Regular Guests

Book excerpt: Jewish Presence on Semmering The Semmering – the popular summer and winter holiday destination has a long association with Jewish guests. This history dates back to the Jewish trade routes in the Middle Ages when merchants passed through the area, and it continues to the present day. With the expansion of the railway, elegant hotels were constructed, kosher infrastructure was offered, Jewish doctors opened facilities for treatments and cures, and sports and leisure culture developed. The Semmering became a destination for health tourism, as well as the center of vibrant social life: Celebrities like Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schnitzler, Berta Zuckerkandl, and others turned into regular guests. Some even purchased property, built lavish villas, and dressed in local costumes as a sign of their affiliation. However, the rise of National Socialism marked the end of carefree vacations, leading to the expulsion and expropriation of many. After the Second World War, the Semmering attracted a new range of visitors: survivors of the Holocaust from neighboring countries and their children, who longed to forget their painful past as quickly as possible. For the first time, this book takes a detailed look at Jewish life in the Semmering region.