However, its importance lies in its age, as salt was already being mined here 2600 years ago during the Celtic period. This brings us to the local Celtic Museum. Although it is currently under renovation, the exhibits are still worth seeing, even if presented without spectacular displays, simply accompanied by printed explanations. You can also find additional information in a user-friendly app.

The facts:

Distance: 3.8k km (about 350km per day)

11 days on the road

Time on the moped: 6:02 dd:mm

Fuel: 157 l

Consumption: ~4.1 l/100km

5 countries (6 including Liechtenstein); A, D, CH, (LI), F, SP, I

I don't want to know or calculate the costs in € (and Swiss francs)! But it was a lot.

After 9468.6 km and 300 liters of fuel consumption, we have returned to our starting point.

'Indeed, there is no quieter and more undisturbed refuge for a person than his own soul, especially when he bears qualities within himself, the contemplation of which instantly brings him to a perfectly happy state, a state which I understand solely as moral order. Therefore, grant yourself always this retreat into the inner self and rejuvenate yourself!'
(Marcus Aurelius in the fourth book)

In late antiquity, with complex power dynamics in the Roman Empire, a significant imperial conference took place in the city in 308.
The final decline of Carnuntum was initiated in the middle of the 4th century by a severe earthquake in the region. Throughout the 5th century, Carnuntum was abandoned by its inhabitants.

We begin our tour with a journey via the Austrian railway and arrive relaxed at the Roman outpost in Pannonia despite a replacement bus service for the last twelve miles. The SEV bus passes the Roman site until it reaches the station, the official stop, and we walk for a quarter of an hour back to the excavation site. The admission fee of 15 euros per person is not exactly cheap, as it also includes the museum for the legion camp, which, however, is over 5 km away in the neighboring town, making a visit there impractical. A lower, separate admission price would therefore be appropriate here.

In the onsite museum, almost only the discovered graves are discussed. Thankfully, the grave inscriptions are fully translated. We then go outside to the open-air area, where a large model of the ancient Roman city is exhibited. After a small refreshment with the Austrian specialty Palatschinken in the museum café, we begin our visit to House I, which was inhabited by an olive oil merchant. In addition to amphorae, the typical wax tablets as writing boards can also be seen. Next door are two kilns for pottery.

We then enter the house of Lucius, the first building on the site, which has been reconstructed as part of this experimental archaeology. The large sofa in the living room immediately catches the eye; the Romans have made themselves comfortable. A found stone with the inscription of the name Lucius Maticeius Clemens likely points to the former owner of the property. Next door in the Domus Quarta is the only original preserved floor mosaic in Carnuntum. The last excavated house on Südstraße is House V, where only the foundation walls and parts of the water infrastructure have been reconstructed or uncovered.

>> Continuation in the blog post 'Therme' follows >>

Behind this, we come to the main attraction of the entire complex: the Roman spa. Visiting such spas with their heated rooms and water basins was a key part of Roman life. This reconstructed building is the only Roman spa in the world that has been built to be fully functional at its original site using ancient construction techniques, complete with underfloor heating. During our visit, the underfloor heating is even operational, creating a sauna-like atmosphere in the rooms with the water basins. The two water basins are always located under an archway. I did not test if the toilet facilities functioned with the typical 'mass seating'. However, these 'restrooms' were often used during Roman times for business deals during 'extended sessions'. We were able to visit an original excavated example of such a sanitary facility in the ruins of Ostia, near Rome. Here is my blog post about it: The ancient port city of Ostia

Our path then led us back through fields to the Heidentor, which still retains one arch. Originally, the arches connected four powerful square columns. Using a drawing on a glass panel, I captured this original form photographically. This glass panel is truly a great idea.

It is quite astonishing that these wall remnants have survived for such a long time. There is still disagreement among scholars regarding the origin and purpose of this gigantic structure. It is likely that the construction served as a monument in the second half of the 4th century during the reign of Emperor Valentinian I, whose reign was marked by the defense against Germanic raiders along the Limes at the Rhine and Danube. The figure pedestal, about four meters high, in the middle of the Heidentor also suggests it might have been a commemorative monument.

With another extensive walk, we now reach the train station and the bus for the rail replacement service. We still have some time, which we want to spend a bit in Vienna.

>> Continuation in the blog post Vienna Belvedere >>

We are taking City Train 7 from the Roman town of Carnuntum to Vienna, where dirty and smelly beggars stand out unpleasantly in the train. Along with the numerous graffiti in the city, they are the ultimate sign of a civilizational decline. I have never experienced both in the Metro in Beijing, Hangzhou, or Xi'an in China.

The journey goes to the Rennweg station, and we walk along the same-named street to the northwest. We pass by the Palais Metternich, which the Chancellor purchased after its construction. Metternich was one of Europe's leading politicians and played a significant role at the Congress of Vienna in 1814/1815 following Napoleon's fall, influencing the political and territorial reorganization of Europe. In 1908, the Italian government acquired the representative building, which is now home to the Italian embassy.

Our stop in Vienna, however, is the Belvedere Palace, through whose gardens we wish to stroll. The palace complex served as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy and was built between 1712 and 1723. It is divided into two palatial complexes, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, with a height difference of about 23 meters, which is overcome by the Shell Fountain and the Cascade Fountain. The figures displayed do not match my taste at all, and a sculpture ensemble in a fountain looks more like the aftermath of a heavy drinking night. The Sphinx figures even appear quite disturbing.

The palace garden in the Upper Belvedere leaves a neglected and desolate impression; during the prince's time, this part definitely looked more orderly. Even a small robotic mower seems to have gotten stuck on the lawn or has run out of battery. In contrast, the colorful floral arrangement on the other side of the Upper Palace invites photography, at least after a somewhat bewildered person finishes their walk on the lawn along the water basin. A seemingly mischievous-looking lion with the coat of arms of Prince Eugene of Savoy bids us farewell at the portal of the Belvedere complex. By the way, the prince kept a lion as a pet.

