Mountains, monasteries and castles is what Austria brings to mind. In the vicinity of Vienna, Wachau Valley seems raised from books of magic with its collection of ruined castles that once served as housing or even jails for European crowned heads, like it happened in Durnstein to Richard of Lionheart. And Melk Monastery whose library served as inspiration for Umberto Eco in crafting one of his famous novel spellbinds the visitor with its resplendent collection of gilded “putto” flying around the ceiling and its altars. The long history of these places makes for a pastiche of architectural styles, with gothic covered by renaissance and finally embellished by baroque that made this stretch of the Danube to be added to the UNESCO World heritage.

Towards the western part of the country the snow covered peaks invite for skiing hiking in areas where you don’t know if you are in Austria, Switzerland or Italy, all language spoken and all foods served in the chalets.

And finally Vienna with its Habsburg heavy architecture spread across its “ring”, large imposing buildings in stark contrast with the minimalism of today but preserving somehow its charm. It’s also Vienna of Modernism, of the Secessionists expressionist painters who explored the dissolution of the soul, a tabu subject in their days, and of sculptors and decorators who brought the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, or universal work of art brought to all areas of life, side by side with Vienna of music and psychoanalysis.