Austria

About the destination: Munich, situated on the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is renowned for its world-class museums, stunning parks, the annual Oktoberfest beer festival and architecture. The gorgeous public buildings and monuments are a testament to the imperial ambitions of the Wittelsbach family, who ruled Bavaria from the 12th to the 20th century. Despite being heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city centre looks mostly as it did in the late 1800s, including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). A peculiar blend of proud traditionalism and cutting-edge culture will keep you engaged and active, and the town does stay awake until the wee hours, with its many students and down-to-earth Bavarian zest for life.

About the destination: Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, is located on the border of Austria and Germany. The Salzach River divides Salzburg's old and new towns. The old town is impressive and compact, centred around the expansive Residenzplatz and is largely a pedestrian zone. The relatively new town is centred around Mirabellplatz and Markartplatz. Salzburg's striking hills rise directly from the old town. The most noticeable hilltop fortification is the Hohensalzburg, built over centuries on an ancient Celtic and Roman site, and is now the largest fully preserved medieval castle in Europe. For a different kind of splendour, visit the Schloss Mirabell and its Gardens, located right next to the Salzach River and the Mozarteum University of Music and Arts. The castle was built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. You can wander around extravagant rose and flower gardens and marvel at the stone dwarves in the Zwerglgarten. To learn about Mozart and his life, visit his Geburtshaus, Mozart's birth house. The street itself is worth a look, the guild signs and painted wall decorations are much as they were at the time of Mozart’s birth. The house exhibits pictures, letters, and stage sets for the various operas Mozart wrote. Protected by forested mountains, Salzburg is a city of enchantment whose voice is expressed in some of the world’s most sublime music, composed by favourite son, Mozart. The era that produced the unrivalled musical genius of Mozart also built the beautiful castles and churches of Salzburg, and fostered a love of music that lives on today in Salzburg’s countless concert series and annual summer festival.

About the destination: Zell am See is the administrative capital of the Zell am See District in the Austrian state of Salzburg. Whenever you come to Zell am See it is always a special holiday experience, no matter if it is summer or winter. A place to enjoy the lakes, mountains and everlasting ice at the Kitzsteinhorn glacier. The vast Zell am See-Kaprun skiing area is perfectly suited for professional skiers / snowboarders and beginners alike. The skiing season in Zell am See-Kaprun starts early autumn and extends into early summer. The well-developed cycling paths in the Salzburg holiday region are highly suitable for families and cyclists that enjoy travelling at a comfortable pace. You will find numerous inns and cafes on the wayside to cover your refreshment needs. One of the best places for a relaxing spa day in Zell am See-Kaprun is the modern “Taunern Spa“ located close to mount Kitzsteinhorn or one of many Wellnes & SPA hotels where you can choose from a wide range of beauty and wellness treatments. In Zell am See you can also practice others activities, like hiking, play golf, aviation or shopping. (Note: The text is already in English. Irish English does not differ significantly from other forms of English in terms of vocabulary or grammar. There may be some differences in pronunciation and colloquial language, but these would not be reflected in a written translation.)

About the destination: Innsbruck, provincial capital of Tyrol and fifth largest city in Austria, is the country’s centre of winter activities and occasionally of the world’s alpine interest, having hosted the Winter Olympic Games twice. The Nordkette cable car and an extensive network of mountain paths radiate from Innsbruck, making the stunning surrounding Alps equally accessible for winter skiers and summer hikers. The Altstad is the centre of Innsbruck, and the Goldenes Dachl, Golden Roof, is both the centre of the Altstad and the city’s emblem. The building from the 15th century, is a mixture of Gothic and Baroque, and of course has a golden roof. The frescoes in the interior show scenes from the aristocrat's life of that time. All of the decorations on the current structure are carefully executed replicas. The original reliefs are on permanent display in the Tyrolean State Museum, also known as the Tiroler Landesmuseum. Housed in the building is the Golden Roof Museum which has an exhibition about Emperor Maximilian I and his times, as well as the history of Innsbruck's emblem. Lovers of the Gothic art shouldn’t miss the Tiroler Landesmuseum, its collection includes beautifully coloured, delicately etched stained glass windows, a few altars and paintings and an array of modern works. Maria-Theresien Strasse is Innsbruck's main street and a wonderful place to stroll around or sit at one of the side cafes and watch people go by. At one end there is the Triumphal arch which leads to the old town. Maria-Theresien Strasse is a lovely pedestrian area, with pavement cafés, Baroque architecture, restaurants, and views of the stunning mountains. Innsbruck offers a fairly unique winter holiday proposition, mixing gorgeous mountain scenery with architectural grandeur, and big city buzz with hundreds of shops, restaurants and funky bars.

About the destination: Munich, situated on the river Isar in the south of Bavaria, is renowned for its world-class museums, stunning parks, the annual Oktoberfest beer festival and architecture. The gorgeous public buildings and monuments are a testament to the imperial ambitions of the Wittelsbach family, who ruled Bavaria from the 12th to the 20th century. Despite being heavily damaged by allied bombing during World War II, many of its historic buildings have been rebuilt and the city centre looks mostly as it did in the late 1800s, including its largest church, the Frauenkirche, and the famous city hall (Neues Rathaus). A peculiar blend of proud traditionalism and cutting-edge culture will keep you engaged and active, and the town does stay awake until the wee hours, with its many students and down-to-earth Bavarian zest for life.