We leave the monarchic garden complex and walk through the modern ensemble of buildings from the “Erste Campus” and office buildings in front of the main train station, which express the cleanliness and modernity that a European capital should have.

Upon arriving at the station, our Railjet is announced with a 10-minute delay. Nevertheless, we stroll to the platform and board the provided train heading to Bregenz/Munich. I am not worried about the delay since we have a half-hour transfer time in Linz ahead of us. However, somehow the Austrian Federal Railways seem to have adopted the methods of Deutsche Bahn, as the departure time of the train is constantly being pushed back on the displays. At some point, our half-hour buffer for our transfer is also used up, and I search the ÖBB app for alternative travel options. And so we get off the train again and take the InterCity at the opposite platform, which at least stops in Wels, strengthening our onward travel options. Finally, we arrive at our destination, Schärding, an hour later, which now clearly proves that not only does DB know how to cause “delays,” but so does ÖBB.

Overall, it was a very successful trip to Pannonia, deeply immersing in the ancient Roman culture and tracing the former glory of the Habsburg monarchy. Those wishing to explore Vienna a bit further can do so here: Museum Stroll in Vienna

Today’s morning - sunshine, slightly cloudy at 6 degrees. It was a bit fresh for the ladies in the roof tent. 😀 But the sleep was very restful and rejuvenating. For breakfast, cornflakes and Nutella bread, along with a coffee and a glass of water. Now the day can start…

⛰️ Hirnkopf is the name of the mountain we intend to climb today. We aim to reach over 1,820m. Between cows and blooming landscapes, it was quite a steep ascent. Our youngest took her power naps from time to time, while Luis showed so much strength and endurance that Mom and Dad had trouble keeping up with him.

At the very top of Hirnkopf, we celebrated by tapping the summit cross, took photos, and were immensely happy. We were proud that both our little ones managed to hold on for so long. Now, during the descent, we will process our impressions and talk about what we saw and enjoyed. 🥰⛰️☀️

Not long now, and we will be at Lake Wörther… 🐟💦☀️

Sometimes a rest day can be almost more tiring than a travel day. After all, time is not just for resting! I chose the apartment here in Linz because it has a washing machine. Finally, a chance to wash my clothes again.

However, of course, I also want to see and experience something. For me, that means covering several kilometers on foot. During yesterday's evening stroll and today's day hike to Pöstlingberg and through Linz, I covered over 15 kilometers and more than 300 meters of elevation. An effort that was worth it and gave me many new insights into a city I did not know at all before.

If you look at my photos, you can see a bit of that too.

The Ars Electronica Center is illuminated in the evening with thousands of LEDs in all colors.

I conquered Pöstlingberg on foot; it's a very steep climb. To also experience the steepest adhesion railway in the world, I chose not to walk back down. The ascent is approximately 220 meters of elevation. It’s a Stations of the Cross, which is also its name.

The Mariendom is the largest church in Austria, and it certainly should not be missing from my tour.

Today was a particularly beautiful day, an ideal cycling day! The sky was once again almost entirely blue and, most remarkably, there was practically no wind. A feeling that felt almost foreign 😊

After I had to ride a few kilometers on the road towards the end of yesterday's tour, I feared it would continue like that today. But it turned out quite differently; in fact, I never had to cycle on a busy road. Most of the time, I made progress along the 'Treppelweg.' I found the following regarding the term Treppelweg:

* **Original function:** These paths were once used to pull ships upstream ('treppeln'). This was usually done by draught animals (horses) or human power.

* **Origin of the name:** The word is derived from the Middle High German 'treppen,' meaning 'to step' or 'to walk.'

* **Modern use:** Since modern ships have their own engines, towpaths today are almost exclusively used as cycling or hiking trails (e.g., along the Danube).

These paths are usually very nice and wide, allowing cyclists to pass each other comfortably. They are mostly located on the embankments used for flood protection but can sometimes be found beside them or right by the water.

Today's stage was very short at only 61 kilometers. Nevertheless, I'm taking another rest day tomorrow. The reason is that otherwise, I would arrive in the Black Forest far too early and would have to wait there. So, I will continue to do rather short tours over the next few days and take a rest day in interesting cities.

Linz, which I reached today, is the third-largest city in Austria. It has a lot to offer, and I want to see some of it since I have never been here before. I'd love to take you along and show you the city through pictures.

I have rented an apartment here that also has a washing machine. Every now and then that's necessary, and since I have a rest day, I also have time to do some laundry.

***

English 

Route: 61 kilometers, total: 1,344 kilometers | Elevation gain: 140 m, total elevation gain: 5,539 m, distance from home: 483 kilometers (as the crow flies)

Today was a particularly beautiful day, an ideal cycling day! Once again, the sky was almost entirely blue and, most surprisingly, there was practically no wind. A feeling that felt almost foreign 😊

After having to cycle a few kilometers on the road towards the end of yesterday's tour, I feared it would continue like that today. But it turned out quite differently; in fact, I never had to ride on a busy road. Most of the time, I progressed along the 'Treppelweg' (towpath). I found the following regarding the term Treppelweg:

* **Original function:** These paths were formerly used to pull ships upstream ('treppeln'). This was usually done by draft animals (horses) or human power.

* **Origin of the name:** The word is derived from the Middle High German 'treppen,' meaning 'to step' or 'to walk.'

* **Modern use:** Since modern ships have their own engines, towpaths today are used almost exclusively as cycling or hiking trails (e.g., along the Danube).

These paths are usually very nice and wide, allowing cyclists to pass each other easily. They are mostly located on the embankment used for flood protection, but sometimes also beside it or directly by the water.

