Small yet beautiful, Austria has fine Alpine scenery, baroque architecture, and a long musical and cultural tradition. Austria dominated the politics of much of Europe through six centuries of Habsburg rule. The Danube winds through Austria on its way from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, past castles and monasteries, verdant pastures and vineyards. The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, and street address for dozens of villages along its banks. Vienna and Salzburg are standout cities! Did I mention Austrian pastries?