Semmering

Semmering (elevation 965 m) is a mountain pass in the Eastern Northern Limestone Alps connecting Lower Austria and Styria, between which it forms a natural border.

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History

Since the ancient routes skirted the Alps in the east, the Semmering remained unimportant until the foundation of a hospice (Spital am Semmering) in 1160 and the union of Austria and Steiermark. The first road through the pass was built in 1728 and rebuilt in 1839–42. The Semmering Railway (1848–54), the first mountain railway in the world, passes 282 feet below the summit of the pass through a tunnel nearly one mile long. After the First World War many things changed, but the Semmering remained the favourite meeting-place of wealthy circles. The luxury hotels were reopened, the range of recreational facilities expanded, and the infrastructure improved. Several villas were turned into guest-houses and the casino attracted many visitors from home and abroad.

Location and climate

Semmering, is the most easterly and lowest (3,232 feet [985 metres]) situated pass of the great Alpine passes, at the boundary between Bundesländer (federal provinces) Steiermark (Styria) and Niederösterreich (Lower Austria), in east-central Austria. It is only 90 km away from Vienna and 95 km from Graz. Situated in the watershed dividing the Mur and Leitha drainage basins, it facilitates Vienna’s communications with the Balkans via Steiermark, with Italy via Kärnten (Carinthia), and with Innsbruck via the upper Enns Valley. Semmering has mild continental climate with long sunny summers and cold but also sunny winters.

Tourist attractions

Since 1998, when the Semmering train and its surrounding cultural landscape were included in the list of UNESCO – world cultural heritage, this daring, architectonic service has been appreciated accordingly.

Surroundings

Today the Semmering has more to offer than just tradition. Apart from seemingly endless hiking trails through the magnificent scenery, including both level promenades and steep paths and cross-country walks, a broad range of recreational facilities is available to the sports-minded visitor: Mountain biking (incl. Austrian downhill state championships), oldest golf course in Austria (9-hole, can be extended to 18-holes), natural education path, Skiing (incl. FIS – ski world cup races for men and women – slalom and giant slalom), night-time ski run, ski courses for young and old, tobogganing, night-time tobogganing, cross-country skiing, curling, horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Natural healing resources

Over the respiratory system air penetrates deep into our bodies and eases the strain on the entire organism by supplying extra oxygen. The mild and stimulating Semmering climate, which is not by chance compared with that of Davos, has positive effects on disorders of the respiratory apparatus (bronchitis, allergies, asthma, etc).

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Map Semmering

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