One of our study abroad highlights will be a stay in the village of Dorfgastein, where you’ll get a glimpse of traditional Austrian village life. You’ll stay in one of the charming guesthouses, visit the beautiful church in the town center, and then hike to a nearby farmhouse for a sampling of local cheese, fresh-baked bread, and other house specialties. After the hike, it’s back down to the village for an oompa-band concert in the town hall, with band members clad in traditional lederhosen and dirndls. Your alpine retreat awaits!
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| This photo does not do the place justice. It is soooo green! And trust me, the hills are alive with the sound of music! |
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| The beginning of the hike up to the Alm (farmhouse) |
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| Can you imagine actually living in a place so beautiful? |
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| Even the Austrian cows are beautiful. |
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| Here is one of the Alms at the end of the hike. The reward—homemade bread, cheese, and the most amazing hot chocolate. |
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| The quaint little church in the center of the village. |
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| One of the guesthouses where we will stay. |
On one of the evenings, we will attend the local Heimatabend (cultural evening). Here are two videos from our last trip. In the first video, men in lederhosen jumped onto the tables and cracked whips to the music. The second is the oompa band. They played everything from traditional Austrian folk songs to contemporary hits. It's my personal opinion that you haven't lived until you've heard an oompa band play Michael Jackson. Ahh...good times!
And an added bonus! Click
here to see the Dorfgastein livecam.
