews, visits, lavish meals and celebrations, viewers become aware of the richly-textured history of these great destinations. Each program investigates the history and progress of a skill, a means of expression, or a practical discovery that has become an integral part of economic life in a world-famous region. In this way, each story paints a historical portrait and reveals a way of life. The Greatest Journeys on Earth brings viewers into the network of inns and castles in each destination. Gastronomy, leisure, and reminders of celebrities who marked the history of these sites allow viewers to relive, in the present, the magnificent times of the past.

DVD. Naxos Scenic Musical Journeys. 60 Minutes. The Places In the peace treaty of 1919 the Tyrol was divided into three regions, Southern Tyrol being ceded to Italy. The Eastern Tyrol, Austrian territory, is bounded to the south by the Lienz Dolomites, with the town of Lienz the regional capital. The region is popular with summer visitors, its climate relatively mild, in spite of its height above sea level. There is also a glimpse of the Earth Pyramids at Ritten (Renon) in the Italian Southern Tyrol. The Music Music for the tour is by Franz Schubert, the son of a schoolmaster who had settled in Vienna. Although his life was chiefly spent in Vienna, he was, nevertheless, able to enjoy the Austrian countryside, during country holidays spent with friends. The beauty of the landscape is reflected in his music and, in particular, in his songs. The tour of the Lienz Dolomites is accompanied by music by Schubert for piano trio, written towards the end of his short life.

DVD. Naxos Scenic Musical Journeys. 60 Minutes. The Places This tour of Austria takes us from the historic towns of Stein-Krems and Salzburg to the former imperial country residence at Laxenburg, the Imperial Treasury in Vienna and the vivid contemporary architecture of Fritz Stowasser, better known as Hundertwasser. The Music The music for this tour of Austria is taken from two concertos by Mozart, his Clarinet Concerto, written in Vienna a month or so before his death in 1791, and his Oboe Concerto, K.314, written in Salzburg in 1777.

DVD. Naxos Scenic Musical Journeys. 60 Minutes. The Places The Places The journey starts in Switzerland, in the canton of Thurgau, leading from Steckborn and the Bodensee to the Rhine Falls. From Syria, in Austria, comes Hochosterwitz Castle and from Bavaria Weikersheim Castle, the latter intercut with wild life from the Austrian Assling Nature Park. The tour ends amid the strangely shaped mountains of the Dolomites in Southern Tyrol, a region divided between Austria and Italy. The Music The Music In a remarkable way Mahler, in his symphonies and songs, has seemed to reflect the twentieth century in all its bewildering variety and has now won an established place in concert repertoire. Distinguished as a conductor, his fame as a composer has grown over the years since his death. The music included here is Mahler’s Symphony No 1, nicknamed Titan, not for its massive power, but after the book by Jean Paul, a strong influence over earlier romantics and over Mahler at this stage in his career. The symphony breathes the spirit of the Austrian countryside, reflected in Mahler’s songs.

DVD. Naxos Scenic Musical Journeys. 60 Minutes. The Places The tour starts in Vienna at the Christkindl Market and other Christmas scenes include the grotesque Krampus masqueraders, with St Nicholas, in Steyr. In Switzerland we see the great monastery church at Einsiedeln and in Bavaria the Abbey Church at Ottobeuren. In Austria scenes of Salzburg and its Christmas market are followed by Christmas cribs at Steyr and in the great cathedral at Linz, ending gazing upwards at the great Christmas fresco that decorates the dome of the monastery church at Einsiedeln. The Music The music chosen for this tour is principally taken from the works of Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach, including excerpts from the former's Messiah and from two organ concertos, and from Bach's Christmas Oratorio, with the carol Silent Night heard in its original setting at the little church in Oberndorf, for which it was written.

DVD. Back Roads of Europe. 23 Minutes. This journey will take us through Alpine meadows and deep valleys, always within the setting of majestic mountains. It is one of the most beautiful areas in all of Europe.

DVD. Back Roads of Europe. 23 Minutes. The majestic Dachstein massif near Ramsau, with its perpetual snow, is the gatekeeper of Steirmark. High mountains, rich flora and a surprising variety of scenery are as spectacular as any in Europe can be found in this Austrian region.

