Relax. P lay. Stay.
of Castle Hill (Schlossberg) clock tower
See the countryside To get to the source of all this local bounty, head to the Green Heart of Austria — the Thermenland countryside, emerald with forests, orchards and lilac blooms, past maypoles trailing silky ribbons.
At The Zotter chocolate factory, you can indulge your Inner Charlie on a multitaste tour, sampling by countries of origin, percent of cacao and degrees of roasting at more than 100 stations, including a hot chocolate bar. Then head on to Castle Riegersburg, perched on a volcanic mountaintop — a never-conquered 12th-century fortress whose moat, today, is filled with grazing pigs. It houses three museums — one on weaponry; another featuring the ornate medieval rooms of its wealthy owner; and finally, an expo of 16th-century witches. Our escapade ended at Weingut Krispel, where we sipped the winery’s fruity Rieslings and crisp Sauv Blancs at its May Day party, seduced by oompah bands and mountains of homey eats. Meet you there this May Day? Check out visitgraz.com to make it come true. Carla Waldemar is an award-winning food/ travel/arts writer who lives in Uptown. Chanhassen Family Dentistry GA 0416 S3.indd 1
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