The Jungfraujoch Railway

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Interlaken, which is situated on the Aare river between the beautiful turquoise lakes of Brienz and Thun, is the gateway to the Jungfrau region in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. Cog railways run from the station at Interlaken Ost to the pretty alpine villages of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and Wengen.

From Grindelwald and Wengen the cog railways continue, to converge on Kleine Scheidegg which consists of a station and a few buildings spectacularly situated on the watershed between the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys. Above Kleine Scheidegg tower the three peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.

The most spectacular train journey in the region (as well as the most expensive) is from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch which is situated on the col between the Mönch and the Jungfrau. The train leaves Kleine Scheidegg (2061 m) and climbs sharply to Eigergletscher Station (2320 m). It then enters a tunnel bored through the Eiger and Mönch to arrive an hour later at Jungfraujoch Station (3454 m) which claims to be the highest railway station in Europe.


The train stops twice in the tunnel to allow trains coming in the opposite direction to pass. At the lower stop, Eigerwand, passengers can alight from the train and look out from windows set in the Eiger North Face. At the upper stop, Eismeer, the view is across the Fiescher Glacier which flows towards Grindelwald.

The Jungfraujoch station is underground, but there are tunnels leading outside and a fast elevator to the “Sphinx” observatory and scientific laboratories (3571 m). A path across the permanent snowfields below the Mönch, with superb views towards the Aletsch glacier and back to the Jungfrau, leads to the Mönchsjochhütte (3650 m).

To get the most out of a trip to Jungfraujoch it is necessary to set out early. Good weather is essential, and if the Jungfrau is in cloud it is probably better to postpone the trip. A drop in temperature of 30 C is likely between Interlaken and Jungfraujoch so that warm clothing is required, as well as sunglasses and boots for walking on the snowfields. Although 3500 m is not particularly high, the effect of altitude is quite noticeable on the up-hill sections of the Mönchsjochhütte path.

There is a Web Cam at Jungfraujoch showing changing panoramic views of the Sphinx, the Aletsch Glacier, the snowfields and the Jungfrau.The railway company that runs the Jungfraujoch Railway also operates the Gornergrat Railway in Switzerland's Upper Valais region. This runs from Zermatt (1620 m) to Gornergrat (3130 m) and the journey is notable for its spectacular views of the Matterhorn.A range of 4000 m peaks from Monte Rosa, through Liskamm, Breithorn, Matterhorn to Dent d'Hérens is visible from Gornergrat Station.

There are several stations between Zermatt and Gornergrat and these are linked by paths as well as by the railway, so that it is possible to walk up to Gornergrat from Zermatt and take the train back or vice versa. It is also possible to walk selected sections; the walk from Riffelberg to Gornergrat is particularly spectacular.The pictures shown on this page were scanned from transparencies (Kodachrome 64 or Provia 100) at a resolution 1600×1072 pixel using a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual film scanner. The resolution was then reduced to 800×536 pixel.

Costs, money and banks

It's hard to generalize about what you're likely to spend travelling around Europe. Some countries - Norway, Switzerland and the UK - are among the priciest places to be in the world, while in others you can live like a lord on next to nothing - Turkey, for example. The collapse of the eastern European economy means that many of the countries there appear very inexpensive if you're coming from the west. However, the absorption of a number of the previously inexpensive countries of southern Europe into the EU means their costs are becoming much more in tune with the European mainstream.

Accommodation will be the largest single cost, and can really determine where you decide to travel. For example, it's hard to find a double hotel room anywhere in Scandinavia - perhaps the most expensive part of the Continent - for much under £40/$65 a night, whereas in most parts of southern Europe, and even in France, you might be paying under half that on average. Everywhere, though, even in Scandinavia, there is some form of bottom-line accommodation available, and there's always a youth hostel on hand. In general, reckon on a minimum budget of around £10/$15 a night per person in most parts of Europe.

Food and drink costs also vary wildly, although again in most parts of Europe you can assume that a restaurant meal will cost on average £5-10/$8-15 a head, with prices at the top end of the scale in Scandinavia, at the bottom end in eastern and southern Europe. Transport costs are something you can pin down more exactly if you have a rail pass or are renting a car. Nowhere, though, are transport costs a major burden, except perhaps in Britain where public transport is less heavily subsidized than elsewhere. Local city transport, too, is usually good, clean and efficient, and is normally fairly cheap, even in the pricier countries of northern Europe. It's hard to pinpoint an average daily budget for touring the Continent, but a bottom-line survival figure - camping, self-catering, hitching, etc - might be around £15/$25 a day per person; building in an investment for a rail pass, staying in hostels and eating out occasionally would bring this up to perhaps £20/$30 a day; while staying in private rooms or hotels and eating out once a day would mean a personal daily budget of at least £25/$40. Obviously in the more expensive countries of northern Europe you might be spending more than this, but on a wide tour this would be balanced out by spending less in southern and eastern Europe, where everything is that much cheaper.

When and where you are travelling also makes a difference. Accommodation rates tend to go up across the board in July and August, when everyone is on vacation - although paradoxically there are good deals in Scandinavia during these months. Also bear in mind that in capital cities and major resorts in the peak season everything will be a grade more expensive than anywhere else, especially if you're there when something special is going on, for example in Munich during the Beer Festival, Pamplona for the running of the bulls, Siena during the Palio. These are, in any case, times when you will be lucky to find a room at all without having booked.

As for ways of cutting costs , there are plenty. It makes sense, obviously, to spend less on transport by investing in some kind of rail pass, and if you're renting a car to do so for a week or more, thereby qualifying for cheaper rates. Always try to plan in advance. Although it's good to be flexible, buying one-off rail tickets and renting cars by the day can add a huge amount to your travel budget. The most obvious way to save on accommodation is to use hostels and/or camp; you can also save by planning to make some of your longer trips at night, when the cost of a couchette may undercut the cost of a night's accommodation. It's best not to be too spartan when it comes to food costs, but doing a certain amount of self-catering, especially at lunchtime when it's just as easy (and probably nicer) to have a picnic lunch rather than eat in a restaurant or café, will save money. Bear in mind, also, that if you're a student an ISIC card is well worth investing in. It can get you reduced (usually 50 percent, sometimes free) entry to museums and other sights - costs which can eat their way into your budget alarmingly if you're doing a lot of sightseeing - as well as qualifying you for other discounts in certain cities; it can also save you money on some transport costs, notably ferries, and especially if you are over 26. For Americans there's also a health benefit, providing up to $3000 in emergency medical coverage and $100 a day for 60 days in hospital, plus a 24-hour hotline to call in the event of a medical, legal or financial emergency. If you are not a student but under 26, the Go-25 Card (or FIYTO) costs the same as the ISIC and can in some countries give much the same sort of reductions. Teachers qualify for the International Teacher Identity Card , offering similar discounts. All these cards are available from youth travel specialists such as Council Travel, STA, Usit and Travel CUTS. Basically, it's worth flashing one or the other at every opportunity to see what you can get.