DVD. Back Roads of Europe. 23 Minutes. With quiet lakes locked between high mountain peaks, this is a region where deep valleys lie embedded between vast mountain ranges. Tall cool forests reflect in the crystal water.

DVD. Cosmos Global Documentaries. 52 Minutes. Vienna was once Austria's seat of Empire, located in what is the very heart of Europe. The monumental Stefansdom is Vienna's most prominent landmark. The cathedral's three-sectioned hall with its late Romanesque western side was built at the beginning of the fourteenth century and its fa?ade was only widened later when its steep roof was also re-built. The Wiener Hofburg is a large complex of buildings that contain various architectural styles dating from between the thirteenth and nineteenth centuries and was the Viennese residence and legislative centre of the Habsburger Dynasty, the emperors of the `holy Roman empire' of the German nation. Amid the vast terraces of the Wachau vineyards is the village of Weissenkirchen in which several inns provide their customers with an ideal opportunity to sample the wines of this region. Wine growing has a long tradition in this section of the Danube, indeed, the area between Krems and Melk is one of the oldest cultivated landscapes in Austria. The Semmering Railway is a remarkable alpine railroad that has been operating for a hundred and fifty years. Te starting point of a fascinating journey is the town of Gloggnitz that has around seven thousand inhabitants. The railway line to the Semmering Pass contains sixteen viaducts, more than a hundred bridges and fifteen tunnels! Salzburg is rightfully proud of its most famous citizen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as both his birthplace and residence are situated in the middle of the old town. Mediaeval Salzburg became the `German Rome', an Early Baroque city whose architecture was influenced by Italian design: a city of art, faith and flamboyant culture. Due to the exquisite taste of the royal archbishops of that glorious time, today Salzburg is one of the most beautiful Baroque cities in what is one of the finest countries in Europe.

DVD. Join Rick as he finds a true understanding of treasured local customs in Munich and Bavaria; Berlin and Potsdam; Vienna and the Danube; Salzburg; Austrian Lakes District; Swiss Alps; Western Switzerland; Bern, Murten and Gruyere. Extra DVD features include: Munich's Oktoberfest; Austrian Christmas Festival; Switzerland's Fasnacht Festival; and Rick's Back Door Travel Tips. 3? hours.

7 Shows. DVD. Five Shows: 2? hours, closed captioned, NTSC format, all region compatible. Here's where we'll take you... Vienna -- In Europe's classiest capital we'll tiptoe through the palace of Maria Theresa and be dazzled by the Hapsburg crown jewels. Then we'll picnic on the Danube, nibble strudel in an old world cafe, blush at slinky Art Nouveau, and waltz to the three-four beat of Johann Strauss. Salzburg and Surroundings -- The birthplace of Mozart -- and everyone's Sound of Music fantasies -- Salzburg is a baroque jewel of a town. It's also the springboard for lots of alpine fun -- from thrilling summer bobsledding, to idyllic boat rides in the Salzkammergut lake district, to exploring the delightful romantic town of Hallstatt. Alps of Austria and Italy -- From high on the Zugspitze at the Germany and Austria border, Rick makes his way down to popular Innsbruck, the historic provincial capitol of the Hapsburgs. We explore a medieval museum, get a resident's tips on cuisine -- especially dumplings -- and slap dance the night away in a nearby Tyrolean village. By way of historic Brenner Pass, we turn to feudal Italy at Reifenstein Castle. Then we're out-of-doors, as we zoom up rock cliffs in a cable car and hike through Alpine meadows in the Italian Dolomites. Alps of Austria and Switzerland -- Rick makes a home base out of Chamonix, the original French Alpine resort, ever popular with international skiing and party crowds. Who says there's no easy way to conquer Mount Blanc? Just hop a gondola and you'll soar past the great peak, over glaciers and into Italy. We train over to Appenzell, Switzerland on the Glacier Express Railway and find Swiss traditions thriving in yodel-happy, cowbell country. The Best of the Alps: Switzerland's Jungfrau Region -- If Heidi is alive, she's in this sky-high corner of the Swiss Alps, with cowbells ringing on breathtaking ridges. After settling into a traditional village where locals scythe hay by hand, we hike and bike. We blast an alphorn, get sprayed by waterfalls raging deep inside a mountain, and munch muesli for breakfast at 10,000 feet. For a finale, we ride Europe's highest lift up the mighty Jungfrau for hot cocoa and oh-wow views.

