Austria, with its capital Vienna, is situated in Central Europe. Austria’s geographical position has long made it a crossroads for trade routes between the major European economic and cultural areas. Austria borders eight countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Except for Switzerland and Lichtenstein, all these countries are part of the European Union.

For a small country there is a plethora of tours and pilgrimages that can be taken. The Danube from Passau in Germany to Vienna has numerous spectacular monasteries, castles and churches and the Wachau Valley is where Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned on his return from the Crusades. The Way of St. James passes almost the length of the country and leads all the way to the Camino in Spain, passing beautiful villages and stunning scenery.