cruise
From Beethoven to Brahms , and of course Johann Strauss , composer of The Blue Danube , Vienna has a rich musical heritage historic and modern architecture .
It ’ s a 15-minute walk , much of it through green parkland , to Hauptplatz , which is one of Austria ’ s largest city squares . The centerpiece is a 65-foot white marble column built in 1723 , in gratitude for the city having survived disasters , and as a protection against fire , war and plague . From here it ’ s an easy to stroll to the Old Town with its colorful mix of medieval and renaissance buildings . Stop and admire the white facade of Mozarthaus , where Mozart wrote his Linz Symphony in 1783 . For a different perspective of the city , take a 20-minute scenic ride on the Pöstlingberg mountain tram from Hauptplatz .
Linz is also a jumping-off point for day tours to Salzburg , a must-do experience for fans of the classic movie The Sound of Music . A highlight is Mirabell Gardens with the instantly recognizable steps where Maria and the von Trapp children sang Do-Re-Mi . Afterward you can follow in their footsteps and skip around the fountain that is also featured in the same scene .
YBBS-DÜRNSTEIN
Ybbs is an interesting and lesser-known port of call . Here is the first hydro-electric power plant on the Danube , and on the waterfront you can take photos next to one of the original turbine propellers installed in 1959 . Be sure to visit Melk Abbey — widely regarded as Europe ’ s most spectacular baroque monastery . It ’ s perched on a promontory 140 feet above the river , while inside there ’ s a corridor lined with portraits of Austrian rulers , and a huge library with 90,000 volumes beneath beautiful ceiling paintings . spring 2024 • 59