The Euro
On 1 January 1999, eleven EU countries - Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, subsequently joined by Greece - fixed their exchange rates to a new currency, the euro ( € ) , which has gradually taken over as the single currency for all of them. Euro notes and coins replaced francs, Deutschmarks, lire and the like from 1 January 2002 onward. The remaining three EU countries (the UK, Denmark and Sweden) are expected to join Euroland eventually, though their politicians may have a hard time convincing voters that this is a good idea, especially if the new currency continues to perform badly against the dollar, the yen or the pound sterling. The British government has promised a referendum before joining; Denmark had one and voted against; but attitudes in those countries are expected to change as the euro becomes established.

Prices
For countries in Europe we've quoted prices in local currency wherever possible, except in those countries where the weakness of the currency and the inflation rate combine to make this a meaningless exercise. In these cases - parts of eastern Europe and Turkey - we've used either US dollars, pounds sterling or Deutschmarks, depending on which hard currency is most commonly used within that country.

Wiring money
Having money wired from home is never cheap, and should be considered as a last resort. Funds can be sent to most countries via MoneyGram or Western Union. Both companies' fees depend on the amount being transferred, but as an example, wiring £700/$1000 will cost around £40/$60. The funds should be available for collection (usually in local currency) from the company's local agent within minutes of being sent; you can do this in person at the company's nearest office (in the UK all post offices are agents for MoneyGram), or over the phone using your credit card with Western Union. It's also possible, and slightly cheaper, to have money wired from a bank in your home country to one in Europe, but this is much slower (a couple of weeks is not unheard of) and less reliable; if you go down this route, the person wiring the funds will need to know the routing number of the destination bank. From the UK, a compromise option is Thomas Cook's Telegraphic Transfer service, available through their high street branches, which costs £15 plus one percent of the amount to be sent (minimum charge £25), and takes 1-2 days to arrive.

If you have no money in your account, and there is no one you can persuade to send you any, then the options are inevitably limited. You can either find some casual, cash-in-hand work, sell blood (not possible in all European countries), or, as a last resort, throw yourself on the mercy of your nearest consulate. They won't be very sympathetic or even helpful, but they may cash a cheque drawn on a home bank and supported by a cheque card. They might, if there's nothing else for it, repatriate you, though bear in mind your passport will be confiscated as soon as you set foot in your home country and you'll have to pay back all costs incurred (at top-whack rates). They never lend money.

Travelling in Europe

It's easy enough to travel in Europe, and a number of special deals and passes can make it fairly economical too. Air links are extensive, but also expensive, give or take the odd charter deal in season, and with the exception of Britain, where flying is the cheapest way to reach much of the Continent. In any case, you really appreciate the diversity of Europe best at ground level, by way of the enormous and generally efficient web of rail, road and ferry connections that covers the Continent

By train
Though to some extent it depends on where you intend to spend most of your time, train is without doubt the best way to make a tour of Europe. The rail network in most countries is comprehensive, in some cases exceptionally so, and the Continent boasts some of the most scenic rail journeys you could make anywhere in the world. Train travel is relatively cheap, too, even in the richer parts of northwest Europe, where, apart from Britain (whose rail system is in a state of virtual collapse following privatization), trains are heavily subsidized, and prices are brought down further by the multiplicity of passes and discount cards available, both Europe-wide ( InterRail for those based in Europe or the British Isles, Eurail for anyone based elsewhere) and on an individual country basis. In some countries you'll find it makes more sense to travel by bus, but if you're travelling further afield buying a rail pass may still pay dividends. We've covered the various passes here, as well as the most important international routes and most useful addresses; supplementary details, including frequencies and journey times of domestic services, are given throughout the Europe guide in each country's "Travel details" section.
If you intend to do a lot of rail travel, the Thomas Cook European Timetable is an essential investment, detailing the main lines throughout Europe, as well as ferry connections, and is updated monthly. Thomas Cook also publish a rail map of Europe.

By bus
For most people on a tour of Europe, a bus is something you take when there is no train. There are some countries (Greece, Turkey and Morocco are the most obvious examples) where the trains are slow or infrequent, and the bus network more widespread. In other countries, Spain and Portugal for example, the buses are cheaper, more efficient and genereally a more comfortable option. But on the whole in Europe you'll find yourself using buses for the odd trip here and there, usually locally, since on long-distance journeys between major European cities it's generally slower, more uncomfortable and not particularly cheap, especially if you have a rail pass. If you have a limited itinerary, however, a bus pass or circular bus ticket can undercut a rail pass, especially for over-26s. The Eurolines pass is valid for unlimited travel between 47 cities in Europe and the British Isles (though, with certain exceptions, it is not supposed to be used for journeys that do not cross international frontiers). It costs £90 (£109 for over-26s) for 15 days between 16 September and 31 May, and £120/145 between 1 June and 15 September. For 30-day passes, those prices are £129/162 and £179/222, and for a 60-day pass they are £162/205 and £195/259. Alternatively, Busabout run services for their own pass holders every two or four days between April and October (May to September in Spain and Portugal), taking in the major cities of nine European countries, with add-on connections to two more, plus a link to London and through tickets from elsewhere in Britain and Ireland. Two-week Busabout passes are £149 for youth or student card-holders, £169 for others, rising to £209/229 for 21 days, £279/309 for a month, £429/479 for two months, £529/589 for three, and £629/699 for the whole season. There are also Flexipasses for any 10 or 15 days in two months (£229/255 and £329/369 respectively), 20 days in 3 months (£429/479), or 30 days in 4 months (£599/659), with additional days at £25/30. Busabout passes are available at travel agents in Britain, North America or Australasia (for further enquiries call: in the US tel 1-800/664 4046, in Canada tel 416/322 8468, in the UK tel 020/7950 1661, in Australia tel 02/9657 3333 and in New Zealand tel 09/309 8824, or check Busabout's Web site at www.busabout.com ).

Driving
In order to drive in Europe you need a full and up-to-date driver's licence . EC-approved licences, such as those now issued in Britain and Ireland, are valid throughout the EU, and in theory elsewhere in Europe too. North American and Australasian licences are also in theory valid for driving in most of Europe (in Italy, Austria and Spain you need to carry a translation of this, available from your national motoring organization), but it is better to carry an International Driving Licence, especially if you want to rent a car. These are required in some East European countries and are available from national motoring organizations for a small fee; you'll need to show your driver's licence, passport, one passport photo and proof of age (18 or over). You should also carry your vehicle registration document at all times (if the named owner is not present on the trip you'll need a letter from them authorizing use of the vehicle) and, if taking your own vehicle, be insured. Your existing insurance policy may already provide third-party cover for a certain period in Europe (this is frequently the case with British policies), but for some countries you will need to take out a supplementary policy. As proof of insurance cover, it's sensible to get hold of an International Green Card from your insurers - and it's obligatory in certain countries anyway. In case of breakdown, you can take out, at extra cost, extended cover with automobile associations, although the motoring organizations of most countries operate some kind of reciprocal breakdown agreement with members of most foreign motoring organizations, so if you are a member it's wise to have your membership documents with you as well. Your national organization can provide a list of countries with reciprocal arrangements. A nationality plate should be displayed on the rear of your vehicle, and a warning triangle (which must be displayed if you stop on the road) and first-aid kit are either required or advised throughout Europe. A fire extinguisher is obligatory in Estonia, Lithuania, Greece and Turkey. All the countries of mainland Europe drive on the right-hand side of the road, so your headlights should be adjusted accordingly, and priority to traffic coming from the right is a common rule of the road. Pretty much every country included in The Rough Guide to Europe has a decent network of main roads; only when you get onto minor roads do the differences between southern, eastern and northwestern Europe become really apparent. In most of Europe motorways are free, but in some countries tolls are levied: in Greece, Spain and Portugal these are fairly cheap; in France they cost more but the primary roads there are invariably excellent; in Italy the cost can be substantial if you're travelling long distances. Fuel prices vary from around 52¢/36p for a litre of unleaded in Poland, or 75¢/52p in Greece, Spain, Poland and the Czech Republic, to a hefty $1.20/84p in the UK and almost as much in Norway and Finland; petrol is also pricey in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, while in Eastern Europe it is generally cheaper. Leaded petrol is being withdrawn in most European countries, and is already unavailable in a few. Diesel is usually only slightly cheaper than gasoline; in Britain, amazingly, it actually costs more.

