The Semmering railway line is part of the Südbahn railway that runs between Vienna and Graz, continuing on to Maribor, Ljubljana and eventurally to Trieste.
Built by the Carl Ritter von Ghega between 1848 and 1854, the scenic Semmering route was quite daring for the time; it had a maximum gradient five times that of previous railways.
What You'll See Along the Semmering Scenic Route
- 16 viaducts supported by several arches
- 15 tunnels
- The main tunnel, 1,430 meters long, at the time considered the most famous construction of its kind.
The Semmering railway was listed as a World Cultural heritage by the UNESCO in 1998.
Rail World Photography offers a fine Photo Tour of the Semmering Scenic Route.
What to do along the Semmering Scenic Route
Semmering has long been a mountain health resort, known for its clean air. Winter sports and Summer hiking are the top draws for the town. For more ideas, see Virtual Tourist: Semmering Things to Do
