Now, if I was to want to experience the Austria that is unique to itself only, then I would steer well clear of the cities and tour the countryside. But, the problem with writing a guide abut the countryside is that it just becomes a long list of small towns and villages that are worth a look in.

So instead of writing such a list, I will showcase one of the many towns that typify the experience of an Austrian Mountain town and I urge you to go and explore the land for yourself.

Halstatt is a good choice, I think, and yes reasonably well known due to the area‘s UNESCO world heritage status, thereby guaranteeing enough places to stay the night and a host of related tourist attractions in the area.

Halstatt sits on the shore of Halstatt lake not so far East of Salzburg, a beautiful setting as any you can see in the mountains. In the summer months, you can imagine the many photographers trying to take that perfect picture of the town and the mountains behind reflect in the tranquil waters of the lake on a sunny day.. and I hope the weather is that good for you on the day that you visit!

In fact, walking through the local forest and hills surrounding the town, or gliding by row-boat across the placid waters of the lake in order to get that shot is all part of the serene experience of Austria itself.

The town and the lake actually derive their names from Hal, the Celtic word for salt because high-quality alpine salt has been mined here since Celtic times. And you can still visit the mines if you feel that the weather is too bad to stay outside. The mines have been turned into a tourist attraction where you can even slide down the mine shaft for yourselves.