Austria Lower Austria

Baden is a spa town in the Austrian state of Lower Austria and the capital of the Baden district, located about 26 km south of Vienna. The town offers several parks and a picturesque surrounding, of which the most frequented is the Helenental valley. Not far from Baden, the valley is crossed by a widespread aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks. At its entrance, on the right bank of the river, lie the ruins of the 12th-century castle of Rauheneck, and at its foot once stood the Château Weilburg, built in 1820–1825 by Archduke Charles of Austria. The composer Ludwig van Beethoven stayed a number of times in Baden, and many of his residences can still be seen today.

Krems is located at the confluence of the Krems and Danube Rivers at the eastern end of Wachau valley, in the southern Waldviertel. Krems is the primary producer of Marillenschnaps, an apricot brandy. There are many major sites both in and around the Old Town. Swimming is available at Kremser Strandbad (indoor swimming pool) and outdoor.

Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and also a well-known wine growing area. The municipality consists of the Katastralgemeinden Dürnstein, Oberloiben and Unterloiben.

The Klosterneuburg Monastery, the existence of which was first documented in 1108 and soon after was given to the Augustinians, is of particular historical importance. On a hill rising directly from the banks of the Danube stand the buildings of the Augustine canonry, founded in 1114. This order is one of the oldest and richest of its kind in Austria; it owns much of the land upon which the north-western suburbs of Vienna stand. Among the points of interest within it are the old chapel, with Leopold's tomb and the Verdun Altar, dating from the 12th century, the treasury and relic-chamber, the library, the picture gallery, the collection of coins, the theological hall, and the winecellar.

Mayerling is a small village in Lower Austria. In 1886 Crown Prince Rudolf, heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown, had a manor made into a hunting lodge. In this lodge, he was found dead with his mistress, apparently a result of suicide. Exactly what happened is a mystery. After their deaths, the Emperor had the building turned into a convent. In the chapel, visitors view the statue of the Madonna, whose face is the image of the Empress and has a dagger in the Heart. The position of the cross in the chapel is supposed to be where the bed of Rudolf and his lover sat. Today the lodge is a museum and tourist attraction. Prayers are still said daily by the nuns for the soul of Crown Prince Rudolf.

Melk is best known as the site of a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. The enchanting town is full of old buildings, in use today as mundane shops and the like. The Forsthaus, which accommodates the city archives and the tourist information office, the beautiful Rathaus built in 1575, which has been restored and is still standing today, the old bread store with its tiny towers is about 400 years old and is still covered with the original shingle roof. The hidden Haus am Stein ('house at the rock') is the oldest building of Melk, built during the 15th century. Its facade is covered by a protected ancient vine.

Tulln an der Donau is a town in the Austrian state of Lower Austria, and the seat of the Tulln district. Because of its abundance of parks and other green spaces, Tulln is often referred to as Blumenstadt, meaning city of flowers. While the town is surrounded by the Tullnerfeld flatland, almost all of its built-up area is located on the southern bank of the Danube. Several important trade fairs, including camping equipment and boat shows, take place in the town. The ship Regentag by Friedensreich Hundertwasser is riding at anchor by the Danube as a part of a modern art museum here since 2004. Aubad is a well known lake in Tulln with many visitors and tourists during spring and summer time.