2024-07-16 04:24:50
Many people still find sustainable travel logistically, financially and time-consuming. However, Upper Austria proves to travelers that ecological travel is easily comparable to traditional travel. The entire federal state is connected by a dense network of railways and public transport, there is a number of ecologically certified accommodation and, thanks to the common border with the Czech Republic, it is a destination that is not demanding on time and ecology.
The main goal of sustainable travel, also known as “slow travel” (derived from the name of the Slow food movement, which was founded in Italy as the opposite of fast food – editor’s note), is to minimize the carbon footprint of travel. This applies both to the mode of transport, when the traveler prefers emission-free and mass transport, and to the type of accommodation, when he is looking for climate-neutral or positive housing, and also to the form of catering, when he is looking for regional food, and overall access to nature.
There are a number of websites devoted to the possibilities of an ecological holiday in Upper Austria, on which the traveler can find all the necessary information. But if he is not sure, he can make planning easier through one of the Upper Austrian travel agencies that specialize in green travel directly.
Leave the car in the garage at home
In the context of eco-friendly travel, trains are especially popular means of transport. Upper Austria, with its dense rail network connected to other European countries, is therefore a great choice. Moreover, it is not a distant destination, as the federal state shares a border with the Czech Republic in the northeast. Trains run from Prague to Linz, which is the capital of Upper Austria, several times a day. Other train connections also go here from České Budějovice.
Upper Austria is by no means a distant destination. Trains run from Prague to Linz, which is the capital of Upper Austria, several times a day. | Photo: Linz Tourismus / Johann Steininger
If the traveler prefers to travel by road, he can use one of the long-distance buses. Although some lines go from Prague directly to Linz, most of the time the bus journey cannot be done without a transfer. In addition, it is also necessary to take into account the time required for the journey, which is significantly longer compared to train transport and depends on the current traffic situation.
To travel around the federal state itself, public transport is used, which often offers discounted coupons. For example, the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ, which this year is discounted from 24.90 euros to 19.90, and when one ticket is valid for up to two adults and up to four children under 15 years of age. It can be used for all local public transport in Upper Austria.
Green accommodation
When choosing accommodation, sustainable travel always chooses a climate-neutral or climate-positive type of housing. Climate-neutral means accommodation that regularly compensates for the amount of CO2 emissions it produces. Devices that compensate for more CO2 emissions than they themselves cause are climate-positive and thus actively contribute to cleaner air.
Naturfreundehütte Wiesberghaus in the Dachstein massif is a prime example of ecological accommodation. The entire facility is supplied exclusively with rainwater, and electricity is primarily provided by a photovoltaic system located on the roof of the cottage. As it is a mountain lodge, travelers can only reach it on foot. However, if necessary, the lodge offers luggage transportation by cable car. In addition, due to minimal light pollution, the Wiesberghaus is an ideal place for observing the starry sky.
Literally green accommodation is offered by the tree hotel in Kopfing in the Danube region. Wooden cottages built a few meters above the ground in the treetops offer a unique experience. The local menu is also close to the local nature, on which organic food from the local region prevails. At the same time, it is an ideal place for a digital detox, as individual rooms do not have access to wi-fi or a signal. Of course, for work and urgent matters, free internet and a signal are available in the reception area.
Wooden cottages built a few meters above the ground in the treetops offer a unique experience. | Photo: Baumkronenweg Kopfing
Sustainable and certified
There are also a number of ecologically certified hotels in Upper Austria that must meet strict sustainability criteria. Travelers can find accommodation here with a Green Key certificate, where individual establishments must meet the standards set by the Foundation for Ecological Education, or with a certificate from the global organization Global Sustainable Tourism Council. The traveler is thus guaranteed that if he decides to stay in a facility with these certificates, he contributes to the improvement of the environment.
Among the criteria that the accommodation must meet in order to receive the certificates, in addition to the fixed sustainability rules, there is also regular calculation of its own carbon footprint and regular education of employees about the environment and ecology. In addition, the equipment must be verified as carbon neutral according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Emphasis is also placed on the use of regional foods and products that come from the surrounding area.
Ecologically certified hotels in Upper Austria must meet strict criteria. For example, using regional foods and products that come from the surrounding area. | Photo: TVB Attersee-Attergau / Moritz Ablinger
Nature at your fingertips
If the traveler decides to meet nature on his travels, then it is definitely worth visiting. And in Upper Austria there is a lot to choose from, from vast untouched forests to mountain massifs and their bowels to glacial lakes with exceptionally clear water.
The crown jewel of the local nature is represented by the ancient beech forests in the Kalkalpen National Park, which are also the first and only Austrian UNESCO natural monument. With an area of 5,250 hectares, it is the largest protected forest area in Austria, 80 percent of which is made up of completely untouched nature. The national park is also currently home to the only lynx population in the entire Alps.
There is a lot to choose from in Upper Austria, from vast untouched forests, through mountain massifs and their bowels, to glacial lakes with exceptionally clear water. | Photo: Kalkalpen National Park / Sonja Schaefer
On the edge of the Kalkalpen National Park lies another unique area, the Pyhrn-Priel area. Almost 600 kilometers of marked hiking trails criss-cross the wide valleys and 2,000-high alpine peaks here, which also lead to the most beautiful place in Upper Austria. The man-made lake Schiederweiher in Hinterstoder, whose crystal clear water reflects the image of the adjacent Spitzmauer and Großer Priel peaks, is guaranteed to take the breath away of every traveler.
The man-made Schiederweiher lake in Hinterstoder with its clear water will amaze every traveler. | Photo: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH / Sulzbacher
The Wildpark Cumberland nature reserve in the Salzkammergut region offers the opportunity to get close to the animal inhabitants of Upper Austria. Previously, only local wildlife lived here, but over time a number of foreign species joined. Today, the nature park is home to more than five hundred animals, and visitors can spot, for example, raccoons or fallow deer.
Today, Wildpark Cumberland Nature Reserve in the Salt Chamber region is home to more than five hundred animals, including wildlife. | Photo: Brainpark