UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Railway from Vienna to Graz

Monday, April 1, 2013

UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Railway from Vienna to Graz

Last October, we returned to Vienna and Venice, and added Graz in Austria, Bologna and Ferrara in Italy to my new frontiers.

During our smooth train ride from Vienna to Graz, we not only saw lovely scenery along the trip but a UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Railway as well. The UNESCO World Heritage listing gives us a brief on this engineering wonder as this:

The Semmering Railway, built over 41 km of high mountains between 1848 and 1854, is one of the greatest feats of civil engineering from this 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.

DSCN1451 _ Semmering Railway, Spittelau, Wien, 6 October

We saw part of the viaducts the day before our trip, on an excursion to the vineyard, and if it looked less than amazing in the modern day suburb as show above, it was quite wonderful to look at in the winding mountainous passes below:

DSCN1964 _ Semmering Railway between Wien and Graz, 7 October

DSCN1980 - From Vienna to Graz, October 2012

Besides, the scenery along the railroad from Vienna to Graz was very lovely, particularly in the light rain, with views of leafy mountains, valleys, meadows and villages, and once in a while, a grand palace or an imposing castle perching atop of a stony cliff. We followed our tour book's recommendation to sit on the left side of the train from Vienna to Graz, in order to have the best of the view. If you travel from Graz to Vienna, do try to sit on the right, or reserve the seat on the right side of the train, for only a couple of Euros.