Lower Austria - Niederoesterreich

Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine provinces and the capital is Sankt Pölten since 1986. Earlier it was Vienna although it is not officially part of Lower Austria, it is just surrounded by it. With 7,408 square and 1.612  million people it is not just the largest state it also has the most population after the capital and ferderal state of Vienna.

historical city of St. Pölten

In geographical and historical terms, Niederösterreich can be divided into four districts:

The Waldviertel (forest district) in the north-west

The name Waldviertel deriving from the extensive forest cover of this region in the north-west of Niederösterreich, paints a realistic picture of this rough, yet totally idyllic landscape. The Waldviertel is not just rich in castles and monasteries, it also boasts a host of mystical places which form the basis for a wealth of sagas and fairytales.

Waldviertel

The Weinviertel (wine district) in the north-east
 The Weinviertel borders the Waldviertel to the east and as its name indicates it, the area is dominated by agriculture, in particular wine growing. This part of Niederösterreich which is actually the largest wine growing area in the entire country is a worthwhile destination for culinary discoveries and offers visitors some charming sceneries.

Weinviertel

The Mostviertel (cider district) in the south-west

Mostviertel is the term used to describe the area in the south west of Niederösterreich. The name comes from 'Most', the German expression for the fermented juice of pressed pears and apples (cider). The fruits that form the basis for this fruit wine come from the countless pear and apple trees which grow along many of the roads in this area. Mighty square farmhouses are evidence of the former importance and the wealth of the region's farmers.

Mostviertel

The Industrieviertel (industry district) in the south-east

The Industrieviertel in the South of Vienna is, as the name suggests, the economic heart of Niederösterreich. Its proximity to Vienna and the adjoining states of the former Eastern Block coupled with the well-developed infrastructure have enabled one of the most dynamic economic regions in Austria to emerge. However, the region is also known for its picturesque towns along the 'Thermenlinie', a geological fault line whose hot thermal springs have given rise to a spa culture.

Industrieviertel

Christkindlmarkt - Christmas markets

Christmas markets are a pretty big thing all over Austria and nearly every bigger city has their own. Bigger cities like Vienna have even a couple troughout the city.

But what is a Christkindlmarkt? Basicly there are a lot of small houses, decorated in christmas decoration and lights, which eiter sell food and drinks, christmas treats, homemade christmas presents or decoration.

Christkindlmarkt Klagenfurt

Normally they have a big christmas tree decorated and especially in the evenings its a really unique flair with christmas music and everyone is in christmas mood.

The most famous drink is probably the "Glühwein" which is red wine heated (not cooked) with spices like cinnamon sticks and cloves and oranges.
An alternative are hot apple cider in german "Glühmost" or a couple of different punches either with or without alcohol. Those could be like orange, berries or from region to region different ones.

Glühwein

Food depends also most time on the area where you are going to but pretty much everywhere you can get roasted chestnuts and treats.

Maroni (chestnuts)

Treats and Gingerbreadhearts

It is a really unique expierience which I don't want to miss at any of my christmases and you shouldn't either!

 Christkindlmarkt Linz

Christkindlmarkt Wien - Vienna

Christkindlmarkt Salzburg

Christkindlmarkt Graz

Christkindlmarkt Innsbruck

Upper Austria - Oberösterreich

Upper Austria or "Oberösterreich" is the fourth largest Austrian State by land area (4,626.25 sq mi) and the third largest by population (1.412 million inhabitants). It's capital is Linz, the third largest city in Austria with app. 271,000 citizens. 

Linz Hauptplatz

Wels 
Wels is the second largest city in Upper Austria located up north near the Traun River. It has about 60,000 inhabitants.

Wels Main Place

Steyr
Steyr is the third largest city in Upper Austria with about 38,300 citizens. Its located in the West to the boarder of Lower Austria. 

Steyr

Mauthausen
For those who are interested in history, especially the Second World War should not miss this place. It's a pretty sad place but it shows you pretty good what happend in those days. It is located about 12 miles east of Linz and in 1940 it became one of the largest German concentration camp back in the days. The exact number of people who dies is not known but the guesses are between 122,766 and 320,000.

Mauthausen

Austrian Food - Selfmade

Wiener Schnitzel 
Total Time: 20 minutes

Wiener Schnitzel

Ingredients:

• 4 veal cutlets (traditional) pounded to 1/4 inch thickness (about 5 oz. each) (you may use chicken or pork, as well)
• 1/4 c. flour (all purpose or brown rice)
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. bread crumbs
• 2 eggs
• Oil or lard for frying (lard is traditional)

Preparation:

• To pound meat thin you may want to place the cutlet between sheets of plastic wrap for easier washing up. Use a heavy, flat-surface pan to pound if you don’t have a meat mallet.
  
• Pound the meat evenly to 1/4 inch thickness for best results.
  
• Do not press the bread crumbs into the meat. The crust should not adhere completely, but form a loose shell around the schnitzel.
  
• Make sure the breaded meat “swims” in fat. Contrary to instinct, the breading will take on less oil than if the meat is sticking to the pan. Also, the breadcrumb topping has a chance to puff up a little, and your clean up is easier!

