"There was an aspect of personal pride at visiting the country for the first time, since I do have some Austrian heritage and, though I've never met any of my continental relatives, there's always been a soft spot in my heart for the motherland - or, in my case, the grandmother-land. I was also aware that the family I did have originated in the Wachau Valley region, just an hour or so away from Vienna."
"I have to be honest, however, when I say that this had no bearing on my decision to round off our city break in Vienna with a few days there. This was largely inspired by my love for combining city and countryside into one trip, as well as by my love of good wine, of which the Wachau is an esteemed purveyor of."
"Imagine my shock at the discovery that the little town of Senftenberg, where I'd already book a hotel, turned out to be the actual birthplace of my grandmother. Not only was she born there, but it turns out that pretty much the entire Austrian side of the family comes from this tiny stretch of land, with the family tree branching out for centuries in Senftenberg and neighbouring Imbach."
I booked a trip to Austria to visit Vienna with my partner. I have Austrian heritage and a sentimental connection to the grandmother-land, and I knew my family originated in the Wachau Valley about an hour from Vienna. The visit combined a city break and countryside, motivated by a love of wine, especially Grüner Veltliner. The town of Senftenberg, where I had booked a hotel, turned out to be my grandmother's birthplace. Much of the Austrian side of the family comes from Senftenberg and neighbouring Imbach. The family had been winemakers in the area for hundreds of years, and I stayed at a wine hotel surrounded by vineyards.
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