More to Austria than Mozart and yodelling

10:45am Thursday 26th June 2008

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Austria has been in the limelight as a co-host of Euro 2008. But as Charlotte McDonald found out when she visited Salzburg and Innsbruck, there are plenty of reasons to visit the country after the football has finished.

When most people think of Austria they think of Julie Andrews as the novice Maria, dancing through the hills and teaching children how to yodel - and what is wrong with that?

Taking a trip abroad is about getting away from the humdrum of everyday life and, if lucky, delving into a bit of escapism.

What could be more of a change from the flat industrialised English south east than gaily strolling against the backdrop of craggy snow-tipped mountains and quaint wooden houses?

Hollywood producers like their films to have the best settings possible, so it speaks volumes that the Sound of Music was filmed on location in the town in which the real Von Trapp family lived.

Walking round the old town of Salzburg, which has been one of the Euro 2008 host cities, you can see the fountain from which Maria gets water in the film and the Benedictine monastery where she is a nun.

There are at least another 13 locations from the film that can be seen in the town and the surrounding area and tours are available to show you where.

Towns such as Salzburg cannot help but remind visitors of a rich European past and culture.

Salzburg's old town was listed as a World Heritage Site 10 years ago and it is easy to see why.

The city gets its name from salz - the German word for salt. This is what brought wealth to the town in the medieval period as it sat on trading routes over the Alps.

The bishops which ruled the area were rich and their opulence can be seen in the ornate architecture of the old town which has 20 baroque churches.

Mozart was born in rooms which overlook one of the great squares in 1756. Today there is a museum located there.

But that's not all. If you book tickets to the Stiftskeller Restaurant by St Peter's Church in the old town, you can dine while enjoying a Mozart concert complete with musicians in period costume.

This is not the only musical claim to fame for the town.

Salzburg Festival, first started in 1920 by a theatre director called Max Reinhard, is an annual event that draws classical music lovers from around the world.

It lasts for five weeks in the summer with concerts and performances a plenty of a whole host of composers starting in July and continuing through August.

But while basking in this surreal film set backdrop there are some very modern and comfortable ways to enjoy it.

Along the riverbank there are a number of bars to drink everything from cocktails to traditional Austrian beer.

One such bar is Steinterrasse which has an amazing outside terrace with panaramoic views of the old town, best seen in the evening with the baroque buildings lit up.

For those who have cash to splash, a trip up to Hotel Schloss Fuschl wouldn't go amiss. The traditional old chateau is set just out of the town into the mountains and sits beside a picturesque blue lake.

The Beckhams have stayed here in a little lake-side suite reportedly to cost around 1,200 euros a night, complete with personal butler.

If you can't afford that then at least try the spa which has an outside jacussi with stunning views of the lake and mountains.

Innsbruck is another Austrian city which has been hosting Euro 2008. This is not the first international sporting event held here.

It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976.

Its tricky slopes and large ski jump attract skiers and snowboarders each year.

The snow station perched on a mountain above the city has a restaurant boasting amazing views of the surrounding areas.

During the football competition, a fan zone has been created here so people can watch the matches to the backdrop of blue skies and craggy peaks.

Innsbruck's skiing and winter sport credentials cannot be doubted, but the terrain also lend itself to hikers.

But come off the slopes and the mountain treks and head to the town itself in the valley to see that the area has a remarkable amount of history.

The Habsberg rulers of the early modern period spent much of their time in the city. Its most famous facade is the Golden Roof with intricate woodwork and wall paintings.

Once football fever has ended, these cities will still be offering a multitude of things to do and see.