The crystal-clear, shimmering turquoise water, combined with a steady wind, made Austria's largest inland lake a paradise for sailors and swimmers from an early age.At the same time, the spectacular shoreline landscape attracted painters such as Gustav Klimt, making the lake synonymous with artistic summer holidays.

Imperial flair meets spa and coffee house culture. With its imperial villa, operetta stages and elegant promenades, the former "summer capital of the monarchy" offered a sophisticated flair that attracted court society and artists alike.Its mild sulphur springs and fresh mountain air also made the spa town the epitome of health-conscious relaxation.

Between alpine romance and a world heritage atmosphere, Goisern combined folk music tradition with relaxing nature from early on, while Hallstatt with its prehistoric salt history and spectacular lake location was considered a picturesque jewel.Both places offered authentic country life, which city dwellers found a pleasant contrast to the metropolis.

Elegance by the lake, castles, ceramics and culture. Gmunden shines with Schloss Ort, a fine ceramics tradition and elegant lakeside promenades, which even delighted the Viennese bourgeoisie.The fjord-like Traunsee and the striking Traunstein provided a dramatic backdrop for summer residences and later film classics.

The expansive valley floor, surrounded by densely forested mountain slopes, promised absolute tranquillity; crystal-clear streams and the Almsee lake offered refreshing refreshment.Naturalists such as Konrad Lorenz and holidaymakers alike were attracted by the unspoilt flora and fauna, making Grünau synonymous with "summer holidays in perfect harmony with nature".

Surrounded by gentle limestone mountains and crowned by a baroque collegiate church, Mondsee offers a picture-postcard panorama that attracted wealthy city dwellers to its villa neighbourhoods as early as the 19th century.Early steam navigation and well-developed seaside resorts created ideal conditions for an upmarket seaside holiday.

The emerald-green lake, framed by the Schafberg and Falkenstein mountains, fascinated imperial guests with its magnificent scenery and pure air.The legendary Hotel Weißes Rössl and regular steamboat connections made St. Wolfgang a stylish meeting place for nobility, artists and later film stars.

Spiritual centre, close to the Bohemian Forest. The Cistercian monastery in Schlägl was characterised by a peaceful, spiritual atmosphere that inspired those seeking relaxation and writers such as Adalbert Stifter.The high location on the edge of the Bohemian Forest offered cool summers, clear air and expansive views - ideal conditions for long stays in the countryside.

The mild, stimulating climate, combined with Kneipp cures and mud baths, attracted health-conscious guests as early as the 19th century.The charming market town offered both unagitated country life and well-kept lodging houses far from the urban heat.

Culture, beer tradition and historical flair. The completely preserved medieval town wall created a picturesque ambience, while breweries and summer festivals provided sociable variety.Thanks to the railway connection, Freistadt quickly became a popular destination for bourgeois day trippers and longer summer holidays.

Traditional linen weaving, reverse glass painting and forest landscapes offered an inspiring mix of craftsmanship and nature.Artists' colonies and summer visitors appreciated the quiet creative scene and river baths on the Große Mühl.

The mountain health resort near the Czech border was characterised by its idyllic woodland setting and the tradition of reverse glass painting, which attracted a circle of artists.Cool summer nights (900 metres above sea level) and the centuries-old glassworks made Sandl a creative retreat away from the big spas.

Surrounded by pastures and forests, the village was quick to market its sunny high plateau as the "Mühlviertel sun terrace".Summer guests loved the gentle hikes to log castles and forest chapels as well as authentic farmhouse cuisine in rural tranquillity.

From 1855, the highly concentrated iodine brine spring gave rise to a flourishing spa and bathing business, where the stage and music pavilion attracted sophisticated society.Spacious spa parks with exotic trees, flanked by pretty villas, offered summer guests relaxation in the spicy Alpine foothills.

Nestled between the rugged Limestone Alps and gentle alpine pastures, the former climatic health resort offered refreshing mountain air and an impressive panorama of the Spitzmauer and the Großer Priel. As early as 1900, Linz factory owners and Viennese intellectuals settled here in smart villas to find health and inspiration while hiking and "summer holidays".

The baroque Benedictine monastery with its observatory, pleasure garden and fish ponds lent the town a scholarly and at the same time scenic appearance that fascinated educational travellers and summer visitors alike. Walks along the Krems and into the hilly orchards have been a favourite excursion ritual for urban families since the turn of the century.

A quiet colony developed around the Cistercian monastery, whose guests sought out the view of the mountains of the Alpine foothills.Combined with a mild, stimulating climate and later the glass and cheese culture of the abbey, Schlierbach offered an enjoyable summer retreat far from the crowds of tourists.

Easily accessible thanks to the Pyhrn railway, the market quickly developed into a meeting place for upper-class society, who appreciated elegant hotels, tennis salons and music pavilions. Sheltered in a wide valley basin, Windischgarsten combined a sunny location, a mild, stimulating climate and numerous excursion possibilities into the surrounding Limestone Alps - ideal ingredients for a lively, yet natural summer holiday.

After the discovery of the iodine-sulphur-containing spring in 1918, the town quickly became a hotspot for rheumatism and breathing cures; elegant lodging houses were followed by spa parks with exotic plants. Today, the Eurothermen resort with its extensive water and sauna world provides a contemporary take on the classic spa holiday.

The Engelszell Trappist monastery lent the Danube town a contemplative character; pilgrims and summer holidaymakers alike appreciated the spiritual tranquillity and monastery liqueurs.At the same time, steamboat trips and hiking trails to the spectacular Danube Loop attracted visitors, providing an ideal combination of enjoyment of nature and spiritual contemplation.

Its baroque square framed by arcades is considered one of the most beautiful in Austria and offered summer visitors a picturesque ambience without the hustle and bustle of the big city. The immediate proximity to the bird and nature reserve Unterer Inn made walks along alluvial forests and bathing lakes a popular recreational ritual from early on.

The late Gothic façades and narrow alleyways gave Aschach an almost Venetian feel; the town was already famous in the 19th century for its Danube fish cuisine and balmy summer evenings. River baths, a paddle steamer landing stage and lush orchards attracted holidaymakers looking for a mix of culinary delights and water sports.

The third oldest city in Austria scored with Renaissance arcades, Starhemberg Palace and fertile meadows that invited visitors to take a stroll in summer. Thanks to the railway connection, Linz's bourgeoisie could travel here in comfort to enjoy asparagus, strawberries and cider in the inns - a delightful country outing on the Danube.

The "Mayor's House" and the historic town theatre created a sophisticated backdrop, while the narrow Schlögener Schlinge promised spectacular steamboat rides downstream. Grein became the "golden gateway to the Strudengau": Hikes up the castle hill, river baths and theatre evenings have attracted summer visitors since imperial times.

As the oldest market village on the Danube, Ottensheim has been captivating visitors since 1850 with its shady chestnut avenues and elegant riverside promenade, where steamboats docked. Townspeople from Linz rented summer rooms, combined river baths and rowing regattas with a cosy coffee house culture on the main square.

The pastel-coloured "Silberzeile" facades, Inn promenades and excursion boats already provided the perfect backdrop for holiday postcards in the 19th century. Combined with beer cellars, coffee houses and cycle paths, the baroque border town offered a charming combination of urban culture and river experience.

The magnificent Cistercian abbey, surrounded by alluvial forests, lent the place a contemplative atmosphere. Painters and poets appreciated the play of light over the river.The ferry connection to Linz-Urfahr made day and summer excursions popular, while forest walks and baroque monastery gardens offered relaxation.