Today's stage was very short at only 61 kilometers. Nevertheless, I'm taking another rest day tomorrow. The reason is that otherwise, I would arrive in the Black Forest far too early and would have to wait there. So, I will continue to do rather short tours over the next few days and take a rest day in interesting cities.

Linz, which I reached today, is the third-largest city in Austria. It has a lot to offer, and I want to see some of it since I have never been here before. I'd love to take you along and show you the city through pictures.

I have rented an apartment here that also has a washing machine. Every now and then that's necessary, and with a rest day, I also have time to do some laundry.

***

Español

Ruta: 61 kilómetros, acumulado: 1.344 kilómetros | Desnivel: 140 m, desnivel acumulado: 5.539 m, distancia desde casa: 483 kilómetros (en línea recta)

¡Hoy ha sido un día especialmente bonito, un día ideal para el ciclismo! El cielo volvía a estar casi completamente azul y, lo más sorprendente, prácticamente no soplaba el viento. Una sensación casi desconocida 😊

Después de tener que circular algunos kilómetros por carretera al final de la etapa de ayer, temía que hoy continuara igual. Pero fue muy distinto; de hecho, no tuve que circular en ningún momento por una carretera con mucho tráfico. La mayor parte del tiempo avancé por el 'Treppelweg' (camino de sirga). He encontrado lo siguiente sobre el término Treppelweg:

* **Función original:** Antiguamente, estos caminos se utilizaban para remolcar barcos río arriba ('treppeln'). Esto se hacía generalmente con animales de tiro (caballos) o fuerza humana.

* **Origen del nombre:** La palabra deriva del alto alemán medio 'treppen', que significa 'pisar' o 'caminar'.

* **Uso actual:** Como hoy en día los barcos tienen sus propios motores, los caminos de sirga se utilizan ahora casi exclusivamente como rutas de ciclismo o senderismo (por ejemplo, a lo largo del Danubio).

Estos caminos suelen ser muy bonitos y anchos, lo que permite que los ciclistas se crucen sin problemas. Normalmente están sobre el dique de protección contra inundaciones, aunque a veces se encuentran al lado o directamente junto al agua.

La etapa de hoy ha sido muy corta, de sólo 61 kilómetros. Aun así, mañana volveré a tomarme un día de descanso. El motivo es que, de lo contrario, llegaría demasiado pronto a la Selva Negra y tendría que esperar allí. Por eso, en los próximos días haré rutas más bien cortas y descansaré en las ciudades que me resulten interesantes.

Linz, donde he llegado hoy, es la tercera ciudad más grande de Austria. Tiene mucho que ofrecer y quiero ver parte de ella, ya que nunca había estado aquí. Me encantará llevarte conmigo y mostrarte la ciudad a través de fotos.

He alquilado un apartamento que tiene lavadora. De vez en cuando es necesario, y con un día de descanso también tengo tiempo para lavar la ropa.

I don't know exactly how many times I have crossed the Danube on my journey. Today alone it was twice, once with a small ferry, a so-called reaction ferry. The system is simple and energy-efficient. The small ferries in Basel work the same way.

However, it took me four attempts to get to the other side. One bridge was closed to cyclists due to construction, and the next two small ferries weren't running or only much later. These side changes wouldn't have been strictly necessary, as the Danube Cycle Path exists on both sides. Komoot apparently pays attention to where you have to cycle less on roads.

It was dry today, but quite cool. So I still had to take a break to put on two more layers. Later it got warmer again and I could take them off. Sometimes the sun even broke through, and it became increasingly pleasant.

The Danube Cycle Path often leads through villages. The area here is called Wachau and is very well known for its excellent wines. The villages, many of them with a castle, are partly very old and quite well maintained. I found them very picturesque and would have loved to take many more photos.

Shipping traffic on the Danube was very heavy today. I was surprised how many of these river cruise ships there are here. Some of them were even flying the Swiss flag.

Today I didn’t have to choose between rain or wind; I had more than enough of both.

I set off shortly after eight and was able to take it easy. I had planned a 'short' tour for today. Krems was the destination, about 85 kilometers away and perfectly flat. Nevertheless, the mostly flat terrain resulted in a total ascent of 260 metres. Compared to two weeks ago, I am now cycling up the Danube, which means there is an incline every day.

The route through Vienna was short and almost entirely on cycle paths. Then I rode for a few kilometres along the Vienna Canal until I reached the Danube after about 9 kilometres.

Shortly after that is the pier for cruise ships. Many were moored there, sometimes several side by side. On the one hand, I felt sorry for the tourists who had to visit Vienna in this cold and wet weather. On the other hand, I envied them for the warm, dry, and windless rooms on their ship. In the end, though, it would be too boring for me. Where is the adventure and the will to persevere?

I dressed warmly and stayed dry. My rain trousers, which I wore over my cycling shorts, kept me dry and therefore warm all day. There was nothing to complain about! On top, I wore two thin windbreakers. I pulled the hood of one over my head under the helmet and felt very comfortable.

Since I had both batteries fully charged, the capacity was easily enough to reach the day's goal despite the headwind.

I didn't take my '30-km break' until after more than 42 kilometres. It was the first opportunity to eat and drink something in a dry and sheltered spot.

My lunch break also had to wait a bit; I was really looking forward to my warm noodles. I found a free table in the middle of the forest when, miraculously, it stopped raining for a short time. You can find a photo of this cosy lunch in this report.

During this break, a few cyclists passed by, but all were heading downstream. Throughout the entire day, not a single cyclist was riding upstream like me. At least, I didn't see any.

Eventually, I had to cross the Danube, as Krems is on the other side of the river. I was so disappointed when the path over a power station and a lock was blocked by a 'no entry' sign and a barrier. However, just as I was reluctantly about to take the other way, I noticed that a passage was open for cyclists. After crossing the Danube, I followed the beautiful path on the dam for kilometres without meeting anyone else.

