Travelling in the Time of Coronavirus – Part 4

Given that Vienna, like Bratislava, is not unknown in the tourist sense, a visit to the city with plenty of attractions for quite a few days is highly recommended.

You can also spend a night in Vienna in one of the youth hostels, among which I recommend the one on Myrthengasse, which is located in the heart of the city, and Youth Hostel Brigittenau, which is located slightly outside the city centre and which, in addition to the old one, also boasts a new building, one of the best in Europe in fact, so it is quite understandably called "the youth palace", as it is.

Now that you are comfortably accommodated in one of the youth hostels, it is time to point out that Vienna is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world and at the same time a starting point for short trips.

For those who would like to get to know the Austrian splendour, I definitely recommend visiting the city of Baden or Baden bei Wien, which literally means spa in Vienna.

The city of Baden is the pinnacle of Austrian splendour in all its aspects. The Baden health resort, located only 30 km from Vienna, was always a gathering place for the wealthy Viennese who came here in carriages, but as early as 1873, a tram line station was built in front of the famous Vienna Opera which connected Baden to the center of Vienna. Baden is one of the eleven thermal cities located across seven European countries that are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which in all its glory is justified. The history of the thermal baths dates back to the Roman times, when the city was known as Aquae, but the golden age began in 1792 with the construction of the imperial summer residence, which was followed in the 19th century by world-famous spas. But even if you don't come to pamper yourself in the thermal spas, there are still other activities to enjoy in this town.

As befits such a prosperous town, there is also a casino and a few museums, the most special of which is the puppets and toys museum.

When walking around the city, you can hardly avoid the nice, almost kitschy and tidy shops, but there is also no shortage of culinary offerings. The varied culinary offer in the town of Baden bei Wien also has a certain price, but a solution to that problem lies in the nearby "wine village" of Sooß.

Sooß is located only three kilometres from the town of Baden and is best known for its viticulture. The imperial splendour of Baden is thus replaced by smaller, less luxurious, but extremely beautifully decorated houses of all colours, smells and tastes. Sooß is famous for its varied culinary and wine offer at almost every winegrower’s place. In addition to wine, tourist farms offer real, hearty food, suitable for Sunday lunch. The mundaneness of Baden is thus replaced by genuine homeliness. In the village of Sooß you will definitely eat at very reasonable prices for both good food and wine. Even if, like me, you travel with the intention of sowing goodwill among people, there is certainly no shortage of it in Sooß.

The combination of the town of Baden and the village of Sooß can be an ideal for an easy day-trip from Vienna.

The Seegrotte underwater lake and the Liechtenstein Palace are also in the immediate vicinity of Vienna.

Those who just want to collect photos, but have no time for a good lunch or a leisurely stroll around Baden, can even combine the two attractions with the previously described Baden and Sooß. No matter what form of travel you decide on, there are two sights worth visiting in any case.

The Seegrotte is located near the village of Hinterbrühl, a former gypsum mine that operated until 1912, when it was flooded with as much as 20 million litres of water. It is a system of several underground caves, in which "Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger" military jets were assembled during the World War II. These jets can be seen at the Royal Air force Museum in London. Today, Seegrotte is an interesting tourist attraction, where you can also take a boat ride on the underground lakes as much as 60 meters below the surface and experience the life of miners as it was more than a century ago.

Not far from Seegrotte, you can find the Liechtenstein mansion, located on the very edge of the Viennese forest and built on the foundations of a Romanesque castle dating back to 1130. The castle is not just a museum, but above all a walk through 900 years of the Liechtenstein family’s history. Of course, in the castle you can also find everything that belongs to such a building, from medieval weapons, armour and other things that the house of Prince of Liechtenstein is proud of. In addition, the mansion offers one of the most beautiful views of Vienna.

With a view of Vienna from the Liechtenstein mansion, we are also concluding the penultimate part and announcing a slightly more exotic conclusion to this travelogue after the coronavirus, with a visit to the Belarusian capital, which I visited via Warsaw.