Facts About Austria

Austria is a Central European country, which stands to the north of Italy and Slovenia, south of Germany and the Czech Republic, east of Switzerland and Lichtenstein and west of Slovakia and Hungary. Its capital city, Vienna, is situated on the Danube River and attracts you with its Cathedral, ‘Heurigen’ (wine pubs) and romantic Waltz music. Home to the Alps, the country promises to mesmerize you with panoramic natural beauty. Not to forget is the architectural splendor of Austria, visible in the form of its magnificent fortresses, splendid castles and grand castles. To add to the fun are the adventure sports options, present in the form of skiing, hiking and mountaineering resorts. In short, Austria is a place for every one, nature lovers, adventure buffs and history seekers.

 

Fun & Interesting Facts about Austria 

• The official name of Austriais the ‘Republic of Austria’.
• Austriais situated in Central Europe and spreads over an area of approximately 83,858 sq km.
• The capital of Austriais Vienna, while its currency is Euro.
• Majority of the population in Austriais Roman Catholic, followed by Protestants and Muslims.
• The official language of Austria, followed through the country, is German. The other official languages are Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland) and Hungarian (official in Burgenland).
• Austriafollows the system of ‘Federal Republic’.
• The German name for Austria is Osterreich, which means ‘Eastern Empire’, referring to the time when Austria was a part of the Holy Roman Empire.
• A mummified body from the Stone Age was found in the ice of the Otztal Alps, between Austria and Italy, in 1991.
• About half of Austrian men are overweight, while around one-fifth of Austrian women are overweight.
• About one fourth of the population of Austria lives in Vienna.
• Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria.
• Austria is the only continental EU country that is not a member of NATO.
• Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world.
• Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of 'Porsche' company, was an Austrian.
• Gregor Johann Mendel, who established the basis of modern genetics, was an Austrian, along with Alfred Adler, who contributed to the foundations of modern psychology.
• Großglockner, the highest mountain in Austria, is also the second most prominent mountain in the Alps.
• In the 16^th century, the Austrian Empire included Austria, Belgium, Czecho-slovakia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Spanish American colonies, parts of Italy and the former Yugoslavia.
• Many world famous composers, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, J. Strauss, Mahler and Bruckner, were Austrian.
• Marie-Antoinette, the wife of France's King Louis XVI, was the daughter of Marie Theresa, the Habsburg ruler of Austria.
• Salt (salz) was mined at Salzburg and Hallstatt in the early Iron Age also.
• Schönbrunn Palace, the summer palace of the Habsburgs, has over 1440 rooms.
• The Austrian Alps boast of being home to the Pasterze Glacier, one of largest glaciers in Europe.
• The Krimml Falls, with a height of 380 meters, are amongst the highest waterfalls of Europe.
• The largest natural lake in Austria is Lake Neusiedler.
• The Semmering Railway, between Gloggnitz and Simmering, built over mountains, was one of the greatest civil engineering works of 19^th century.
• The sewing machine was invented by Josef Madersperger, an Austrian.
• Tiergarten Schönbrunn of Vienna, founded in 1752 is the oldest zoological garden in the world.
• Vienna once served as the musical center of Europe.
• Vienna's Central Cemetery has over 2.5 million tombs (more than the city's present population), including those of Beethoven, Brahms, Gluck, Schubert, Schoenberg and Strauss.