Product Details

• Actors: Rick Steves
• Directors: Graham Loveridge
• Producers: Tracy R. West
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Questar
• VHS Release Date: April 2, 2002
• Run Time: 53 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1568551800
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,508 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This installment in Rick Steves's low-budget public television series Travel the World takes us through the wonders of Austria with visits to Vienna and Salzburg, beginning on the eerily named Grobbin Street--the Ditch--where victims of the Great Plague of 1678 were piled.

A trip to Vienna is essentially a study in the monarchy of the Hapsburgs, the family who ruled Austria for centuries until their defeat in World War I. We visit their palaces, their monuments, and even the Kaisergruft, which holds many of their tombs. The history of the Hapsburgs is interrupted with a look at the sweet foods of the city, with visits to coffeehouses and samplings of the varied rich pastries to be found. Just try not to be enticed by the chocolaty goodness that Steves taunts us with. From there we move to the music, as Vienna is still the music capital of Europe, home to the Vienna Boys Choir and world-famous opera. After a sampling of Austrian wines, Steves catches a train to Melk, where he visits the stunning, restored Benedictine Abbey with its gorgeous ceiling frescoes. Then, a cruise down the Danube and a bike ride along the countryside provide a relaxing way to visit villages.

Eight million tourists come to Salzburg, a city that is incredibly resourceful in marketing its most famous citizen: Mozart. If you journey to the city in August, you can enjoy the music festival, although music is available at all times, often for free in the cathedrals. While in Salzburg, we also visit the castle, the churches, the restaurants, the outdoor market, the pedestrian mall, and of course, the Mozart sights. And what's a trip to Salzburg without a Sound of Music tour? Finally, a trip back to nature Austrian style, with a train ride down to the Lake District, where Steves gets his fill of mountains and lakes in the small village of Hallstatt. Packed with the lush views and helpful travel tips for which Steves has become known, Austria is another informative installment in the Travel the World series, bound to awaken the travel bug sleeping inside you. --Jenny Brown

Product Description

Habsbug palaces, coffee houses, Strauss waltzes, all are part of Vienna. From its famous Opera House and the elegant Schoenbrunn Palace to luscious Saschertorte and bandstands in city parks, Austria's capital still lives its elegant past. Also cruise down the Danube past vineyards and castles. Visit the city's baroque Cathedral, take a funicular up to Europe's greatest medieval fort, see unique budget lodging for hikers, and explore old streets reminiscent of Mozart's time. Relax in the woody "Sound of Music" land - the Salzkammergut Lakes District, drink beer with Augistiner Monks, tour an old salt mine and wander in the tiny village of Hallstatt. 1997 VHS 60 min. Wehman Video Cat. #0587

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Austria travel video on the market, November 9, 2000

By 

JRK "jkunz" (N.H.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Austria: Vienna & The Danube, Salzburg & the Lakes District [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you've seen Rick Steeves on TV, you know his narration is monotone and shows sometimes a bit corny. However, this video does not disappoint. Rick takes you through the major tourist attractions of Vienna and Salzburg but gives the same amount of attention to rural off-beat Austria's wonderful lakes, mountains and villages. After visiting this beautiful country, I didn't think I could find a video that could capture what it felt like to be in both of these extremes, but as long as I can put up with the narration (maybe turn the volume off!), I do get that feeling with this video. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, September 26, 2005

By 

Larena Ann Winn "A. Winn" (Missoula. Mt) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Austria: Vienna & The Danube, Salzburg & the Lakes District [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Received the video in a timely manner. Video quality was poor. Images were grainy and copy didn't run well though all other vhs tapes run fine on my video player. This was intended for use in my german language class but I am not sure I will use it.