Austria

The birthplace of illustrious composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert, the painter Gustav Klimt and the writers Stefan Zweig and Thomas Bernhard, Austria is the perfect combination of high culture and the marvels of nature. Right in the heart of Europe and the Alps, it manages to bring together delightful traditions and a resolutely forward-thinking approach; its prestigious past mingles perfectly with a captivating modernity.

The capital of Tyrol, nestled in the valleys and the mountains that mark its landscape, Innsbruck has been moulded by its imperial history, and now has a picture-postcard image of somewhere charming to celebrate Christmas and ski to your heart’s content. Further west, Salzburg buzzes to the captivating notes of the genius of Mozart, the son of this land who is celebrated throughout the year with unforgettable concerts and festivals. History continues to leave its mark in Upper Austria, in the charming village of Wels, which is packed with stunning historic monuments and criss-crossed by a labyrinth of romantic streets. Last but by no means least, the country’s capital, Vienna, unfurls on the banks of the River Danube, which carries on along its way between gorgeous hills for more than 350 kilometres. Surrounded by hills that mark its natural defences, Vienna is the real beating heart of the country, with a long history and a vibrant present. At the crossroads of Europe, it has had a thriving cultural life for centuries, with a reputation based on art and music, brilliant composers and extraordinary waltzes.