So, I found my way to the hotel without further incident. The room is clean but must be reached by climbing over 50 steps. The comfort is nowhere near that of the last few nights. But after a good meal and two glasses of wine, I’m sure I’ll sleep well. And tomorrow, the journey continues.

***

English

Route: 87 kilometres, cumulative: 1,198 kilometres | Elevation gain: 260 m, cumulative elevation gain: 4,569 m, distance from home: 579 kilometres (as the crow flies)

Today I didn’t have to choose between rain or wind; I had more than enough of both.

I set off shortly after eight and was able to take it easy. I had planned a 'short' tour for today. Krems was the destination, about 85 kilometres away and perfectly flat. Nevertheless, the mostly flat terrain resulted in a total ascent of 260 metres. Compared to two weeks ago, I am now cycling up the Danube, which means there is an incline every day.

The route through Vienna was short and almost entirely on cycle paths. Then I rode for a few kilometres along the Vienna Canal until I reached the Danube after about 9 kilometres.

Shortly after that is the pier for cruise ships. Many were moored there, sometimes several side by side. On the one hand, I felt sorry for the tourists who had to visit Vienna in this cold and wet weather. On the other hand, I envied them for the warm, dry, and windless rooms on their ship. In the end, though, it would be too boring for me. Where is the adventure and the will to persevere?

I dressed warmly and stayed dry. My rain trousers, which I wore over my cycling shorts, kept me dry and therefore warm all day. There was nothing to complain about! On top, I wore two thin windbreakers. I pulled the hood of one over my head under the helmet and felt very comfortable.

Since I had both batteries fully charged, the capacity was easily enough to reach the day's goal despite the headwind.

I didn't take my '30-km break' until after more than 42 kilometres. It was the first opportunity to eat and drink something in a dry and sheltered spot.

My lunch break also had to wait a bit; I was really looking forward to my warm noodles. I found a free table in the middle of the forest when, miraculously, it stopped raining for a short time. You can find a photo of this cosy lunch in this report.

During this break, a few cyclists passed by, but all were heading downstream. Throughout the entire day, not a single cyclist was riding upstream like me. At least, I didn't see any.

Eventually, I had to cross the Danube, as Krems is on the other side of the river. I was so disappointed when the path over a power station and a lock was blocked by a 'no entry' sign and a barrier. However, just as I was reluctantly about to take the other way, I noticed that a passage was open for cyclists. After crossing the Danube, I followed the beautiful path on the dam for kilometres without meeting anyone else.

So, I found my way to the hotel without further incident. The room is clean but must be reached by climbing over 50 steps. The comfort is nowhere near that of the last few nights. But after a good meal and two glasses of wine, I’m sure I’ll sleep well. And tomorrow, the journey continues.

***

Español

Ruta: 87 kilómetros, acumulados: 1.198 kilómetros | Desnivel: 260 m, desnivel acumulado: 4.569 m, distancia desde casa: 579 kilómetros (en línea recta)

Hoy no tuve que elegir entre lluvia o viento; tuve más que suficiente de ambos.

Salí poco después de las ocho y pude tomármelo con calma. Había planeado una etapa 'corta' para hoy. El destino era Krems, a unos 85 kilómetros de distancia y totalmente llano. Sin embargo, lo que parecía casi llano resultó en un ascenso total de 260 metros. A diferencia de hace dos semanas, ahora subo por el Danubio, por lo que cada día hay una subida.

El trayecto por Viena fue corto y casi todo por carriles bici. Luego pedaleé unos kilómetros por el canal de Viena hasta que llegué al Danubio después de unos 9 kilómetros.

Poco después se encuentra el muelle de los cruceros. Había muchos amarrados, a veces incluso varios uno al lado del otro. Por un lado, sentía lástima por los turistas que tenían que visitar Viena con este tiempo frío y húmedo. Por otro lado, los envidiaba por las habitaciones cálidas, secas y sin viento de su barco. Pero al final, me resultaría demasiado aburrido. ¿Dónde quedarían la aventura y el espíritu de superación?

Me vestí de forma cálida y seca. Mis pantalones de lluvia, que me puse sobre el culote, me mantuvieron seco y, por tanto, caliente durante todo el día. ¡No hubo de qué quejarse! Arriba me puse dos cortavientos finos uno sobre otro. Me puse la capucha de uno de ellos bajo el casco y me sentí muy cómodo en todo el cuerpo.

Como tenía las dos baterías totalmente cargadas, la capacidad fue suficiente para alcanzar el objetivo del día a pesar del viento en contra.

No hice mi descanso de los 30 km hasta después de más de 42 kilómetros. Fue la primera oportunidad para comer y beber algo en un lugar seco y resguardado del viento.

Mi pausa para almorzar también tuvo que esperar un poco; tenía muchas ganas de comer mis fideos calientes. Encontré una mesa libre en medio del bosque cuando, por arte de magia, dejó de llover por un corto tiempo. En este informe encontrarás una foto de este agradable almuerzo.

Durante el descanso pasaron algunos ciclistas, pero todos iban río abajo. En todo el día, no vi a ningún otro ciclista subiendo el Danubio como yo. Al menos, no me crucé con ninguno.

En algún momento tuve que cruzar el Danubio, ya que Krems está al otro lado del río. Qué decepción me llevé cuando el camino sobre una central eléctrica y una esclusa estaba bloqueado por una señal de prohibido el paso y una barrera. Sin embargo, cuando ya me disponía a tomar el otro camino de mala gana, me di cuenta de que había un paso abierto para ciclistas. Tras cruzar el Danubio, seguí el hermoso camino sobre el dique durante kilómetros sin encontrarme con nadie.