The alternative to taking your own car is to rent one on the spot. Compared to rates in North America, this can be expensive, and you may find it cheaper to arrange things in advance through one of the multinational chains, or by opting for some kind of fly-drive deal. If you do rent a car in Europe, rates for a small hatchback start at £140/$200 a week (depending on the country and the time of year) if you book in advance, usually more if you rent on the spot; we've given more precise details in the relevant sections of the guide but in general costs are higher in Scandinavia and northern Europe, lower in eastern and southern Europe. Unlimited mileage deals (as opposed to those where you pay a charge per kilometre) work out better value and give more flexibility. To rent a car you'll need to present your driving licence, sometimes an international driver's permit, and should be at least 21 years of age with more than one year's driving experience, though these regulations can vary some countries like Italy will not rent out a car if you don't have a credit card to put down a returnable deposit; if in doubt, check in advance with the car rental company or your home motoring organization. Note also that some firms don't allow you to take their cars across country borders

Climate and when to go to Europe

Europe's climate is as variable as everything else about the Continent. In northwestern Europe - Benelux, Denmark, southwestern Norway, most of France and parts of Germany, as well as the British Isles - the climate is basically a cool temperate one, with the chance of rain all year round and no great extremes of either cold or hot weather. There is no bad time to travel in most of this part of the Continent, although the winter months between November and March can be damp and miserable - especially in the upland regions - and obviously the summer period between May and September sees the most reliable and driest weather.

In eastern Europe , on the other hand, basically to the right of a north-south line drawn roughly through the heart of Germany and extending down as far as the western edge of Bulgaria (taking in eastern Germany, Poland, central Russia, the Baltic states, southern Sweden, the Czech and Slovak republics, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary and Romania), the climatic conditions are more extreme, with freezing winters and sometimes sweltering summers. Here the transitional spring and autumn seasons are the most pleasant time to travel; deep midwinter, especially, can be very unpleasant, although it doesn't have the dampness you associate with the northwestern European climate.

Southern Europe , principally the countries that border the Mediterranean and associated seas - southern France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and western Turkey - has the most hospitable climate in Europe, with a general pattern of warm, dry summers and mild winters. Travel is possible at any time of year here, although the peak summer months can be very hot and very busy and the deep winter ones can see some rain.

There are, too, marked regional variations within these three broad groupings. As they're such large countries, inland Spain and France can, for example, see a continental type of weather as extreme as any in central Europe, and the Alpine areas of Italy, Austria and Switzerland - and other mountain areas like the Pyrenees, Apennines and parts of the Balkans - have a climate mainly influenced by altitude, which means extremes of cold, short summers, and long winters that always see snow. There are also, of course, the northern regions of Russia and Scandinavia, which have an Arctic climate - again, bitterly cold, though with some surprisingly warm temperatures during the short summer when much of the region is warmed by the Gulf Stream. Winter sees the sun barely rise at all in these areas, while high summer can mean almost perpetual daylight.

There are obviously other considerations when deciding when to go . If you're planning to visit fairly touristed areas, especially beach resorts in the Mediterranean, avoid July and August, when the weather can be too hot and the crowds at their most congested. Bear in mind, also, that in a number of countries in Europe everyone takes their vacation at the same time (this is certainly true in France, Spain and Italy where everyone goes away in August). Find out the holiday month beforehand for the countries where you intend to travel, since you can expect the crush to be especially bad in the resorts; in the cities the only other people around will be fellow tourists, which can be miserable. In northern Scandinavia the climatic extremes are such that you'll find opening times severely restricted, even road and rail lines closed, outside the May-September period, making travel futile and sometimes impossible outside these months. In mountainous areas things stay open for the winter sports season, which lasts from December through to April, though outside the main resorts you'll again find many things closed. Mid-April to mid-June can be a quiet period in many mountain resorts, and you may have much of the mountains to yourselves.

Europe

The collapse of the division between eastern and western Europe at the end of the 1980s, and the ever closer ties among the fifteen countries of the European Union - increasingly a political and cultural as well as economic union - made Europe a buzzword in the early 1990s, implying shared values and, despite all the wrangling, a broad consensus of political beliefs. Some of this is inevitably a superficial analysis, but although true European unity still remains a distant dream, developments such as the introduction of the euro, the creation of the frontier-free Schengen Group and the opening of the Channel Tunnel have done much to bring it closer.

Conventionally, the geographical boundaries of Europe are the Ural Mountains in the east, the Atlantic Coast in the north and west, and the Mediterranean in the south. However, within these rough parameters Europe is massively diverse. The environment changes radically within very short distances, with bleak mountain ranges never far from broad, fertile plains, and deep, ancient forests close to scattered lake systems or river gorges. Politically and ethnically, too, it is an extraordinary patchwork: Slavic peoples are scattered through central Europe from Poland in the north to Serbia and Bulgaria in the south; the Finnish and Estonian languages bear no resemblance to the tongues of their Baltic and Scandinavian neighbours, but more to that of Hungary, over 1000km south; meanwhile Romansch, akin to ancient Latin, is spoken in the valleys of south-eastern Switzerland, while the Basques of the Western Pyrenees have a language unrelated to any others known. These differences have become more political of late with the rise of nationalism that coincided with the fall of Communism, and borders are even now being redrawn, not always peacefully, and usually along ethnic lines defined by language, race or religion.

Where you head for obviously depends on your tastes and the kind of vacation you want: you can sample mountain air and winter sports in the Alps of France, Austria or Switzerland, lie on a beach in the swanky resorts of the south of France or Italy, or view architecture and works of art in the great cities of London, Paris, Florence or Amsterdam. Suffice to say, the lifting of restrictions on travel in eastern Europe, with only a handful of countries still requiring visas and nothing like the bureaucratic regulations there were before, means that the Continent really is there for the travelling - something manifest in the increasingly good-value rail passes which cover most of the countries in Europe. Although you may want to make a long hop or two by air, rail is indeed the way to see the Continent, highlighting the diversity of the place when you travel in a few hours from the cool temperatures of northern Europe to the rich and sultry climes of the Mediterranean. In fact, with the richness and diversity of its culture, climate, landscapes and peoples, there is no more exciting place to travel.