Set up 3 shallow dishes. Place the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in one and breadcrumbs in another. Beat eggs well and place in the third dish.
Heat at least 1/4 inch of oil in the pan to 350°F.
Working one at a time, dredge cutlets first in flour until the surface is completely dry. Dip in egg to coat, allow the excess to drip off for a few seconds and then roll quickly in the breadcrumbs until coated. Do not press breadcrumbs into the meat. Place meat immediately in the pan with the hot oil. Do not crowd the pan. Cook the schnitzel in batches, if necessary.
Fry the schnitzel for 3-4 minutes on one side. You may want to swish them around a little with your fork to make sure they are not sticking to the pan. Turn them over once and fry until both sides are golden brown. Remove from pan, allow the oil to drain off, place on a plate with lemon slices and potato salad or green salad and serve.

Kaiserschmarrn 

Kaiserschmarrn

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup rum
• 1 cup whole milk
• 5 eggs
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• salt
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
• plum preserves for serving

Preperation:

1. In a small bowl, combine raisins with rum and let soak 30 minutes then drain.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the milk, eggs, white sugar, vanilla, and salt. Gradually whisk in the flour to make a smooth batter. Stir in the drained raisins.
3. In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Pour the batter into the skillet and cook 5 to 6 minutes, or until the pancake has set and the bottom is golden brown. Turn over the pancake and cook 3 minutes, or until this side is also golden brown. Using a spatula or two forks, tear the pancake into bite-size pieces. Drizzle in the melted butter and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Turn up the heat to medium high and use a spatula to gently toss the pieces for 5 minutes, or until the sugar has caramelized. Sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar and serve with plum preserves.

 Enjoy cooking :)

Burgenland

The most unfamous province is Burgenland. It boarders to Hungary and is about 1,529 square miles big and has 284,900 citizens. The capital is Eisenstadt. It is also the place of the "Schloss Esterházy" from the 13th century.

view over Eisenstadt

Schloss Esterhazy  

One of the most famous aspects about the Burgenland is probably the wine industry. At the area around the Neusiedlersee you can find especially the nobl red attacks grape is growing. It is mainly red wine which is coming from this region. At the hills at the Neusiedlersee the most famous is the "Ruster Ausbruch dessert wine" from the western shore of the lake. The South is famous for their "Blaufränkisch" kind of wine.



Burgenland wine hills

 

Lake "Neusiedl" or "Neusiedlersee" is located in Burgenland. It is the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe. It is located at the Hungarian Boarder but is a little bit more than 2/3 in Austria and a little bit less than 1/3 in Hungary. It is at no place deeper than 1.8 meter. Podersdorf lighthouse at the Neusiedlersee
Neusiedlersee

 Since 55 years every year at the Neusiedlersee at a small town called Mörbisch there is a Opera in an open air arena. This years opera is "Der Bettelstudent" written by Carl Millöcker.
Get your tickets today!
http://www.seefestspiele-moerbisch.at/

Mörbisch Opera Stage at the Neusiedlersee

Every year Burgenland is the location for a lot of different music festivals at the location called "Wiesn". Those are all about different music genres and most of them bring international artists to Austria. 
The most famous ones are the "Nova Rock" and the "Two days a Week" festival. Therefor artists like "Metallica", "Linkin Park", "The Offspring", "Limp Bizkit", "Nightwish" or "Blink182" visited Austria.  
Get your Tickets today!
http://www.wiesen-festivals.at/

last year's trailer for the "Nova Rock Festival"

 
  

Vorarlberg

Vorarlberg is the smallest of the nine provinces in Austria. It is only 1,004.30 square miles big and has about 371,000 citizens. The dialect of the citizens there are quite similar to the Switzerland German and probably pretty hard to understand when you are studying German. Not just the language, also the culture is closer to Switzerland or South Germany than Central Austria. 

The capital of Vorarlberg is Bregenz. It is located at the Bodensee, the third-largest freshwater lake in Central Europe.

Bregenz

Me in Bregenz at the Bodensee

Every year there is a big Festival "Bregenzer Festspiele" where they have incredible stages located at the Bodensee and play different operas every year like "Aida" or this year "The Magic Flute" of Mozart. 

Stage Design Festspiele

Another stage design

The stage of "Tosca"even was place for shooting the James Bond Movie "Quantum of Solace".

Doesn't matter if summer or winter, Vorarlberg is located in the alps so it is amazing to go either hiking or skiing over there!

 

Summertime in the Mountains

Wintertime in Vorarlberg 

It might just look like a small province but it is definatly worth ur visit!

Basic German Phrases for your holidays!

A lot of Austrians are speaking and understand English not too bad. But it is always very appreciated if you know some words. 

Here are some basic sentences and phrases which could be useful:

Hello	Hallo
Goodbye	Auf Wiedersehen/ Tschüss (informal)
Please	Bitte
Thank you	Danke
Yes	Ja
No	Nein
Excuse me/sorry	Entschuldigung
My name is...	Ich heisse..
What is your name?	Wie heissen Sie?
Nice to meet you	Schön Sie kennenzulernen
Where do you come from?	Woher kommen Sie?
I come from America	Ich komme aus Amerika
How are you?	Wie geht es Ihnen?
Where is...?	Wo ist…?
I would like (2 bottles of water)	Ich möchte (zwei Flaschen Wasser)
How much is that?	Wieviel kostet das?
How do I get to...?	Wie komme ich zum (m/n)/zur(f)…?
I don’t understand	Ich vestehe nicht
I’m sorry, I don’t speak German	Es tut mir leid, ich spreche kein Deutsch
Do you speak English?	Sprechen Sie Englisch?

Of course it is not that easy to pronounce it, so I looked up some videos which shows you a few basic words and their proper pronounciation. 

 

So let's get it started and learn some German today :)