Austria - Styria - From Wineland To Perpetual Ice (43/151)

Austria - Styria - From Wineland To Perpetual Ice (43/151)

This state in the south-east of Austria boasts a landscape of great diversity: the north is dominated by the Dachstein mountain range and its glaciers. Elsewhere, in contrast, one finds rolling green hills. Here the soil is fertile, vines and apples grow, also pumpkins. While drilling for oil, hot springs were found. The capital is Graz, in 2003 the cultural capital of Europe. The "raw material" is good. What does the Styrian do with it? From the new Sky Walk, the viewing platform on the Hunerkogel, one has a fantastic view of the Alpine panorama and the glacier at the High Dachstein. In Bad Aussee on the other side of the mountain the Narcissus Festival is celebrated in spring. Pumpkins are grown to produce the famous pumpkin seed oil which the Syrians refer to as "green gold". Wine connoisseurs enjoy the local Schilcher wine, and the hot springs bubble up into a work of art - into the Hundertwasser thermal spa in Bad Blumau. In the capital Graz period and modern architecture blend harmoniously. Yet what would innovations be without tradition and eccentric characters? Without majestic fortresses and quaint taverns, lodenwalkers (travelling weavers), constructors of global machines and schnapps distillers? The film takes us from the apple orchards and vineyards in the east and south on to Graz and into the Alps.