Public Nature Reserves
 On the set of BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON in Lech/Arlberg © Location Austria/Leo Baumgartner
 The story of the Canadian skiing heros, CRAZY CANUCKS, directed by Randy Bradshaw, was shot in the Tyrol © Cine Tirol
Public Nature Reserves
In Austria, the heartland of Europe, a great variety of landscapes, climates, and vegetation systems overlap. The landscape covers high and medium range Alps and mountain ranges as well as rolling hills and plains. The country is characterized by an Alpine scenery with snow-covered peaks, ice-blue glaciers, vast forests (46% of the total area of Austria), alpine meadows and river wetlands. Peaceful mountain springs are transformed into dramatic waterfalls and rapids that wind and twist through adventurous canyons and gorges. Scenery which offers everything from untouched nature and fairy-tales romance to adventure and action.
Public nature reserves are typically under municipal adminsitration to which inquiries for permits have to be addressed.
Rappenloch Gorge, province of Vorarlberg © Österreich Werbung/Markowitsch
National parks, forests and forestries
The strong environmental awareness of Austrians has led to the creation of nourmerous regional national parks with a wealth of flora and fauna which offer breathtaking locations. They all are in easy reach due to Austria’s dense transportation and road network. Due to the high ecological standards in these areas, stricter guidelines for obtaining permits apply. Filming is possible in large sections of the national parks but driving is banned in some areas. Ranked among the most impressive of the national parks are the Danube River Wetlands in Lower Austria, the Limestone Alps of Upper Austria, Lake Neusiedl-Seewinkel in the Burgenland and the Hohe Tauern National Park.
The Hohe Tauern National Park stretches across the provinces of Carinthia, Salzburg and Tirol and is therefore under divided authority. It is home of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner (12,454 ft./3,797 m).
Nockalm Road, province of Carinthia © Kärnten Tourismus
The best time to film on the spectacular Grossglockner High Alpine Road is just after winter road closure, at the beginning of November, or, before reopening in early May, since the road is closed to public traffic during these times. When roads are open to the public, street closure for filming is possible only for short periods of time. A series of parking lots – the Glocknerhaus parking area holds some hundreds of cars – along the entire road simplifies production logistics. The road reaches its steepest point at the section called the Edelweiss Road at an elevation of 8,200 ft. (2,500 m). This part of the road is particularly suitable for filming because it can be closed to the public at any time.
The Vienna Woods, a 116 sq.mi. area of mixed foliage woodlands, is known as Vienna’s green lung and is considered the largest and most important recreational area outside the city. The access road through the woods offers some lookout points and a wonderful panorama of the city of Vienna.
The National Parks Limestone Alps of Upper Austria, the Danube River Wetlands, and the Vienna Woods are under the authority of the Austrian Federal Forestry Commission (ÖBf) which manages around 865.000 hectars (2.1 million acres) – an area which constitutes 10% of Austria’s total area and around 15% of Austria’s forests. The ÖBf is Austria’s largest forestry and the owner of the largest hunting and fishing area in the country. The individual forestries within the ÖBf are to be contacted for permits.
Alpine hut in East Tyrol © Leo Baumgartner
Mountain huts of the Austrian Alpine Society
Presently, the Austrian Alpine Society manages 270 huts which can be used for filming. Permits can be obtained form the individual lease holders of the huts which can be located via Internet at Alpenverein or at the Registry for Alpine Huts.
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