Travel
"If you want to understand Europeans you need to
understand their traditions.Travel is the most exciting way
to learn about European history."
The Germany Trip
The program begins with a five-day trip through Germany that gives you a hands-on introduction to European culture while it also provides a great opportunity to meet the other students. Historic sites and beautiful scenery, museum visits and lectures on contemporary topics combine to give you a sense of the historical continuity that is so essential to understanding the European mind.
Cologne A great place to trace the layers of German history: a museum of Roman culture, the magnificent Gothic cathedral, and one of Germany's great collections of Modern Art. A side-trip to Bonn, now replaced by Berlin as the country's capital, offers an overview of recent German history in the Museum of the Federal Republic.
The Rhine A romantic drive along Europe's great river introduces you to history, legend, and literature with stops in the imperial cities of Worms and Speyer, which were also centers of Jewish culture and of the Protestant Reformation.
Heidelberg The famous castle, old town, and university, a drive through the Neckar Valley and Rothenburg, a medieval city completely preserved within city walls, towers, and gates, mirror "picture book Germany".
Nuremberg A visit to the historic imperial city and to the "Third Reich's" Party Rally grounds sums up a week's introduction to European "historical consciousness".
“The initial trip through Germany was absolutely great! What a way to precede the wonderful experience in Salzburg! Everything that first week and later in Vienna is well thought-out and well-planned. I appreciate the way in which the program really integrates the classroom and the environment!"
-- Jon T. Self, Ouachita Baptist University |
The Vienna Trip
Vienna is a beautiful and exciting place. Many Salzburg College students feel that during the Vienna field trip "everything comes together". Much of what has been studied in Understanding Austria and other courses can be experienced live in the country's traditional capital. In addition, special events are planned in connection with various other courses such as Art History, Music, Political Science, and Public Relations.
Habsburg Vienna Magnificent palaces, St. Stephen's cathedral, the Imperial burial places in the Capucine vault, the great collection of the Art Historical Museum, the representational buildings on the Ringstrasse, the Vienna Boys choir and the Spanish Riding School all reflect centuries of Habsburg grandeur and patronage of the arts.
Fin-de-Siecle Vienna At the turn of the last century, Vienna was one of the greatest cultural centers of Europe. This can still be experienced today, especially in the paintings of Gustav Klimt, the architecture of Otto Wagner, and the former home of Sigmund Freud.
The world's greatest music center Vienna's musical tradition embraces the classical and Romantic periods, as well as the modern and a very active contemporary scene. The great heritage is kept alive through an incredible selection of musical performances and museums dedicated to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and many others. You will be able to attend performances at the Vienna State Opera, the most famous of Vienna's opera houses, and any of the music halls in the city.
Modern Vienna Experience Vienna's role in international affairs with a visit to the U.N. Headquarters.
During the field trip there is time to just have fun, go to the "Heurigen" and music clubs, ride the Giant Ferris Wheel or shop: Vienna has it all.
On the way to Vienna and back, we also visit one or two of the great Austrian Baroque monasteries (Stift Melk and St. Florian).
Our visit to the Mauthausen concentration camp, the central and largest of the Austrian concentration camps under Nazi Germany, provides a dramatic contrast and a very moving experience.
“I loved the Vienna field trip! As a music student, the opportunity to see concerts, operas, and ballets in such beautiful and famous venues was incredible.”
-- Caitlin McGuire, Trinity University |
Other Field Trips
Salzkammergut trip A fun and incredibly picturesque excursion to the famous lake and mountain district near Salzburg.
Weekly field trips Throughout the semester, weekly field trips are scheduled for the entire group. Students have the opportunity to go on Tuesday afternoon excursions in and around Salzburg, including a historic walking tour of the old city, the Hellbrunn Watergames, the Schloss Leopoldskron (Sound of Music palace), the Fortress and the famous Salzburg Festival theaters. The weekly excursions are all included in the program cost.
Course-related field trips Field trips and other events are regularly scheduled in connection with individual courses, including visits to companies and professional organizations, schools, historical sites and museums. In connection with the European Union course, an optional field trip to Brussels is offered.
On organized field trips, travel expenses, entrance fees for course-related excursions, and accommodations are all included in the Salzburg College program fee. Students pay for some of their own meals on the Germany and Vienna field trips and for entrance fees to additional sights or performances that they do on their own.
“It is incredible how easy it is to travel from Austria; Europe is literally at your fingertips. Salzburg itself is special in that it is a city with a lot to do, but also has so many homey touches that the result is a beautiful landscape filled with never-ending adventures!”
-- T. Chris Webb, Fall 2007 |
Independent Travel
In addition to program-related field trips, students have ample time for independent travel within and beyond Austria on weekends and during the two-week mid-semester break.
Salzburg is ideally located for travel. It is less than three hours by train from Vienna; only two hours from Munich, the southern German cultural center; a day trip from Prague or Budapest; an overnight train ride from Paris or Venice; and only a few more hours from Florence, Rome, Amsterdam, or Berlin. Discount airlines have brought these and many other destinations even closer with quick and convenient flights.
Austria's Destinations You do not have to travel outside Austria for extraordinary sites. The country offers a tremendous variety of different landscapes and cultural experiences. From spectacular Alpine sites to picturesque historical cities like Innsbruck and Graz, you will enjoy breathtaking natural beauty and visual encounters with Austria's heritage.
Weekend Travel around Salzburg For shorter trips there are many interesting places in the immediate surroundings of Salzburg. Some of Austria's major ski resorts are located in the province of Salzburg — easily accessible by train or bus. You can hike the Alps, see the world's largest Ice Caves, or descend into the depths of the Dürnberg Salt Mines. There are also numerous lakes close by. Whether you prefer swimming, hiking, biking, climbing, or skiing, Salzburg is the perfect location for any activity.
Photos of Germany
Photos of Vienna
Photos of Other Field Trips
Photos of Independent Travel Destinations
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