DVD. 2 Hours & 31 Minutes. From his base at Berlin's luxurious and historic Hotel Adlon, Rudy offers a new take on the Old World with unforgettable visits to this dynamic city's world-class cultural sites. In Munich and Bavaria, Rudy is your guide to the lively Marienplatz with its outdoor cafes, shops, and street musicians, as well as magnificent palaces and spectacular vistas. In musical Salzburg, Rudy visits the house where Mozart was born. In Austria's "Sound of Music" land, visit magical ice caves and stroll picturesque spa towns once frequented by European royalty. Extra Features: Scenic Tours: The Egyptian Museum, Sommer Rollerbladen, Tegelberg, Hellbrunn Palace Water Garden, Nasch Market. Maps: Berlin, Munich and Bavaria, Salzburg, Vienna. Rudy's Travel Tips: E-mailing in Europe, getting around, medical insurance. Bonus Program: Medieval Europe. Rudy Maxa is public radio's original Savvy Traveler, a contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler magazine, and host of the American Public Television series--Smart Travels. In Europe to the Max, Rudy captures the vitality and character of Europe's magnificent cities. Lushly filmed in high-definition, each program goes beyond the guidebooks to discover hidden treasures and off-the-beaten-path surprises. Rudy's authoritative tips enhance the travel experience for beginning and seasoned travelers alike.

DVD. 7 Days. 52 Minutes. Carinthia is Austria's southernmost region and borders both Italy and Slovenia. It's located in the sunny heart of Europe with more than a thousand lakes, plus spectacular alpine regions and numerous Celtic Roman excavation sites, mediaeval castles, monasteries and cathedrals. In the eastern part of Carinthia and more than a thousand meters above sea level is one of the region's oldest historical villages, the mountain village of Diex. In the fifteenth century the Turks invaded the area with great savagery thus, as protection, local farmers built castellated churches in which they sought sanctuary. Friesach, Carinthia's oldest city, has retained what must be the true ambience of the Middle Ages, with a fortified princely estate and churches and monasteries that are surrounded by sturdy walls and a moat. The Maria Saal Open Air Museum is situated in the heart of Carinthia. In this richly cultural and historic area various traditional farm buildings from all over Carinthia have been reconstructed. Klagenfurt is the administrative centre of Carinthia: a middle class garden city that does not contain the fine buildings of the aristocracy but has a good helping of southern flair and, due to the nearby W?rthersee, is a marvelous summer resort. The Maria W?rth Church is situated on a rock and is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations in Austria. From the small cemetery that surrounds the church there's a romantic view across the lake and nearby peninsula. Carinthia is a paradise of sun and ice, of nature, history and culture.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Carinthia is Austria's southernmost region and borders both Italy and Slovenia. It is located in the sunny heart of Europe with more than a thousand lakes plus spectacular alpine regions and numerous Celtic Roman excavation sites, medieval castles, monasteries and cathedrals. In the eastern part of Carinthia and more than a thousand metres above sea level is one of the region's oldest historical villages, the mountain village of Diex. In the fifteenth century the Turks invaded the area with great savagery thus, as protection, local farmers built castellated churches in which they sought sanctuary. Friesach, Carinthia's oldest city, has retained what must be the true ambience of the Middle Ages, with a fortified princely estate and churches and monasteries that are surrounded by sturdy walls and a moat. The Maria Saal Open Air Museum is situated in the heart of Carinthia. In this richly cultural and historic area various traditional farm buildings from all over Carinthia have been reconstructed. Klagenfurt is the administrative centre of Carinthia: a middle class garden city that does not contain the fine buildings of the aristocracy but has a good helping of southern flair and, due to the nearby W?rthersee, is a marvellous summer resort. The Grossglockner High Alps road travels through one of the greatest natural landscapes in the world, the Hohe Tauern National Park, a remarkable mountain world in which nature is at its most glorious.

