Austria is a true hotbed of anti-Santa Krampus events all over the land.

Krampus is the untamed, shaggy spirit that accompanies St. Nicholas. Krampusses usually roam in larger groups. Their traditional costumes and masks are elaborately handcrafted.

Perchten are wild pagan spirits widespread throughout the Austrian and Bavarian region. The appear alone or in groups, especially on three specific winter nights, before St. Nicholas, before the winter solstice and before Epiphany. They carry bells and other loud instruments to dispel the winter.

credit: m. krobath     and     ANSPressSocietyNews

The Red Bull Air Races began in 2003 and became the fastest and most exhilarating motorsport on the planet. Fourteen of the worlds best and most daring pilots compete in eight races which are located all around the world. The famous Red Bull Ring in Spielberg hosted a third instalment of the Red Bull Air Race in 2016. The Red Bull Ring formally the A1 Ring the venue sits within the Styrian Mountain’s and offers a stunning backdrop to the action packed event. The track is known for its rich history and challenges for drivers as well as pilots.

credit: ANSPressSocietyNews        credit: M. Krobath

The Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn is outstanding as one of the most impressive and well preserved Baroque ensembles of its kind in Europe. Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. It was designed by the architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Nicolaus Pacassi. The palace was build to rival French Versailles in Baroque beauty and importance. Emperor Franz Joseph, who was born here in 1830, spent the last years of his life entirely in Schönbrunn. In 1918, the palace became the property of the new republic.

credit: Dennis Jarvis

The Stelvio Pass is a mountain pass in northern Italy, at an elevation of 2,757 m above sea level. It is most dramatic mountain pass to drive and the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, just 13 m below France\’s Col de l\’Iseran (2,770 m). The Stelvio Pass was originally built to link the Austrian Province of Lombardia with the rest of Austria. More than 75 km of twisty windy-winding, uphill-downhill hairpin bends and steep climbs rising over 1871 metres, it is a drive that will take your steep hill, handbrake start, clutch-holding skills to the limit.

credit: Andrew and Annemarie

The SalzburgerLand is indisputably one of the all-time greats of winter tourism: over 1,700 kilometres of slopes, 2,200 km of cross-country ski trails and 580 lifts represent far more than you could ever have wished for in your wildest dreams. Skiing has been deeply rooted in Austrian culture since the early developments of the sport. Every winter, thousands of ski enthusiasts travel so Salzburg and other areas in the Alps to explore picturesque valleys with excellent slopes

credit: Ehrenberg Kommunikation

Places like the Kitzbuehel, Solden and Stubai Glacier offer great opportunities for outdoor activities. Many of visitors come for the simple purpose of skiing, skiing and more skiing. Skiing in Austria is expensive. Expect to pay 30 to 40 Euros for a day-pass and something between 150 to 200 or more for six-day-passes. The Alps are Europe’s major range of mountains, spanning from the Mediterranean coast of France via Switzerland, N Italy and Austria to Slovenia.

Fieberbrunn

Wilder Kaiser

Wilder Kaiser

Kitzbühel

Kitzbühel

Sölden

Sölden

Sölden

Sölden

Sölden

Brixen im Thale

Fiss

Fiss

Serfaus

Serfaus

Stubaier Gletscher

Stubaier Gletscher

Stubaier Gletscher

Stubaier Gletscher

Stubaier Gletscher

Stubaital

credit: Jean & Nathalie