Así llegué a mi hotel sin más incidentes. La habitación está limpia, pero hay que subir más de 50 escalones para llegar a ella. El confort no se compara, ni de lejos, con el de las últimas noches. Pero después de una buena cena y dos copas de vino, seguro que dormiré bien. Y mañana, la aventura continúa.

Route: 0 kilometers, cumulative: 1,111 kilometers | Elevation gain: 0, cumulative elevation gain: 4,309 meters, distance from home: 635 kilometers (as the crow flies)**

I have visited Vienna several times before. However, it has rained practically every time, which is why I do not have the best memories of this city. Therefore, I was not surprised when it rained again this morning. But what luck, suddenly and unexpectedly the sun appeared. What joy!

I believe that Vienna has much in common with Rome. One beautiful building follows another. Even on dreary days, there is a lot to discover.

I even participated in a service at the cathedral. This gave me plenty of time to admire the building from the inside as well. In my personal prayer, I thanked God for allowing me to experience these trips, especially at the age of 79.

Before leaving the hotel, I compiled my tours into collections. You can find the assembled tours from May 2nd to 14th via this link:

https://www.komoot.com/de-de/collection/4343915/-runde-von-wien-ueber-ungarn-nach-wien

Check out today's pictures. They show a small glimpse of the sights in Vienna. I just finished today's rest day with a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater.

***

English

**Route: 0 kilometers, cumulative: 1,111 kilometers | Elevation gain: 0, cumulative elevation gain: 4,309 meters, distance from home: 635 kilometers (as the crow flies)**

I have been to Vienna several times before. However, it rained practically every time, so I don't have the best memories of this city. Thus, I wasn't surprised when it rained again this morning. But what luck – suddenly and unexpectedly, the sun came out. What a joy!

I think Vienna has a lot in common with Rome. One beautiful building after another. Even in gloomy weather, there is much to discover.

I even attended a service in the cathedral. This gave me plenty of time to look at the building from the inside as well. In personal prayer, I thanked God that I am able to experience these journeys, especially at the age of 79.

Before I left the hotel, I put together collections of my tours. You can find the compiled tours from May 2nd to 14th via this link:

https://www.komoot.com/de-de/collection/4343915/-runde-von-wien-ueber-ungarn-nach-wien

Take a look at today's pictures. They show a small selection of the sights in Vienna. I have just finished today's day of rest with a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater.

***

 Español 

Ruta: 0 kilómetros, acumulados: 1.111 kilómetros | Desnivel: 0, desnivel acumulado: 4.309 metros, distancia desde casa: 635 kilómetros (en línea recta)

He estado en Viena varias veces. Sin embargo, prácticamente siempre ha llovido, por lo que no guardo el mejor recuerdo de esta ciudad. Así que no me sorprendió que hoy también lloviera por la mañana. Pero qué suerte, de repente y de forma inesperada, salió el sol. ¡Qué alegría!

Creo que Viena tiene mucho en común con Roma. Un edificio hermoso sigue al otro. Incluso con un clima gris, hay mucho por descubrir.

Incluso asistí a una misa en la catedral. Así tuve mucho tiempo para ver el edificio también por dentro. En una oración personal, di gracias a Dios por poder vivir estos viajes, y más aún a la edad de 79 años.

Antes de salir del hotel, organicé mis rutas en colecciones. A través de este enlace encontrarás las rutas recopiladas del 2 al 14 de mayo:

https://www.komoot.com/de-de/collection/4343915/-runde-von-wien-ueber-ungarn-nach-wien

Echa un vistazo a las fotos de hoy. En ellas verás una pequeña muestra de los lugares de interés de Viena. Acabo de terminar el día de descanso de hoy con un viaje en la noria gigante del Prater.

Did you notice that I reached the first thousand kilometers on this tour yesterday? I didn’t really notice it myself, as it wasn’t a special event or a goal. I’ll probably reach that mark again before I get home, since it's already over 600 kilometers as the crow flies.

However, I do have one special joy. With my arrival in Vienna today, I have come full circle after the detour to visit Gery and Heidi. And that was my main reason for doing this Pannonian tour in the first place. I was able to bring joy to my brother-in-law and his wife, but the greatest joy was for myself.

I only really encountered roads at the beginning and the end of today’s tour. Otherwise, I only saw bike paths, the longest being the Thermenradweg. It ran along the Neustädter Kanal for almost the entire way. Since it was often calm today, I was able to take beautiful photos of reflections from the opposite bank at the start.

Otherwise, there were few opportunities to take interesting photos. I simply enjoyed nature and the peace and quiet. If only it weren't for the constant sound of my motor. Otherwise, I would have to ride without this support, for which I am often very grateful.

In Vienna, there are many bike paths and even bicycle streets. These do have traffic, but bicycles have the right of way. I know this from Basel as well. Perhaps they exist in other places too?

I really like the hotel I booked for two nights. I used AI for the search here as well. It significantly shortens the selection time because it searches according to the criteria you enter. I made the actual booking via Booking.com yesterday. I wanted to make sure there was space.

I don't have any plans for my free time here. I will probably mostly be on foot or using public transport. You'll find out then.

***

English

Route: 58 kilometers, cumulative: 1,111 kilometers | Elevation gain: 180 meters, cumulative elevation gain: 4,309 meters, distance from home: 635 kilometers (as the crow flies)

Did you notice that I reached the first thousand kilometers on this tour yesterday? I didn’t really notice it myself, as it wasn’t a special event or a goal. I’ll probably reach that mark again before I get home, since it's already over 600 kilometers as the crow flies.

However, I do have one special joy. With my arrival in Vienna today, I have come full circle after the detour to visit Gery and Heidi. And that was my main reason for doing this Pannonian tour in the first place. I was able to bring joy to my brother-in-law and his wife, but the greatest joy was for myself.

