All You Need To Know About Austria

History

Settled in prehistoric times, the central European land that is now Austria was overrun in pre-Roman times by various tribes, including the Celts. After the fall of the Roman Empire, of which Austria was part, the area was invaded by Bavarians and Slavic Avars. Charlemagne conquered the area in 788 and encouraged colonization and Christianity. In 1252, Ottokar, king of Bohemia, gained possession, only to lose the territories to Rudolf of Hapsburg in 1278. Thereafter, until World War I, Austria’s history was largely that of its ruling house, the Hapsburgs. Austria emerged from the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as the continent’s dominant power. The Ausgleich of 1867 provided for a dual sovereignty, the empire of Austria and the kingdom of Hungary, under Franz Joseph I, who ruled until his death on Nov. 21, 1916.

The Austrian-Hungarian minority rule of this immensely diverse empire, which included German, Czech, Romanian, Serbian, and many other lands, became increasingly difficult in an age of emerging nationalist movements. When Archduke Francis Ferdinand was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo in 1914, World War I, as well as the destruction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, began.

During World War I, Austria-Hungary was one of the Central powers with Germany, Bulgaria, and Turkey, and the conflict left the country in political chaos and economic ruin. Austria, shorn of Hungary, was proclaimed a republic in 1918, and the monarchy was dissolved in 1919. A parliamentary democracy was set up by the constitution of Nov. 10, 1920.

Climate

Austria has a temperate and alpine climate. In summer the daytime temperature is warm and it can even be hot but nights are cool. Winters are cold with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing. Its terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 metres (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,797 metres (12,457 ft). This makes Austria a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding.

National Flag

The Austrian flag is a rectangular triband flag with colors red and white. The equal horizontal bands are arranged with red at the top and bottom with a white band in the middle. Austria used red to signify strength and bravery, while white symbolizes truth and honesty

Official Language

Austrian German is spoken by most Austrians with the exception of a section of the aged population (mostly rural residents). German is used in imparting education in the schools and universities of the country. The media also uses the language as a means of communication, and all official announcements and government administrative work use Austrian German.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic Austrians constitute the vast majority of the population. Small but significant groups of German-speaking Swiss and ethnic Germans also reside in the country. Serbs, Bosniaks (Muslims from Bosnia and Herzegovina; living mainly in the larger cities), Turks (living primarily in Vienna), Hungarians and Croats (living mainly in Burgenland), and Slovenes (living mainly in Kärnten) constitute the major ethnic minorities.

Food

Famous dishes are-:

Tafelspitz: This dish contains beef boiled in a broth and is considered Austria’s national dish.  It is traditionally served with apples, horseradish and chives sauce.

Liptauer: This is a spicy cheese spread that is served over a slice of bread.

Selchfleisch: This dish contains meat that has been smoked then cooked and served with sauekraut and dumplings.

Wiener Schnitzel: One of Austria’s most famous dishes, it is a speciality of Viennese cuisine.  Wiener Schnitzel is a very thin, breaded escalope of veal that is then deep fried.

Erdapfel Salat: Austrian potato salad that is marinated in vinegar, oil, salt and pepper.  It is a favourite side dish for Wiener Schnitzel.

Sachertorte: This is a chocolate cake filled with apricot jam that is traditionally served with whipped cream.

Apfelstrudel: In English, this is Apple Strudel.  It contains layers of thin pastry with apple filling, cinnamon, and raisins.

Drinks

In Viennese cafes, coffee is very popular and served in a variety of ways.  It is usually served with a glass of water.  Viennese hot chocolate is very rich, served with heavy cream.  Almdudler is an Austrian soft drink with a flavour that is based on mountain herbs.  Almdudler is considered Austria’s national drink.  Eastern Austria serves as the nation’s wine country producing notable wines like Riesling and Veltliner.  Austria offers a variety of beers with breweries located around the country.  Popular brands include Stiegl, Ottakringer, and Egger Bier.

Hub of Fine Arts

Vienna was a hub for creatives throughout the 19th century. The birthplace of some of the world’s most prominent artists, like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and the cradle of highly influential avant-garde art movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, Austria lies at the heart of the history of European art. Its contemporary art scene breeds from this tradition and twists it with experimental, cutting-edge ideas.

Tourism

Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart and is home to a whole lot of beautiful buildings. And even though it’s a big part of what makes Austria genuinely great, this landlocked country is much more than history and pretty architecture.

Here are some famous tourist destinations of Austria.

1. Vienna

It is widely considered to be a cultural haven for music, fine art, and architecture lovers from all over the world. Known for the many diverse architectural styles peppered throughout the city, travellers can expect to find numerous well-preserved examples of Romanesque, Baroque, Classicist, and Art Nouveau styled structures. Vienna is also celebrated for its rich performance-art tradition, hosting over 200 balls a year, and a variety of classical music concerts honouring the many famous composers who once called Vienna home, including Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and countless others.

2. Salzburg

Salzburg is probably best known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Travellers come to Austria’s fourth-largest city to view the sights that inspired such unforgettable music. With its hill-topped medieval fortress, picturesque Altstadt old town, and breath-taking Alpine scenery, Salzburg’s beauty is sure to enchant visitors in every season of the year.

Stretching along the banks of the Salzach River, Salzburg is a historic city that looks as if it was lifted out of a storybook. For those seeking to relive scenes from the 1965 movie “The Sound of Music”, must-see attractions include the 17th-century Baroque Mirabell Palace and Gardens, the gazebo in the Schloss Hellbrunn’s gardens and the actual von Trapp family home, which is now a hotel. Mozart aficionados can visit his birthplace as well as a reconstruction of his home, complete with period instruments, portraits, and musical scores.

3. Salzkammergut

Salzkammergut – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is an Austrian resort area surrounded by serene blue lakes, verdant hills, and snow-peaked mountain ranges, that for over a century has served as one of the countries prime tourist destinations. Outdoor recreational activities are prominent in the area, including mountaineering, horseback riding, swimming, and cycling. The Salzkammergut region is also famous for the many luxury spas and hotel resorts inhabiting the area, making it an idyllic destination for groups of travellers looking for both relaxation and adventure.

4. Innsbruck

Innsbruck, with a name that translates as “bridge over the inn,” is an all-season tourist destination. It is internationally known for its winter sports, having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. But this Tyrolean city offers more than just great skiing. It offers a good mix of cathedrals, such as Hofkirche, which houses the tomb of Emperor Maximilian; the Schloss Ambras, which has a collection of paintings and armor; and the Bell Museum, a nod to 400 years of bell-making.

5. Zell am See

Zell is See is an Austrian town on Lake Zell, south of the city of Salzburg. Its Romanesque St. Hippolyte Church has a distinctive tower added in the 15th century. Trails and lifts lead to the ski slopes of Schmittenhöhe mountain. Southwest, views from Gipfelwelt 3000 panoramic platform, at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, take in Hohe Tauern National Park and the looming Grossglockner mountain.

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