The architectural history of the Southern Railway Hotels is fascinating, as they exemplified the establishment of numerous spa towns due to their location between glaciers and palm trees. This includes the high-altitude region of Semmering, Toblach in the South Tyrolean Dolomites, and the Adriatic spa town of Abbazia, all places closely intertwined with Austria's railway history. The beginning of Austria's tourism history can be traced back to the international guests who visited the hotel facilities along the new railway line from all parts of the Habsburg monarchy before World War I. This richly illustrated and lavishly designed book not only provides the reader with an architectural and cultural historical snapshot of old Austrian spa towns but also offers an interesting socio-political overview from the Fin de Siècle to the present day.