Map of Europe

Arosa

Whether you go by train or car, the long, twisting ascent up the Schanfigger Valley to Arosa is hard to forget; the route, jammed full of picture-perfect, heart-pumping scenes, crosses bridges over bottomless chasms and skirts rocky slopes that drop away thousands of feet to the valley floor. You'll also pass through a few small mountain villages, complete with old-timey scenes of Swiss farmers and their livestock. Once in Arosa itself, the ambiance remains, well, very characteristically Swiss. The public service department strives to leave an inch or so of snow over all the roads, so pedestrians can hear the crunch of snow underfoot and so cars aren't quite as loud. There's also a pond in the center of town where you can ice skate. Fifty percent of Arosa's accommodations are right on the slopes, but the other 50 percent can involve a tiresome, uphill walk to get to the lifts. If you happen to like walking, there are 25 miles of winter hiking trails that intermingle with the ski trails. Many visitors buy single-trip lift tickets and spend their day meandering back down to the village.

On the hill, beginner and intermediate skiers have plenty of terrain to explore. Arosa's 37 miles of marked trails consists of many wide groomers with just a few really steep pitches. There are hardly any trees at Arosa, so adventurous skiers can duck off the groomed trails for some powder shots. The Brüggerhorn area of the resort is also left ungroomed. Experts will find more challenging off-piste selections under the tram or by hiking off the skier's right side of the resort—just make sure you have avalanche gear and the proper training, or are with a knowledgeable guide. With a high base elevation, the snowfall here is relatively reliable.

The resort is quite spread out (as are the crowds) with 13 lifts and many on-hill restaurants. Some of these establishments rent out comfy lounge chairs, ideal for resting your legs and soaking in the eight to twelve hours of sun that shines on nice days. And free outdoor concerts are also common here: Sometimes you'll find several going on at once at different spots around the hill.

Off the hill, Arosa is typical of many Swiss towns—you won't find much of the hopping après scene you might find at bigger, American resorts. Arosa offers fairly run-of-the-mill dining options (lots of Swiss-German fare, a handful of Italian restaurants, and one Mexican joint with an interesting interpretation of nachos), a few pubs, and not much nightlife. The Casino Arosa is the one place you'll find dancing and late-night partying. Other non-skiing options include tobogganing, balloon rides, paragliding, snowshoe tours, and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Andermatt

Recognized as one of the steepest and most challenging resorts in Switzerland, packed with tight couloirs and gnarly pitches, advanced and expert skiers will love the relatively small resort of Andermatt. Because of its location near the northern edge of the Alps, Andermatt also catches a good deal of snow that doesn't make it to other resorts-this of course means more powder but also higher avalanche risk. Traditionally, the small size of the village has kept crowds equally small, but book your ticket now, because that could all change soon. The Egyptian development company Orascom Hotels and Development has recently gained development rights in the town and is beginning a project that will add-among other amenities-400 residential units, 50 private villas, and luxury hotels with 800 guest rooms to the village. Despite the sizeable expansion to the resort, Orascom was able to bypass Swiss laws restricting land ownership by foreigners in part because of its commitment to preserve the cultural and historic integrity of Andermatt, so even in the wave of development, there's hope that the resort's charm will remain unscathed.

Andermatt has also been in the news recently for its efforts to curtail the melting of the Gurschen Glacier, which has sunk nearly 66 feet in the past 15 years. This loss has impeded early-season access to some of the best off-piste skiing on the hill, forcing trail crews to do some fancy work with their groomers to fill the void. During the summers, the resort has also experimented by covering the glacier in giant heat- and rain-deflecting blankets designed to slow ice melting.

Expert skiers will particularly love descending from the top of the 9,800-foot-high Gemsstock, where, until recently, the Swiss military's elite alpine units trained. While the resort is particularly popular among advanced skiers, Andermatt, with 20 lifts and 51 miles of marked trails, offers something for every ability level. Beginners should head to the Gotthard area for more gentle cruisers, and intermediates will thrive on the groomers below Gemsstock.

As of now there's not much else to do in the winter in Andermatt besides ski (alpine or cross country), sled, hike, or ice skate, and the selection of restaurants and nightlife remain pretty tame. But keep your eye on this typically Swiss village as it continues to develop. And don't overlook the eye-popping vistas into the heart of the Swiss Alps, spanning some 600 different peaks.

St. Moritz

Complete with glitz, glamour, and a rich history, St. Moritz is perhaps the most famous Swiss ski resort and certainly the most luxurious. You won't find a quaint Swiss mountain village here; the town of St. Moritz is a lit-up cosmopolitan, just as eye-popping as the sharp peaks and frozen lakes of the Engadine Valley where it lies. With much of the resort's publicity focusing on its wide array of shops, restaurants, special events, and culture, you might be tempted to spend all your time off the slopes. But the skiing shouldn't be overlooked.

The light and dry snow is consistent, and the sun shines here an average of 322 days per year. Like most Swiss resorts, the skiing at St. Moritz is mostly above tree line, with wide, groomed slopes snaking back and forth across the mountainside. This setup makes it easy for powder seekers to slide off the maintained trail for a pitch and then jump back on when their legs start to burn. And with 217 miles of trails, you'll definitely find skiing for all abilities (although intermediates will find the most suitable terrain). Because lifts here are spread out among nine different areas, you may want to pick just one region per day to explore. The Piz Nair Wall, at the top of the downhill race trail at the Corviglia area, boasts the steepest start slope of any race trail in Switzerland and will definitely please speed-seekers. More advanced skiers will also enjoy carving down the Morteratsch/Isla Persa Glacier run in the Diavolezza Bernina area (the longest run in the region). Skiing on the Corvatsch Glacier, in the Corvatsch Furtschellas area, offers some of the best views and snow quality in St. Moritz. And all of these areas have plenty of options lower down on the mountain specially designed for families with young kids.

Beyond skiing, St. Moritz offers plenty of other activities and lots of exotic attractions. The resort regularly hosts high-profile events and ski races: it has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and many other skiing and bobsled championships. You'll find the regular array of wintertime activities like cross-country skiing, skating, sledding, and hiking, plus a huge selection of more uncommon ones like winter golf. Other favorite events include the yearly Gourmet Festival (January/February), the Snow and Symphony Music Festival (March/April), horse and greyhound races on the frozen lake, and cricket and polo tournaments in the snow. Plus there's plenty of high-end shopping: St. Moritz harbors numerous retail locations for famous designers including Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and DKNY, to name just a handful. Go at the right time and you may even catch some familiar faces from Hollywood or royal families from around the world.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

The construction begun in 1173 and it must have been suspended at the completion of the third ring, around ten years later, since a subsidence of the soil of between 30 and 40 cm. had thrown the tower out of the perpendicular, causing an initial overhang of circa 5 cm. More than a century after the laying of the foundation stone, was once again begun (1275) by Giovanni di Simone, who added three more levels, correcting the axis of the Campanile. In 1284 the six stories of loggias were to all effects finished, bringing the height of the building to 48 m., and employing a technical expedient that was meant to diminish, at least optically, the effects of the inclination, accomplished by raising the galleries of the upper floors on that side.

At the time the inclination of the Tower was more than 90 cm. The tormented vicissitudes of the Tower did not, as one might expect, greatly worry those who were involved in the construction and completion. The long intervals between building activity were dictated, most likely, by the need of letting the Campanile 'rest', but above all by letting both the foundations and the ground on which they rested settle down.

