You only see what you know (Goethe)
The open air museum Stübing (Österreichisches Freilichtmuseum Stübing) is dedicated to typical farmhouses of Austria. As a special feature, the buildings are grouped by the Austrian federal states. So you can walk from the small huts of Burgenland up to the large alpine farmsteads of Vorarlberg.
The Austrian Open-Air Museum Stübing (Österreichische Freilichtmuseum Stübing) displays old farmhouses from all over Austria. One of the buildings includes a small grocery.
A typical souvenir of Mariazell is a snow globe featuring a miniature of the basilica. More than 100 years ago, Erwin Perzy developed a method to produce such small presents.
I took this pic inside the depot of the museum tramway in Mariazell. The private association provides not only a museum tramway connecting the railway station of Mariazell with the nearby Erlauf Lake (Erlaufsee) but also consists of a fine selection of Austrian tramcars built before WW II. The depicted tramcar was designed by Austrian architect Otto Wagner.
One of the most modern observatories of Austria is located at an alpine pasture named Stehralm high over Mariazell. Thanks to less industry and settlement around Mariazell the sky in this region is a gem for stargazer.
The former Golden Lion Hotel (Hotel Goldener Löwe) is an art nouveau building at the central place of Mariazell.
The ‘House to the blue grape’ (Haus zur blauen Weintraube) is an art nouveau building located in the centre of the Styrian city of Mariazell.
The Archduke John Tower (Erzherzog-Johann-Warte) is named after Archduke John of Austria (Erzherzog Johann von Österreich) who he is remembered as a great modernizer in the Austrian state of Styria. The tower on top of the Bürgeralpe was built in 1908 and is a great look-out for the hills and mountains around Mariazell.
The Marian Basilica in Mariazell, is the most eminent Austrian pilgrimage destination. It also houses one of the most visited shrines in Europe. In front of the church, you see the typical stalls for selling pilgrimage souvenirs (Wallfahrtswaren).
An educational nature trail connecting the chapel of St Sebastian with the centre of Mariazell educates about numerous uses of herbs. The trail is part of the state exhibition of Lower Austria titled ÖTSCHER:REICH.
On top of the mountain Bürgeralpe high over the city of Mariazell there is a theme park named Holzknechtland (Country of Woodcutters). Numerous stations talk about forestry and the life of woodcutters.
The Mariazell Railway (Mariazellerbahn) is an electrically operated narrow-gauge railway which connects the Lower Austrian capital of Sankt Pölten with the Styrian pilgrimage centre of Mariazell.