I only really encountered roads at the beginning and the end of today’s tour. Otherwise, I only saw bike paths, the longest being the Thermenradweg. It ran along the Neustädter Kanal for almost the entire way. Since it was often calm today, I was able to take beautiful photos of reflections from the opposite bank at the start.

Otherwise, there were few opportunities to take interesting photos. I simply enjoyed nature and the peace and quiet. If only it weren't for the constant sound of my motor. Otherwise, I would have to ride without this support, for which I am often very grateful.

In Vienna, there are many bike paths and even bicycle streets. These do have traffic, but bicycles have the right of way. I know this from Basel as well. Perhaps they exist in other places too?

I really like the hotel I booked for two nights. I used AI for the search here as well. It significantly shortens the selection time because it searches according to the criteria you enter. I made the actual booking via Booking.com yesterday. I wanted to make sure there was space.

I don't have any plans for my free time here. I will probably mostly be on foot or using public transport. You'll find out then.

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Español

Ruta: 58 kilómetros, acumulados: 1.111 kilómetros | Desnivel: 180 metros, desnivel acumulado: 4.309 metros, distancia desde casa: 635 kilómetros (en línea recta)

¿Te diste cuenta de que ayer alcancé los primeros mil kilómetros en este recorrido? Yo mismo no me di cuenta, ya que no fue un evento especial ni una meta. Probablemente vuelva a alcanzar esa cifra antes de llegar a casa, ya que en línea recta ya son más de 600 kilómetros.

Sin embargo, tengo una alegría especial. Con mi llegada hoy a Viena, he cerrado el círculo con el desvío para visitar a Gery y Heidi. Y esa fue mi razón principal para hacer este tour por Panonia. Así pude darles una alegría a mi cuñado y a su mujer, pero la mayor alegría fue para mí mismo.

En mi recorrido de hoy, prácticamente solo me encontré con carreteras al principio y al final. Por lo demás, solo vi carriles bici, el más largo de ellos el Thermenradweg. Este transcurría casi todo el tiempo junto al canal de Neustadt. Como hoy apenas soplaba el viento, al principio pude hacer fotos preciosas con reflejos de la orilla opuesta.

Por lo demás, hubo pocas oportunidades para hacer fotos interesantes. Simplemente disfruté de la naturaleza y del silencio. Si no fuera por el constante ruido de mi motor... De lo contrario, tendría que pedalear sin ese apoyo, del cual a menudo estoy muy agradecido.

En Viena hay muchos carriles bici y también calles para bicicletas. Estas últimas tienen tráfico, pero las bicis tienen prioridad. Esto también lo conozco de Basilea. ¿Quizás existan en otros lugares también?

El hotel que reservé para dos noches me gusta muchísimo. Aquí también utilicé la IA para la búsqueda. Eso acorta mucho el tiempo de elección, ya que busca según los criterios que uno introduce. Hice la reserva directamente a través de Booking.com ayer mismo; quería asegurarme de que hubiera sitio.

No tengo planes para mi tiempo libre aquí. Probablemente me mueva sobre todo a pie o en transporte público. Ya te enterarás.

...has completely fallen into the water. Our now traditional May short vacation has been completely sacrificed to the Ice Saints. The planned hike from AustriaCamp Mondsee to Almkogel was abandoned after just about 2km due to rain. We are not fussy and have completed several tours even in downpours... but starting out in the rain when there is no pressing need to get from A to B and we could just stay at the campsite felt a bit too unappealing, especially considering that the temperature has not left the single digits.

So we briefly visited the church in St. Lorenz, played a bit with MiB's RC Crawler on the beach at the campsite, and then retreated to our camper next to the heating lamp... maybe it will be better tomorrow.

I must admit that my original plan looked different. Actually, I wanted to ride back to Vienna along the Danube. But I’ve already seen that, and a visit to Lake Balaton was very appealing to me. Additionally, I have enough of a time buffer and didn’t even lose anything by taking this ‘detour.’ On the contrary, I’ve seen and experienced so much that I wouldn’t want to miss it. But now I’m nearing the end of my circular tour; after Vienna, my journey will continue along the Danube as planned for a few more weeks. I’m happy if you continue to accompany me.

During the night, I woke up with severe pain in the middle toe of my left foot. I tried to relieve the pain by massaging it, unfortunately without success. I finally asked my friend AI. It suggested that it was probably due to my cycling shoes. To remedy the pain, it recommended elevating my foot. A bit sceptical, I did just that. And lo and behold: I slept wonderfully afterwards.

When I got up at 6 a.m., the sky was cloudless and a wonderful blue. This filled me with energy, and full of joy for today’s tour, I started shortly after 8 a.m.

Walking through the city, I realised that a stroll the evening before would certainly have been nice. But with the strong wind, I just didn’t want to anymore. Outside the city, the route followed a path that was also labelled as such on Komoot. ‘Path’ can mean just about anything, and several times I've been stuck on a path or had to push my bike. This time it was a path that couldn’t touch me because I was so full of energy. The 3-kilometre-long path was really fun despite all sorts of adversities. You might be able to see that in the photos. This is one of the reasons why I love this way of travelling and why I prefer to be on my own. Do you understand that?

I had planned a short distance, just to the Austrian border. The last place I rode through is called Sopron. However, I didn't see this name anywhere, so I thought I wasn’t there yet. The place was called: Ödenburg. That is simply the German name for it. I never encountered this name during my preparations.

Crossing the border was easy. Getting across the streets by bike was not. Look at the route on Komoot; the path is almost impossible to find.

Shortly after the border, I was still full of energy and wanted to go a bit further. Finally, I found a hotel in Wiener Neustadt. But that was another 33 hilly kilometres. Unlike the last few days, the wind wasn’t so much against me; in fact, it even helped me at times. On the other hand, there was work being done on the railway line, which led to four additional diversions.

