Austria

Places in this region

Europe's Oddest Architect

Friedensreich Hundertwasser's eccentric structures delight visitors in Austria, Germany and New Zealand.

Born Friedrich Stowasser in Vienna in 1928, this artist and architect took on the name Friedensreich Regentag Dunkelbunt Hundertwasser. Preferring spirals and curves to straight lines, he... »

Architectural Oddities | Edited by spinkk

World's Oldest Restaurant

Saint Peter's Stiftskeller Salzburg, Austria est: 803

The oldest documented restaurant in continuous operation, St. Peter's Stiftskeller in Salzburg was mentioned in a document by the scholar Alcuin, a follower of Charlemagne, in the year 803. »

Bizarre Restaurants and Bars | Edited by spinkk

Republic of Kugelmugel

A spherical "micro-nation" in the heart of Vienna

After a dispute with the government over construction of his spherical house in central Vienna, the Austrian artist Edwin Lipburger declared his property an independent nation in 1984 and renamed... »

Micro-Nations, Outsider Architecture | Edited by Dylan and Josh

Gasometer Town

Gasometer Town - repurposed natural gas tanks

A Gasometer or a Gas holder is a large container in which natural gas is stored at atmospheric pressure. In the 19th and early 20th century gasometers were used extensively to temporarily store... »

Architectural Oddities | Edited by stanestane

Grottenbahn

Ride a dragon train into a world of dwarves

Advertised as a nostalgic ride for grown-up Austrians, the Linz Grottobahn is a surreal 104-year-old Disney-esque ride through the world of European fairy tales. Built in 1906, the little... »

Follies and Grottoes | Edited by wythe

Boltzmann's Grave

Physicist’s epitaph provides final confirmation to a career of turmoil

Zentralfriedhof, Vienna’s largest and most famous cemetery, is the final resting place for many important Europeans. The cemetery has a particularly notable constituency of composers: Beethoven,... »

| Edited by Trevor

Eisriesenwelt (The World of Ice Giants)

A mammoth ice cavern discovered in 1879

The 65-foot-wide entrance to this massive ice cave gives the feeling of an entrance to another world, and essentially, it is. Beneath the Tennengebirge mountains lies the Eisriesenwelt or "World... »

Curious Caves | Edited by Dylan and michelle

Mozart's Skull: University Mozarteum

Mozart's skull may be held in this collection, but definitive proof continues to elude scientists

The thing about skulls is that, it can be remarkably hard prove whose they were. Of course, one can tell things like gender, age, sometimes history of disease or injury from a skull, therefore... »

Strange Science, Unique Collections, Memento Mori, Relics and Reliquaries, Instruments of Science | Edited by wythe

Minimundus

The world's most important buildings shrunk to a tiny size

Imagine taking all of the most influential and important buildings from around the world, shrinking them, and putting them into a space of 26,000 square meters. Since 1958, that is exactly what... »

Small Worlds and Model Towns | Edited by Dylan

Kremsmunster Observatory

This "mathematical tower" was an observatory, early skyscraper, and place to reflect on all of nature and the cosmos

Today, arguments are often framed as science vs. religion, empiricism vs. spirituality, but not so long ago it was quite normal for science and religion to live side by side, in both buildings and... »

Wonder Cabinets, Strange Science, Natural History, Hunting and Taxidermy, Instruments of Science | Edited by

Obscura Day is coming!

Join us March 20th, 2010 in celebrating wondrous and curious places all over the world. RSVP for expeditions and tours at obscuraday.com.

We are SXSW Web Awards Finalists

Atlas Obscura is a 2010 SXSW Web Awards finalist in the Amusement category. Help us win the People's Choice Award. Vote here.

Recent Activity

Facebook

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Email updates

Stay up to date on Atlas Obscura events, tours, and new features.

Elsewhere on the Web