In a certain sense it can be said that the subsidence of the soil and the consequent inclination had, on the whole, been foreseen. At the beginning of the 14th century the bells were placed at the sixth level, in the large opening still visible in the marble cylinder beyond the loggia. Between 1350 and 1372 Tommaso di Andrea Pisano (according to Vasari) terminated the installation of the belfry on the summit of the sixth order of loggias, increasing the correction of the axis, and thus diminishing the load on the side that was in inclination, which in the mean while had become fixed at 1.43 m.

Conceived of not only as a bell tower, but also as a belvedere for the square below - from the earliest times the loggias have served as 'grandstand' for religious events and fairs - it rises 58.36 m above the level of the foundation, just under 56 m over the level of the countryside, and its inclination, measured at the base, is over 4 m. The average subsidence of the base is 2.25 m, while the progressio of the overhang, despite all attempts so far made to bring it to a halt, is about 1.2 mm per year.

Château de Chillon

The climax of a journey around Lake Geneva, and one of the highlights of a visit to Switzerland, is the stunning thirteenth-centuryChâteau de Chillon (daily: April–Sept 9am–7pm; March & Oct 9.30am–6pm; Jan, Feb, Nov & Dec 10am–5pm; last entry 1hr before closing; Fr.7; SMP; www.chillon.ch). This impressive specimen, among the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe, is in Veytaux, only about 3km south of Montreux; whether you opt for the 45-minute shoreline walk, bus #1 from Vevey or Montreux, a bike, or best of all a boat (which run year-round), your first glimpse of the castle is unforgettable – an elegant, turreted pile jutting out into the water, framed by trees and the craggy mountains. You could easily spend a half-day soaking up the atmosphere.

History
Although the scenery all around the castle is impressive enough, the location of the building is more impressive still – and is the key to its history. The mountains in front of the castle fall directly into the lake, with only the narrowest of through-routes between the sheer rock wall and the water. Directly opposite the defile, a razor-edge, sheer-sided islet rises from the water, of which only the very top is visible. This is where Chillon sits: if you were to drain the lake, the castle would teeter above an incredible drop of over 300m, as high as the Eiffel Tower. Such depths are cold and the lake’s weather is capricious, making attack from open water extremely unlikely. Equally, the road is narrow, the heights are virtually unscaleable, and there’s no other way to pass, making it impossible to avoid the castle. Whoever controlled the castle could control the traffic, and exact tolls from a position of unassailable security.

In Bronze Age times, there was no path around the lake – travellers had to climb the steep, 200m slopes at Chillon to a village on the heights above, then drop back down to rejoin the path. The Romans cut a narrow ledge along the lakeshore, and also opened up the Grand-St-Bernard pass over the Alps further south, turning the road past the unfortified islet just offshore into the only route connecting northern and southern Europe through the mountains. By the Middle Ages, the quantity of traffic meant the road had to be widened and also that a form of toll could be set up. The village above was abandoned in favour of a new town (ville neuve, today’s Villeneuve) built on open, accessible land a little way south on the valley floor. First surviving mention of a “guardian of the stronghold of Chillun” dates from 1150.

The Counts of Savoy, particularly Pierre (1203–68), made Chillon a princely residence, also developing Villeneuve into a major trading centre which poured tolls and customs duties into Chillon’s coffers – in 1283, on average, one horse rider and perhaps a dozen foot travellers were crossing the Grand-St-Bernard pass every hour of daylight, on every day of the year. Pierre’s architects and engineers transformed Chillon, rebuilding the half facing the shore as a fortress with three strong towers and a keep, and filling the half facing the water with grand halls and royal apartments. As the Savoyards extended their influence north to the Aare and began to threaten the Habsburgs, Chillon became their military and naval headquarters. The castle was both the centre of court life and a much-feared prison: when plague broke out in Villeneuve in 1348, the town’s Jews were accused of plotting with Christian accomplices to poison the water supply, and large numbers of both were tortured in Chillon’s dungeons before being burned alive. By this time, the Gotthard Pass further east was in use, and the transfer of traffic away from Chillon and the Grand-St-Bernard led to the castle’s terminal decline as a military fortress, although it remained handy as a secure jail. In 1530, the Savoyards imprisoned a Genevois scholar, François Bonivard, at Chillon for inciting the Genevois people to form an alliance with the Swiss against Savoy. They left him shackled to a pillar in the dungeons for six years, until his release in 1536, when the Bernese army swept down from the north, briefly bombarded the castle from above with their newfangled mobile artillery, and took control. The chief legacy of the Bernese bailiffs’ 200-year residency at Chillon was an abundance of painted bears (the symbol of Bern).

Fortunately for posterity, Chillon became a quiet backwater. In 1816, after Vaud had won independence from Bern, Byron (aged 28) and Shelley (24) visited the castle on their tour of the lake. A guide took them into the dungeons where Bonivard had been shackled and wove enough of a tale around him, and around the castle’s history, to catch the poets’ imagination. While bad weather grounded them in a hotel in Ouchy, Byron scribbled out his Prisoner of Chillon, a long narrative poem supposedly spoken by Bonivard (but entirely fictitious throughout), which celebrates the cause of individual liberty, and which brought Chillon to the attention of the wealthy tourists who were starting to explore the Alps. Archeologists and historians launched renovations of the crumbling infrastructure in the late nineteenth century, which restored a great deal of the castle’s original grandeur. Work to maintain the castle continues today.

Jungfraujoch railway

Switzerland’s most popular (and expensive) mountain railway excursion is unmissable. Trains trundle through lush countryside south from Interlaken before coiling spectacularly up across either Wengen or Grindlewald’s mountain pastures, breaking the treeline at Kleine Scheidegg and tunnelling clean through the Eiger to emerge at the JUNGFRAUJOCH, an icy, windswept col at 3454m, just beneath the Jungfrau summit. It’s the site of the highest train station in Europe, and offers an unforgettable experience of the mountains. You’d be missing out if you decided against shelling out the exorbitant sums necessary to reach the place.

However, good weather is essential – if there’s a hint of cloud you’d be wasting your time heading up. Check the pictures from the summit, broadcast live on cable TV throughout the region, for an idea of the weather conditions, call the Jungfraujoch weather line (033/828 79 31) or ask your hotel or nearest tourist office for the latest forecasts. Remember, too, that it takes two and a half hours to reach the summit from Interlaken, and weather conditions can change rapidly. Coy though it sounds, even if you plan nothing more adventurous than looking out of the summit station window you should still bring sunglasses with you: the snows never melt up here, and if the sky is blue, the sun’s glare and glitter can be painful.

There are two routes to the top. Trains head southwest from Interlaken Ost along the valley floor to Lauterbrunnen, from where you pick up the mountain line which climbs through Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg; different trains head southeast from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald, where you change for the climb, arriving at Kleine Scheidegg from the other direction. All trains terminate at Kleine Scheidegg, where you must change for the final pull to Jungfraujoch – the popular practice is to go up one way and down the other.