Ultimately, I arrived at the hotel in good time. To get to the hotel, I had to ride through a petrol station – an ideal opportunity to increase my tyre pressure. That’s probably the reason why my speedometer always shows a few more kilometres than the Komoot GPS.

***

English

**Route: 111 kilometers, cumulative: 1,053 kilometers | Elevation gain: 870 m, cumulative elevation gain: 4,129 m, distance from home: 619 kilometers (as the crow flies)**

I must admit that my original plan looked different. Actually, I wanted to ride all the way back to Vienna along the Danube. But I’ve already seen that, and a visit to Lake Balaton was very appealing to me. Additionally, I have enough of a time buffer and didn't even lose anything by taking this 'detour.' On the contrary, I’ve seen and experienced so much that I wouldn't want to miss it. But now I’m nearing the end of my circular tour; after Vienna, my journey will continue along the Danube as planned for a few more weeks. I’m happy if you continue to accompany me.

During the night, I woke up with severe pain in the middle toe of my left foot. I tried to relieve the pain by massaging it, unfortunately without success. I finally asked my friend AI. It suggested that it was probably due to my cycling shoes. To remedy the pain, it recommended elevating my foot. A bit sceptical, I did just that. And lo and behold: I slept wonderfully afterwards.

When I got up at 6 a.m. anyway, the sky was cloudless and a wonderful blue. This filled me with energy, and full of joy for today's tour, I started shortly after 8 a.m.

Walking through the city, I realised that a stroll the evening before would certainly have been nice. But with the strong wind, I just didn't want to anymore. Outside the city, the route followed a path that was also labelled as such on Komoot. 'Path' can mean just about anything, and several times I've been stuck on a path or had to push my bike. This time it was a path that couldn't touch me because I was so full of energy. The 3-kilometre-long path was really fun despite all sorts of adversities. You might be able to see that in the photos. This is one of the reasons why I love this way of travelling and why I prefer to be on my own. Do you understand that?

I had planned a short distance, just to the Austrian border. The last place I rode through is called Sopron. However, I didn't see this name anywhere, so I thought I wasn't there yet. The place was called: Ödenburg. That is simply the German name for it. I never encountered this name during my preparations.

Crossing the border was easy. Getting across the streets by bike was not. Look at the route on Komoot; the path is almost impossible to find.

Shortly after the border, I was still full of energy and wanted to go a bit further. Finally, I found a hotel in Wiener Neustadt. But that was another 33 hilly kilometres. Unlike the last few days, the wind wasn't so much against me; in fact, it even helped me at times. On the other hand, there was work being done on the railway line, which led to four additional diversions.

Ultimately, I arrived at the hotel in good time. To get to the hotel, I had to ride through a petrol station – an ideal opportunity to increase my tyre pressure. That’s probably the reason why my speedometer always shows a few more kilometres than the Komoot GPS.

***

Español

**Ruta: 111 kilómetros, acumulado: 1.053 kilómetros | Desnivel: 870 m, desnivel acumulado: 4.129 m, distancia desde casa: 619 kilómetros (en línea recta)**

Debo admitir que mi plan original era diferente. En realidad, quería volver a Viena siguiendo todo el camino por el Danubio. Pero eso ya lo he visto, y una visita al lago Balatón me resultaba muy atractiva. Además, tengo suficiente margen y con este «desvío» ni siquiera he perdido tiempo. Al contrario, he visto y vivido tanto que no me lo querría haber perdido. Pero ahora estoy llegando al final de mi ruta circular; después de Viena, mi viaje continuará según lo previsto por el Danubio durante unas semanas más. Me alegra que me sigas acompañando.

Durante la noche me desperté con un fuerte dolor en el dedo medio del pie izquierdo. Intenté aliviar el dolor con masajes, pero lamentablemente sin éxito. Finalmente, consulté a mi amigo IA. Me dijo que probablemente se debía a mis zapatillas de ciclismo. Para remediar el dolor, me recomendó poner el pie en alto. Un poco escéptico, lo hice. Y para mi sorpresa, después dormí de maravilla.

Cuando me levanté a las 6 de la mañana a pesar de todo, el cielo estaba despejado y de un azul maravilloso. Esto me llenó de energía y, con mucha ilusión por la etapa de hoy, me puse en marcha poco después de las 8.

Al atravesar la ciudad, me di cuenta de que un paseo la noche anterior habría sido agradable. Pero con el fuerte viento, simplemente ya no tenía ganas. Fuera de la ciudad, la ruta seguía un camino que también aparecía como tal en Komoot. ]]>https://vakantio.de/en/blog/pannonientour/12-nach-wiener-neustadthttps://vakantio.de/en/blog/pannonientour/12-nach-wiener-neustadtWed, 13 May 2026 18:24:00 GMT47.812986716.2455634https://vakantio.de/en/blog/mein-praxistoern/anreise-nach-kroatienhttps://vakantio.de/en/blog/mein-praxistoern/anreise-nach-kroatienFri, 13 Mar 2026 21:44:00 GMT47.488801714.4853189Located directly in the basement of the Steffl department store in Vienna, the exhibition “Myth of Mozart,” which opened in 2022, is situated here for a reason: this building is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived, worked, and died.

It is a distinctly tourist-focused exhibition, designed with many display effects – one would say today that it is immersive. This is certainly worth seeing. In the first room, for instance, you are welcomed by 1,500 candles while Mozart's Requiem plays. To enhance the experience, a scent reminiscent of candle smoke has even been introduced, although the candles themselves are, of course, artificial.

In other rooms, elaborately designed films are screened, and visitors can also engage interactively.

This is all appealing, but it lacks in-depth information. In comparison, I recommend the new Strauss Museum, which is modernly presented and simultaneously conveys thorough knowledge about Strauss.

