Mike and Sarah joined us for a relaxing day in Lienz.
This started with a 2.7 km toboggan run preceded by a chairlift, the Hockstein Gondola, by which we gained a respectable height (300 metres). With a good braking system these sledges on rails gave as much of a thrill as you wanted. Not much in our cases, but it was great fun and I'd certainly have speeded up if Sue had shown signs of catching up with me.
Then we strolled over to a castle, Schloss Bruck. This place was built between 1252 and 1277 by the Counts of Görz and has a tall tower and a rich history.
Refreshments were taken during a phone call to Grandma Dot, then we enjoyed a tour of the castle. It houses a museum, and an art gallery that focuses on the work of a local man, Albin Egger-Lienz (1868-1926).
There's a small chapel in the castle with impressive artistic decoration, including wall frescos dating back to 1490.
After some WW1 education with reference to the White War in this area, we walked to the top of the tower. Impressive views over Lienz and the surrounding area.
A walk into the old town saw us scoffing lunch in Café Cappuccino at 3pm! Doesn't time fly when you are enjoying yourself!
Returning to Matrei after a further forage into the recesses of Lienz's old town, we were soon installed in Hotel Rauter (next door to Hinteregger) for Blue Trout (for nine of us - Andrew chose Goat) in celebration of Helen's recent big birthday. The meal was classy, but the trout wasn't very blue. Perhaps not quite as blue as Helen's mum Joan remembers it from her visit in 1952...
Today: 3 km around Lienz
Today's pictures:
The Lienzer Dolomiten from the top of the Hockstein gondola
Mike the toboganist
Elevenses with Dot
Frescos at Schloss Bruck
Lienz from the Tower
Lienz old town
Dessert
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