Currently, the adult round-trip fare to Jungfraujoch from Interlaken is a budget-crunching Fr.159 – the Jungfraubahnen Pass, and the broader Bernese Oberland Regional Pass, both pointlessly stop short at Kleine Scheidegg, requiring passholders to shell out an extra Fr.50 to reach the summit. One way to cut costs is to take advantage of the discounted Good Morning ticket (Fr.120; Eurail Fr.105; Swiss Pass Fr.94), valid if you travel up on the first train of the day (6.35am from Interlaken), and leave the summit by noon (or Nov–April: first or second train plus later departure permitted).

Walking some sections of the journey, up or down, is perfectly feasible in summer, and can also save plenty, with fares from intermediate points along the route considerably lower. The undiscounted Good Morning ticket from Grindelwald is Fr.103, from Lauterbrunnen Fr.102, from Wengen Fr.91, and from Kleine Scheidegg Fr.58. Excellent transport networks and vista-rich footpaths linking all stations mean that with judicious use of a hiking map and timetable you can see and do a great deal in a day and still get back to Interlaken, or even Bern or Zürich, by bedtime.

Jungfrau Region

The JUNGFRAU REGION south of Interlaken is the rather uninspiring title foisted on what is perhaps the most dramatic, certainly the most memorable, mountain scenery in the whole of Switzerland. The Matterhorn may be more recognizable, Davos and St Moritz may be flashier, but the quantity and sheer scale of the awesome giants on offer here at close quarters takes your breath away.

The area is dominated by the mighty triple crest of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (Ogre, Monk and Virgin) – three giant peaks rising side-by-side to 4000m and seemingly always mentioned in the same breath. The Jungfrau is the focus, partly because it’s the highest (at 4158m), and partly because the network of mountain trains from Interlaken Ost culminates at the Jungfraujoch, a saddle below the Jungfrau peak that claims the honour of being the site of the highest train station in Europe. The ride up to the summit – dubbed the “Top of Europe” – is touted endlessly in Interlaken and beyond as being the highlight of a Swiss visit and, despite the hype, it’s not far wrong. However, plenty of equally stunning scenery is also to be had at lower altitudes. The region is focused on two valleys, which divide a few kilometres south of Interlaken. To the west is the famous Lauterbrunnen valley, celebrated with justification as the loveliest mountain valley in Europe, with its alluring resorts of Wengen and Mürren. To the east, the narrow Lütschen valley widens out on its way to the bustling town of Grindelwald, perfectly placed for its many visitors to take advantage of the hiking and skiing possibilities all around. Excellent transport around all these places – mostly trains, but also taking in cable-cars, funiculars and the odd bus – means that you can roam to your heart’s content, which, with the quality of natural scenery on offer, may take a while.

Mountain trains throughout the Jungfrau region are operated by the Jungfraubahnen (033/828 71 11, www.jungfraubahn.ch). They have a Jungfraubahnen Pass, valid for free travel on their entire network apart from the Kleine Scheidegg–Jungfraujoch section (on which passholders travel for half the full fare). The pass, valid for five consecutive days, costs Fr.133, or Fr.85 to holders of the Swiss Half-Fare Card.

Eurailers get a 25 percent discount on all Jungfraubahnen trains, except where mentioned in the guide text. Swiss Pass holders get free travel on trains to Mürren, Wengen and Grindelwald, and a 25 percent discount on journeys higher up. InterRail brings no discount at all, apart from on the few occasions mentioned in the guide text.

The Beach

Most of Australia's population lives close to the coastline and the beach has long occupied a special place in the Australian identity. The Australian coastline is where three of the world's great ocean's meet: the Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans. The beach is also a place where people from all over the world meet, mix and live.

The coastline of the Australian mainland stretches more than 30,000 km. With the addition of all the coastal islands this amounts to more than 47,000 km. The coastal landscape ranges from broad sandy beaches to rocky cliffs and mangrove swamps.

A beach can be defined as a stretch of sand longer than 20 metres and remaining dry at high tide. Based on this definition, the Coastal Studies Unit at the University of Sydney has counted 10,685 beaches in Australia.

Natural formations
Over time, the waves breaking on the coast of Australia have created countless coves and caves as well as remarkable formations, such as the Twelve Apostles limestone stacks off the coast of Victoria.

Sand and silt deposits have produced long, sandy beaches such as Ninety Mile Beach in the Gippsland region of south eastern Victoria, and Western Australia's Eighty Mile Beach which is approximately halfway between Broome and Port Hedland.

History of the beach
The recorded history of people in their interaction with the beaches of Australia is peppered with disaster, tragedy, discovery and delight.In the past 600 years, visitors as far away as China, Portugal, Spain and Holland visited Australian beaches. The evidence of their visits lies in the remains of ships wrecked along the coastline as well as artefacts, cave drawings and paper maps. It has always been risky sailing in Australian waters, and so many failed to reach their destinations. The Encyclopedia of Australian Shipwrecks records more than 16,000 wrecks.
Unknown photographer, Shell necklace, from the exhibition Strings Across Time. Copyright Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. Image courtesy of ABC.

For tens of thousands of years the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have fished the coastal waters. People on the north coast, from the Arafura Sea to the Torres Strait, used to trade with those from present day Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on the beaches of Australia. Until the present day, senior Goorewal women of New South Wales use their knowledge of the natural calendar, currents, winds and biology of the sea creatures to journey to the coast to collect shells for food. The making of necklaces from shells in family patterns has been passed down through the generations.

A place of work
For many Australians the beach is a place of work. Early occupations for people in coastal communities included pearling, oyster farming, whaling, sealing and fishing. Today, occupations associated with the coastal environment range from fishing, marine biology and national parks and wildlife rangers to the wide variety of occupations associated with the tourism industry.
Fish are a multi-billion dollar industry for Australia... - worth more than $2.2 billion to our economy every year. Fish are also a healthy source of food with Australians consuming around 16kg of fish and seafood per person each year, purchased from fish markets, supermarkets and food outlets.

The Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) is the third largest in the world, covering nearly nine million square kilometres. It extends to 200 nautical miles from the Australian coastline and also includes the waters surrounding our external territories, such as Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, and Heard and McDonald Islands in the Antarctic.The leisure industry is a major employer of people along Australia's coastline. A safe and enjoyable visit or holiday to the beach relies on local government maintenance personnel, retailers, campground operators and hoteliers, tourism operators, and the thousands of people who staff retail food and drink outlets close to popular beaches.

As a place for leisure
There are no privately-owned beaches in Australia - beaches are public places for all to enjoy. Australians make use of the coast as a destination for relaxation and fun. Many people live close enough to a beach to visit regularly, and others use the beach for annual holidays. Popular destinations range from crowded city beaches and popular holiday spots, to quieter beaches located in coastal national parks.

Some people go to the beach simply for the sun and surf. Others go to sail, parasail, fish, snorkel, scuba dive and beach comb. Coastal sight-seeing is a very popular pursuit for Australians and international tourists as there are many scenic coastal drives with well appointed lookouts.

Beaches around the country attract large crowds for celebrations such as New Year's Eve and Australia Day. City beaches such as Manly in Sydney and Glenelg in Adelaide provide entertainment and fireworks on New Year's Eve, and on Australia Day many beaches host citizenship ceremonies and provide family entertainment. It has become traditional for international visitors who are in Sydney at Christmas time to go to Bondi Beach where up to 40,000 people visit on Christmas Day.Many international visitors spend time at some of Australia's famous beaches such as Bondi and Manly in Sydney, St Kilda in Melbourne, Surfers Paradise on the Queensland Gold Coast, Cottesloe in Perth, and Glenelg in Adelaide.