The high price of 23 euros for the relatively short Mozart experience tour was justified by the staff due to the current high inflation.

For me, it was actually only Maria Theresa with her many children, who were married all over Europe. Among them was of course Marie Antoinette, the later French queen, who ended so tragically on the guillotine.

And then I immediately think of Sisi (Elisabeth) and Franz Joseph. Perhaps, with more thought, also their son Rudolf, who ended his life by suicide. But that’s about it.

Of course, I know there were many more, but I couldn't name them. In the Imperial Crypt located beneath the Capuchin Church in Vienna, you can view a total of 12 Emperors and 19 Empresses, as well as around 150 members of the Habsburg dynasty in their sarcophagi.

There are significant differences in size and design. The Baroque and Rococo-style sarcophagi are particularly elaborate and even opulent, reflecting the taste of the period. The double sarcophagus of Maria Theresa and her husband Franz I. Stephen of Lorraine stands out especially. A special Maria Theresa Crypt was built just for her.

Sisi, Franz Joseph, and their son Rudolf rest in separate sarcophagi, but in the same room next to each other. Here, one can also find many tributes brought by visitors, including personal letters, flowers, or dolls. Apparently, many people associate their own fate with Sisi and seek solace during personal crises, such as during depression.

Franz Joseph's brother, Maximilian I of Mexico, is also laid to rest in the Imperial Crypt, after his body was transported from Mexico to Vienna. His short and dramatic reign ended in 1867 with his execution in Querétaro. Today, he seems to be romanticized in Mexico, at least by some, as small offerings such as sombreros, Mexican flags, or colorful skulls can be found at his sarcophagus.

The assassination of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo (1914) is regarded as the trigger for a chain reaction that ultimately led to World War I. However, he himself is not buried in the Imperial Crypt, but rests alongside his wife Sophie at Artstetten Castle in Lower Austria.

The Habsburgs were effectively exiled starting in 1918, legally binding from 1919, unless they explicitly renounced their claims to the throne.

The last crown prince of the monarchy, Otto von Habsburg, did so in 1961 and received the possibility of returning to Austria. He later became a member of the European Parliament and died in 2011. He is also buried in the Imperial Crypt, marking the provisional conclusion of this long series of Habsburg burials.

Guided tours are offered, for example under the title “A perfectly normal family,” but not daily. However, it is worthwhile to visit the crypt on your own. Each sarcophagus has explanatory panels that explain life dates and fates. It becomes particularly clear that even Emperors and Empresses were not protected from illness, suffering, and early death and that many were married primarily for dynastic reasons and served as unhappy “breeding machines.”

The admission for adults is currently around 13 euros.

It took us up to the fortress. There, we were treated to a magnificent view of the city.

After wandering around some of the halls, we became hungry.

For lunch, we enjoyed typical Austrian dishes.

We also visited Mirabell Park to see the fantastic flower beds and check out where they filmed scenes in The Sound of Music.

After breakfast at the hotel, we walked to the Old Town and saw, among other things, Mozart's birthplace.

After a South American lunch, our 'Sound of Music' journey began. We visited several different locations where the film was shot, and our guide had a lot to share!

Unfortunately, it rained so much that the beautiful views were not as visible!

I was a bit unfair to the accommodation yesterday. There is a reason the house has such a terrible facade. It’s a battle with the road authority, which is still ongoing, so it would be unfavorable to renovate now. The heavy vehicles passing by are damaging the old building.

The food there was superb. A lot comes from their own garden. For the remaining products, they focus on local produce. For breakfast, we received 2 personally signed bread bags to take something with us for the road.

The route today mainly followed the Drau River. Upon arriving in Villach, we were amazed by our accommodation. A large modern apartment. The best part is that we could use the washing machine for free. Brilliant. Afterwards, we bought food and swimming trunks and in the evening (happy hour), we will go to the Kärnten Therme. Tomorrow there will be another quite short tour.

Thank you Ines, your limoncello helped. When I pulled back the curtains this morning: sunshine and a clear view of the mountains. After about 4 km, we had to travel 8 km through the Tauern tunnel by train. Everything went smoothly. Most people here are quite relaxed. 😊 After a wonderful descent and a lovely route, we arrived at the accommodation. First impression: Oh dear. An old house, the plaster peeling, the garden a wild paradise. The staff, an older couple, super nice. Inside, well, a style of its own. 😉 At the table sits a grandma made of papier-mâché for decoration. Our room in the rose style.

We’ll take another round to Millstätter See for a change. Afterwards, we will be surprised by a very tasty meal. The atmosphere is rather familial. And to our surprise, there are indeed other people here.

The sun is not on our side right now. Today we rode in the rain for about 3 hours with a steep climb up to Bad Gastein. A spa town that somehow reminds me of the past. Robi climbed the mountain with a strong pedal stroke. I’m more of a slow rider and occasionally stop for a photo. The accommodation is located at the edge of town, luckily, because there's quite a bit happening here. Tonight we went to the thermal baths, which felt really good. I also visited the sauna. Beautiful mountain panorama from the sauna. Wonderful 😁. Tomorrow it should not rain, we are already looking forward to it. Today’s ride had the most elevation gain.💪

Drip, drip, drip, that's how I woke up this morning. First thought: Everything was done right. Camping canceled and the things parked in Munich. After a proper breakfast, our tour started. No more rain and that lasted almost the entire day of travel. 😊 It was a long ride along the Salzach. Then we drove up the Lueg Pass and visited the Salzach Gorge at the top. A nice change and very refreshing for the backside. ☺️ Then followed a long stretch of road through a narrow valley. Towards the end, the path became beautiful again and soon we reached the destination. We had to chuckle a bit while selecting the dessert. Check out the photo 😏.