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Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The railway solved a big challenge for civil engineering from the pioneering phase of railway building. The high standard of the tunnels, viaducts and other works has ensured the continuous use of the line up to the present day. It runs through a spectacular mountain landscape and there are many fine buildings designed for leisure activities along the way, built when the area was opened up due to the advent of the railway. The historical name is Trieste Route as it connected Vienna with the Adriatic Sea.
The Semmering Railway in Austria, which starts at Gloggnitz and leads over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag, was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track. It is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the considerable altitude difference that was mastered during its construction. It is still fully functional as a part of the Southern Railway which is operated by the Austrian Federal Railways.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Carolus Denkmal
Emperor Karl VI ordered the first Semmering road to be built in 1728 for faster connection between Vienna and the south. The emperor visited and used the newly-opened road on 21 June 1728.
Semmering
The Hirschenkogel mountain features 14km of downhill slopes, including a split park for fun-ski and snowboarders. It has huge artificial snow facilities to provide skiing possibilities even in winters with less snow fall in eastern Austria. It hosts World Cup Slalom events.
The sanctuary place was built after the water allegedly cured the plague. In 1728 it was rebuilt, and had severe damage after a fire in 1826 and an earth quake in 1837. Since 1925 it has incorporated a Passionistes monastery.
The festival-performances are mostly theatre-plays in German language from Austrian writers around 1900. There are more than 100 performances of four different plays, a few piano recitals and artist's presentations. Performances take place in two different locations, the old theatre-hall (391 seats) and the new open arena (with stage in the centre, 305 seats), both in the same festival building.
Stuhleck
The Stuhleck mountain has several snow and fun parks. Ten lifts operate on a total of 24 km of downhill slopes from which 18 km are classified as blue, i.e. easy. The highest station is at 1774 m. There are several huts for lunch or afternoon breaks.
The former Benedectine monastery sits elevated on a rock in middle of Gloggnitz. It is a popular site for weddings.