Uluru

Uluru is the most famous icon of the Australian outback and a site of deep cultural significance to the Anangu Aboriginals. The 3.6km (2.2mi)-long rock rises a towering 348m (1141ft) from the pancake-flat surrounding scrub. It is especially impressive at dawn and sunset when the red rock spectacularly changes hue.

Uluru History
Debate continues on when the first Aborigines moved into the area but the best evidence suggests that it was at least 20 000 years ago.

The notes of Uluru National Park explain the Aboriginal understanding of Uluru in the following terms: 'In the beginning the world was unformed and featureless. Ancestral beings emerged from this void and journeyed widely, creating all the living species and the characteristic features of the desert landscape you see today. Uluru and Kata Tjuta provide physical evidence of feats performed during the creation period. Anangu are the direct descendants of these beings and are responsible for the protection and appropriate management of these ancestral lands.'

The arrival of Europeans in the area was part of the exploration of the centre during the 1870s. Ernest Giles travelled through the area in 1872 and named both Lake Amadeus and Mount Olga. Giles returned to the area in 1873 but was beaten to Uluru by William Gosse who sighted the monolith on 19 July and named it after the Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. Giles also was the first European to climb the rock which he did accompanied by an Afghan camel driver.

The inhospitable nature of the terrain ensured that few Europeans ventured into the region. Pastoralists were defeated by the lack of water and the only Europeans to pass through the area were trappers, miners, and the occasional missionary. The area was declared the Petermann Aboriginal Reserve in the early 1900s and this existed until the 1940s.

Ayers Rock was created a national park in 1950. In 1957 Bill Harney came to the area and in 1958, when the rock was combined with the Olgas to form the Ayers Rock National Park, he was appointed the first official curator. In 1959 a motel lease was granted near the rock and soon after an airstrip was built. In 1976 the Commonwealth Government set up the lease at Yulara and in 1983-84 the old tourist locations near the rock were closed down. In 1985 the title to the rock was handed back to the traditional owners who, in turn, granted the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service a 99 year lease on the park.

Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef includes over 2,900 reefs, around 940 islands and cays, and stretches 2,300 kms along the Queensland coastline. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is 345,000 km2, that's larger than the entire area of the UK and Ireland combined!

The reef is immensely diverse with 1,500 species of fish, 359 types of hard coral, one third of the world's soft corals, 175 bird species, six of the world's seven species of threatened marine turtle and more than 30 species of marine mammals including vulnerable dugongs.

Add to that stunning marine life are 5,000 to 8,000 molluscs and thousands of different sponges, worms, crustaceans, 800 species of echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins) and 215 bird species, of which 29 are seabirds.

The Great Barrier Reef is listed under all four natural World Heritage criteria for its outstanding universal value.

A natural investment
Protecting the reef has benefits beyond conservation - it is also an investment that helps provide security for coastal communities and provides significant benefits to the Australian economy. Reef industries, which are reliant on a healthy environment in which to operate, contributed approximately $5.8 billion to the Australian economy in 2004 and employed about 63,000 people.

Protecting our marine wonderland
Historically, the Reef has been regarded as a well-protected, pristine wonderland - a place of delicate corals, abundant fish life and a haven for other marine life. As scientists came to understand more about the reef's complexities, a different picture emerged - overfishing, land-based pollution and coral bleaching exacerbated by increased sea temperatures due to global warming are all impacting upon its natural wealth.

Immediate action was required to protect the reef because only 4.6% of the reef was fully protected. As a result of public campaigning and pressure from WWF, the Australian Government committed to a plan to protect 33% of the reef.

What does 33% protection mean?
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP) zoning plan was implemented in 2004. Its most significant feature is a network of marine sanctuaries that stretch from the Park's northernmost to southern boundaries. This is the world's largest network of marine sanctuaries and covers over a third of the Marine Park - protecting over 11 million hectares.

Scientists have identified 70 different distinct biological regions in the GBRMP, representing the entire range of its plants and animals. A minimum percentage of each biological region is protected from fishing in order to maintain the health and resilience of the ecosystem and to protect the full range of biodiversity in the marine park.

How is the Reef under threat?
The amount of sediment flowing from the land into the marine park from its catchment area has quadrupled over the past 150 years due largely to grazing and cropping expansion in the catchment and loss of native vegetation and wetlands.

The reef has experienced two mass coral bleaching events - in 1998 and 2002. Bleaching was more severe in 2002, with aerial surveys finding that almost 60% of reefs were bleached to some degree.

Not only is the reef subject to high levels of fishing pressure, other fishing practices such as seafloor trawling for prawns are still permitted in over half of the marine park, resulting in untargeted fish capture (by-catch) and destruction of the seafloor.

The Prater

The Prater is one of Europe's most popular fun fair. You can enjoy a magnificent view over Vienna from the giant Ferris wheel or do some sports and relax in an spacious area of parks, forest and fields.

The Prater is situated near Vienna city center and is ideal for walking, having fun, cycling, jogging or just lying on the grass. Furthermore you can find major sports and recreational facilities such as the Krieau harness racing track, the Prater Football Stadium, the Stadionbad, (a public swimming pool), the Freudenau flat racing track and the Pleasure Pavillion (Lusthaus) in the Vienna Prater.

Two further attractions of the Prater are the Vienna Wurschtlprater, a fun fair with the Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad), where you can enjoy a terrific view over Vienna from 60 meters altitude and the Lilliputian Railroad (Liliputbahn), a 2.6 mile amusement park line on a auge of old steam locomotives, providing transportation to the Trade Fair grounds and to the Prater Stadium of Vienna.

The Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) was built in 1897 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the reign of Empereror Franz Joseph I. The Giant Ferris Wheel has 15 cabins and the upholding structure weigh a total of 430 tons and rotate at the speed of 0,65 m/sec. In 1944, at the peak of the World War II, the Giant Ferris Wheel burnt down but was rebuilt in 1945 - at the same time as St. Stephen's cathedral. The Viennese Riesenrad is the only giant ferris wheel of its time which is still in use today.

Burgtheater

The Burgtheater, which is also known as Burg or "Haus am Ring" (House at Ring), is situated in Vienna's first district (Innerstadt). In 1741, Empress Maria Theresia gave an old dance parlour to Sellier, a theatre company. In 1888, Sellier moved into a nearby house designed and built by Gottfried Semper and Hasenauer. Since then, this building was used as the National Theatre.

The beautiful facade of the Burgtheater is adorned with statues of famous writers of Austria like Goethe and Schiller and some allegoric figures depicting love and hatred.

The Burgtheater obtained a worldwide reputation for brilliant dramatic art and is one of the first theaters of German speaking countries. Over the years, its theatrical company of more or less regular members has worked out a traditional style and speech characteristic of Burgtheater performances.

Belvedere Palace

Two magnificient palaces of the Belvedere region lie in the middle of a magnificent park. Both Palaces were constructed for Prince Eugene of Savoy by Hildebrandt, a famous Baroque architect.