DVD. The Seasoned Traveler. 30 Minutes. Every year, as Advent arrives and people's thoughts turn to the joy of Christmas, Europe repeats a tradition that is more than 500 years old. In countries from Sweden to Spain and in cities from Paris to Prague, Christmas markets are set up in town squares. The markets have become a commingling of commerce and community, selling holiday ornaments and gifts, as well as food and the omnipresent gluhwein, a hot, spiced red wine that cheers shoppers on a cold night. George Bauer takes viewers to several Christmas markets, beginning in Vienna and Salzburg in Austria, then going on to towns including Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg. George Bauer, the Traveler, is a radio and television journalist with 30 years of experience. He's been a reporter and anchor on local stations and national networks in the United States and Great Britain. Now he has decided to change course and give in to a nagging desire--to travel and tell others about exciting places across the globe. The Seasoned Traveler is a unique series created especially for today's over-50 explorer. Award-winning broadcast journalist and travel aficionado George Bauer presents destinations and useful travel tips in a style that is informative, fast-paced and fun. The series caters to both the active explorer and the traveler who prefers a more relaxed pace.

DVD. On Tour. 26 Minutes. Wachau is a World Heritage Site, a combination of cultivated landscape and the blue and mighty Danube. A boat journey on the famous river is the ideal way of observing the captivating villages and splendid wine growing terraces along its banks. The old town of Stein extends along a narrow section of the river with attractive buildings set amid atmospheric lanes in which beautifully restored facades shine out in the bright sunlight. Krems was first mentioned in 995 A.D and its main square contains several impressive houses that once belonged to the city's middle class inhabitants. The facades of the 16th and 18th century buildings are historic treasures, one of which was the birthplace of the mother of Franz Liszt. In Weissenkirchen where the Granite Gneiss Plateau, its rock formations and Bohemian forests reach down to the river, are fertile terraces on which grow Austria's most famous wine. The wine is beautifully balanced and its appealing lightness and gentle acidity are what make it so popular. In spite of devastating fires in 1793, Weissenkirchen is now one of the most picturesque villages of the Wachau. The village of Spitz lies in the heart of the Wachau and is closely associated with steam navigation that was first used on the Danube in 1829. The Danube Valley enjoys a temperate climate and strong vines flourish on the slopes of Tausendeimer Mountain. The Danube Valley of the Wachau is a romantic gem set amid a glorious landscape.

DVD. Vista Point. 26 Minutes. Graz is the capital of Austria's federal state of Styria and in 2003 was designated as Europe's Capital City Of Culture. Indeed, due to its geographical location, for many centuries Graz has been a melting pot of culture. The Schlossberg Mountain towers above the city and in 1894 a rack railway was introduced in order to overcome the severity of its 60 per cent gradient. The Romans and Celts once used the mountain as a place of ritual ceremony and today small pathways and pavilions make the mountain more accessible. In the 12th century a medieval castle was built on the plateau and in 1531 it was transformed into a mighty fortress that served as a defense against the Turks. With nearly 32,000 exhibits that date from the 15th to the 19th centuries the Zeughaus contains the largest collection of historic weaponry in the world. The often-extended Grazer Burg was once the residence of the Hapsburgs. One of its towers contains a unique double spiral Gothic staircase constructed of sandstone that shines out magnificently in a wonderful array of colour. The entire complex, along with each of its numerous building styles and adjoining park, is now the seat of Styria's provincial government. Located on a hill to the north east there is another fine example of Baroque architecture, the Maria Trost Basilica. In the 17th century those who sought help and consolation climbed two hundred and fifteen steps to a Gothic Madonna who was thought to possess miraculous powers. Within the interior of the church and its colourful wall and ceiling mounted frescos, there are also various scenes of battle. Graz is a city in which the artistic and architectural styles of the German-speaking nations, the Balkans and the Mediterranean are united. It is a remarkable city of age old traditions, mediaeval flair and contemporary life.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Graz is located in the centre of Styria and is the second largest city in Austria, a town that fascinates with its southern flair, magnificent historical buildings and beautiful panoramic views. The city's main landmark is its twenty-eight metre high clock tower that was built in 1561 and is one of the few remains of an old fortress. In order to facilitate a clearer view of the time from the historic part of the town below, the minute hand of the clock was exchanged with that of the hour hand. The first recorded history of Graz dates back to 1128 but earlier archaeological records indicate that it was originally a settlement in 2,000 B.C. But the main architectural focal point in Graz is the Landhaus. Domenico Ell'allio transformed the old meeting hall of Styria's country estates into a typical Renaissance building. Many cultural and historic works of art combine in perfect harmony and thus make Graz a particularly unique and attractive town.