Via Habsburg
Cultural Route of the Council of Europe
The dynasty of the Habsburg (–Lorraine) family was a central force shaping European history over many centuries. As territorial rulers of the lands they governed, as well as elected emperors and kings of the Holy Roman Empire, they stood not only geographically at the heart of Europe but also exerted significant influence on its political, economic, and cultural development. In this way, they became an integral part of Europe’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
The Via Habsburg, certified as a “Cultural Route of the Council of Europe” since 2014, connects individual historical sites closely associated with the House of Habsburg (–Lorraine) to one another and to the broader narrative of European history. The Via Habsburg Association ensures that this shared cultural heritage can be experienced while also being preserved sustainably.
Along the approximately 1,000 km-long cultural route , which extends beyond Austria into Germany, France, and Switzerland, 84 institutions from the fields of culture, art, and tourism are currently members of the association. In total, more than 150 tourist destinations around Lake Constance, in the Black Forest, Alsace, and Lorraine, as well as in Tyrol and—through the Imperial Villa in Bad Ischl—the Salzkammergut region, are linked by the cultural route.
The historical connections are illustrated, among other things, through four established thematic trails , covering centers of power, castles and court life, as well as churches, monasteries, and Vorderösterreich (Further Austria). These proposed travel routes divide the Via Habsburg into coherent thematic sections, allowing visitors to experience the past according to their individual interests.
4 Themed Trails
for an Experience-Rich Journey
To walk in the footsteps of the Habsburgs means discovering five truly unique regions between the Rhine and the Danube!
Cross-border routes lead you through timeless landscapes, to extraordinary places in every sense of the word, and to an unparalleled cultural heritage. But that’s not all! Meet the people of former Further Austria and experience their hospitality and cheerful spirit. Your hosts will be delighted to introduce you to their homeland and way of life. Enjoy an intense experience of authenticity and tranquillity.
Habsburg's centres of power
Residence cities and centres of power and politics.
Castles of the Habsburgs and Life at Court
From the origins of the dynasty to the magnificent residences of the Renaissance and the Baroque.
Churches, Monasteries, and Abbeys
Witnesses to devotion and the final resting places of a dynasty.
Discovery of the Landscapes of Further Austria
The ancestral homeland of the Habsburgs on the Upper Rhine.
Our rich European heritage
Statement by Stefano Dominioni
"The Via Habsburg represents a fundamental contribution to the understanding and appreciation of the historic, cultural and architectural heritage of Europe over many centuries. Certified as Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2014, the Via Habsburg provides an excellent example of our rich European heritage and traditions and the shaping of a common European identity. The Cultural Route implements exemplary activities in the field of academic research, cultural and artistic practices, exchanges for young Europeans, and sustainable cultural tourism across its many European network members."
Stefano Dominioni, Director at European Institute of Cultural Routes, Council of Europe