Munich, capital of Bavaria and Germany's 3rd-largest city (metro 6 million)

Munich's Olympic Park, site of the 1972 Summer Olympics

Olympic Park is still an integral part of the life of Munich (München)

Konigsplatz (Königsplatz), created at the command of Crown Prince Ludwig

Munich's Ludwigstrasse, Residence, Odeonsplatz, and Theatine Church (L-R)

Munich's opera house, the National Theatre

Marienplatz is Munich's central square, dominated by the Rathaus (city hall).

Munich Residence, the former royal palace of the Bavarian monarchs

The Hall of Antiquities, largest Renaissance hall north of the Alps

The Court Chapel of the Munich Residence, added between 1612 and 1617

The Ancestral Gallery, added between 1726 and 1731

Royal regalia of Bavaria (1804) in the Munich Residence Treasury

The Charles Bridge across the Vltava River, built over about 50 years from 1357.

Prague's Old Town Square, dominated by the Church of Our Lady Before Tyn

Interior of Tyn Church, begun in the 14th century and completed in 1511

The amazing Astronomical Clock on the Old Town City Hall, built from 1410 to 1490

Powder Gate, guarding the gateway to Old Town, this rebuild begun in 1475

The massive Prague Castle, the world's largest, really a city within a city

Prague Castle's main gates, with the 1614 Baroque Mattias Gate inside

Prague Castle's St. Vitus Cathedral, most important place of worship in Bohemia

Hluboka Castle, re-constructed during the 19th century in Romantic style

An early Gothic castle was built on the Hluboka Castle site around 1250.

Construction of the  castle at Cesky Krumlov began in the late 13th century

The entire town of Cesky Krumlov is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cesky Krumlov was built at a ford in the Vltava River, an important trade route

Krumlov Castle, towering over the Vltava, is one of the largest in central Europe

Krumlov Castle consists of 40 buildings and palaces around 5 castle courtyards

St. Vitus is a Gothic church in the castle dating back to the 15th century

Vienna's Hofburg Imperial Palace was the home of the Hapsburg dynasty

The Austrian Parliament Building in Vienna, built between 1874 and 1883

Vienna State Opera House, home of the world-famous State opera company

Celebrations in front of Vienna's Rathaus (City Hall), built 1872 - 1883

St. Stephen's Cathedral in central Vienna, on the site of an 1147 parish church

Schönbrunn Palace evolved over centuries from a hunting lodge begin in 1696

Queen Maria Theresa made Schönbrunn the imperial summer residence

The Neptune Fountain, one element of Maria Theresa's gardens and park plan

The 18th century gardens are used for current day concerts and celebrations

The Gloriette crowns a 60m / 200 ft hill overlooking the Palace and Vienna

Maria Theresa's Tiergarten first opened in 1752, and is the world's oldest zoo.

The Palm House pavilions with temperate and tropical sections, added in 1881-82

Salzburg has one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps.

Mirabell Palace, built by a Prince Bishop in 1606 for his mistress

Mozart was born in a home on Getreidegasse and raised in Salzburg.

17th century baroque Salzburg Cathedral was the site of Mozart's baptism.

Fortress Hohensalzburg, on Festungsberg hill, can now be reached by funicular.

The fortress, begun in 1077, is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.

Its hilltop location gave the fortress a view (and control) of a wide region.

Hellbrunn Palace, built in 1613-19 by the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg

Hellbrunn is famous for its extensive trick fountains and "watergames".

Innsbruck's older pedestrian district, with the Alps in the background

The Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl) was built in 1500.

It consists of 2657 fire-gilded copper tiles.

Interior of the St. Jakob Cathedral, converted from Gothic to Baroque 1717-24.

The 1654 Landestheater was converted into Classical style between 1844 and 1846.

Traditional Tyrolean entertainment at an Innsbruck dinner show

The view at a rest stop between Innsbruck and Munich