At the time they were built, the Belvedere Palaces were located outside Vienna's defensive walls but today they are a part of Vienna`s third district which is not far away from the centre of Vienna (Innerstadt). Design and architecture of the Belvedere Palaces are typical Rococo style.

In today's Vienna, both palaces house museums that features Austrian painting. The lower palace also called the "Österreichisches Barockmuseum" (Austrian Museum of Baroque Art) displays Austrian Art belonging to the 18th century. In the other, upper palace you can visit the Austrian art gallery that features a collection of 19th and 20th century Austrian paintings.

In 1803, Europe's first alpine garden was built in the huge park area of the Belvedere castle with the suggestion of Archduke Johann. Currently more than 4000 plants represent the diversified flora of the alpine ecosystem in Vienna.

The Anchor Clock (Ankeruhr)

The Anchor Clock of Vienna is situated on the oldest square of Vienna, the Hoher Markt, and represents a typical Art Nouveau (jugendstil) design.

The Anchor Clock forms a bridge between two parts of the historical Anker Insurance Company's building. The clock itself is covered with mosaic ornaments. In the course of every 12 hours, twelve historical figures or pairs of figures move across the bridge. Among these figures are Joseph Haydn, medieval lyricist Walther von der Vogelweide, Empress Maria Theresa and Prince Eugen of Savoya. Every day at noon, all this figures parade is accompanied by music from the various periods.

Town Hall

one of the grandest buildings in the city, Sydney’s immense Town Hall is worth a visit, if just to admire the architecture.

About the Building
Sydney's Town Hall, built in stages from 1869 to 1889, sits on ground that once served as the city’s burial ground. Designed by Tasmanian architect J.H. Willson, work commenced on the ornate building after the graveyard, which contained some 2,000 bodies, was closed because it was “too offensive” to the inhabitants of Sydney. All the bodies were supposedly exhumed and moved before construction commenced, though city officials note a stray skeleton or two has been found in the area when there’s an occasional need to dig!

Willson’s design is very high Victorian. He modeled the Town Hall on Philadelphia’s Second Empire-style City Hall. This style was very popular during the Victorian Era and the two buildings are remarkably similar.
Made from local Sydney sandstone, the excessive ornamentation popular at the time eventually caused the Town Hall to be nicknamed “The Wedding Cake Building.” (Some Sydney-ites of the 20th century even thought it should be torn down!)

Lots of Architects
Willson’s sudden death shortly after the project began prompted the hiring of a long string of architects who each contributed something to the Sydney Town Hall. Albert Bond designed the mansard roof and vestibule interior. Brothers Thomas and Edward Bradridge were responsible for Town Hall’s crowning glory, its clock tower, which upon completion and for decades afterwards, was the tallest structure in Sydney. Thomas Sapsford designed Centennial Hall, also known as “The Great Hall.”

Inside Town Hall
Inside the Great Hall is an amazingly large pipe organ, which caused great concern as far as the sturdiness of the building materials in this room. Architects feared that ceiling panels would fall on patrons during concerts – caused by vibrations from the organ – so a special metal panel system was devised for the hall. It was an engineering marvel of its time.

Plans for the organ were conceived in 1879 but it wasn’t installed until 1890. Built by William Hill and Sons, it was dedicated that same year and, ever since that time, Sydney has had a “City Organist” who is responsible for playing this beautiful instrument. After many years of wear and tear, the organ was rebuilt between 1973 and 1983 and free organ recitals are still held throughout the year.

The Town Hall was among the first buildings in Sydney to feature Australian flora as architectural decoration and visitors to the hall can browse its magnificent stained glass windows and try to recognize native flowers and animals. Be sure to see The Australia Window, located in the vestibule, and the equally as breathtaking Captain Cook Window. The stair railings also feature native flora.

Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building (QVB) is a modern shopping center located in a magnificent 19th century neo- romanesque building.

Construction
The QVB was originally built as the Queen Victoria Market and replaced an existing produce market. The building was designed by city architect George McRae and constructed between 1893 and 1898. At the time Sydney was in a deep recession and the government used the construction of this enormous building to employ a large number of craftsmen.The elaborate building is decorated with stained glass windows, wrought-iron balustrades, patterned floor tiles and large statues. Characteristic for the building are the glass roof over the central arcade and its many domes, one large and twenty smaller ones. The largest, central dome has a 20 meter diameter and consists of an inner glass dome and an exterior copper dome topped with a copula.

History
During the first half of the century the Queen Victoria Building saw many occupants come and go. The original concert hall was turned into a library and many commercial stores were converted into municipal offices.

By the 1950s the Queen Victoria Building was threatened with demolition despite its magnificent architecture. Fortunately plans to replace the fine building with a parking lot were finally abandoned in 1982 when the city council agreed to lease the QVB to the Malaysian firm Ipoh Garden Berhad for 99 years. Under the agreement, the government would create a car park under York Street and the Malaysian firm would restore the building.

The QVB Today
Four years and A$75 million later the Queen Victoria Building reopened as a shopping center. While the building was modernized with the installation of escalators and air conditioning, its historical restoration is exemplary. The tiled floors, stained glass windows, balustrades and arches are all restored with an eye for detail.

There are four shopping floors in the building with in total about 200 shops and boutiques, including retail covering fashion, jewelry, antiques and Australian crafts.

Australian Museum

The oldest museum on the continent, the Australian Museum houses an impressive collection of natural history and anthropological artifacts and information from around the world, concentrating heavily on the natural history of Australia and surrounding Pacific regions.

Established in 1827 as “a Publick Museum in New South Wales where it is stated that many rare and curious specimens of Natural History are to be procured,” this Sydney museum has become one of the finest of its kind in the world.

The Collections – Yesterday and Today
In the early days of the Australian Museum, the first organizers collected unique flora and fauna for display in the museum, hoping to entertain and entice the public. The museum quickly became renowned for its unique exhibits, especially its expansive ornithology collection. Indeed, most of the early curators of the museum were taxidermists who set up animal displays that wowed visitors. Soon, however, museum officials became interested in acquiring collections for research purposes and scientists were added to the staff.

It wasn’t until about 3 decades later that curators became interested in anthropology and collecting artifacts from the indigenous peoples of Australia. Eventually, site excavations were carried out and museum’s anthropological collection grew steadily. Historical collections were also expanded, many pertaining to the colonization of Australia. Research centers were added.

Today, displays are presented thematically and the Aboriginal collection at the Australian Museum is one of the most highly-acclaimed of all the displays in this vast museum. The museum has taken a keen interest in Australia’s environments and her biodiversity, educating the public about the continent’s unique natural resources and the cultures of her people.You’ll find sections dedicated to Earth Sciences including geosciences and paleontology; invertebrates and vertebrates; evolutionary biology; environmental sciences like marine and terrestrial ecology; and a fine ethnographic collection of more than 100,000 artifacts from indigenous Australia, the Pacific Region, Asia, Africa and America. Temporary exhibits also visit the museum and change several times a year.

Education
The Australian Museum offers all sorts of special programs and educational events for every member of the family, from lectures and workshops for adults to “Scientist for a Day” programs for the little ones.Performances by local musicians and dance companies are often featured on Sunday afternoons and are suitable for visitors of all ages.