Austria has a rich cultural life and was for several centuries the center of Europe. It is a large tourist country, with world-class ski resorts, hiking trails at adorable mountain villages, the cultural capital of Vienna with its historic architecture and Mozart’s birthplace Salzburg.
| Capital: | Vienna |
| Biggest city: | Vienna |
| State: | Federal Republic of the European Union |
| Language: | German |
| Religion: | catholicism |
| Surface: | 83 858 km² |
| Population: | 8.5 million (2013) |
| Population density: | 98 residents per km² |
| Life expectancy: | 80 years |
| Illiteracy: | 2% |
| Currency: | euro (EUR) 1 euro = 9.76 kr |
| GDP per capita: | $ 39,600 (2010) |
| Time difference: | +0 hours |
| Electricity: | 220 V AC, 50Hz |
| National Day: | October 26 |
| Country area code: | 43 |
| 2-Letter country abbreviation: | AT (See more abbreviations on Abbreviationfinder) |
| Business: | service sector 64%, industry 34%, agriculture 2% |
| Climate: | temperate; cold winters and mild to hot summers; colder in the mountains |
It is a country with great contrasts. The western and southern parts are dominated by the Alps, while the eastern areas are located by the lush Danube Valley. The country is as popular for its historic buildings, museums and cafés as it is for the ski resorts and breathtaking mountain landscapes.
Austria has had a great influence on world culture. Composers such as Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert worked and lived here in their time. Several pioneering cultural personalities such as Sigmund Freud and Ludwig Wittgenstein also come from Austria.
Austria is the only non-communist country that uses the hammer and sickle in its coat of arms. The hammer and sickle are otherwise an internationally accepted symbol of communism, and are forbidden to wear in both Hungary and Poland.
The films “Sound of Music”, “The Third Man” and “The Eagle’s Nest” are all filmed in Austria. The Beatles movie “Help!” and the James Bond films “Quantum of Solace” and “The Living Daylights” are also partly filmed in Austria.
Many people think that the Lasse Åberg film “Sällskapsresan 2” was filmed in Kitzbühel, Austria, but it was in fact filmed in the Swiss village of Verbier.
WORLD HERITAGE
The following objects in Austria are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The year in which the item was added to the list is indicated in parentheses.
- The Old Town of Salzburg (1996)
- The Palace and the Park in Schönbrunn (1996)
- The cultural landscape Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut (1997)
- Semmering Railway (1998)
- Graz Historic Center and Eggenberg Castle (1999)
- The cultural landscape in Wachau (2000)
- The cultural landscape by Lake Neusiedler (2001)
- Vienna’s historic city center (2001)
- Prehistoric pole houses in or around the Alps (2011)
ELECTRICAL OUTLET
Electricity and electrical outlets in Austria
Voltage: 230 V
Frequency: 50 Hz
Type of plug: F
Need an adapter: No, you do not need an adapter.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Weather in Vienna
| Climate | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Christmas | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average temperature °C | -1 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 5 | -1 |
| Day °C | 2 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 2 |
| Night °C | -4 | -2 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 2 | -3 |
| Soltim / day | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
Innsbruck
Innsbruck is the capital of the federal state of Tyrol in Austria. The city has 117,916 residents (2007). The city has hosted two Olympic Games, the 1964 Winter Olympics and the 1976 Winter Olympics.
Innsbruck is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world and those who have visited the city once are happy to return several times. Innsbruck is located in Inndalen at an altitude of almost 600 meters. The city is located between the Karwendel Mountains (2,334 m) in the north and Brenner (2,247 m) in the south and at the same time is a nature and city experience.
Innsbruck is Austria’s fifth largest city with 140,000 residents. One of the perhaps most famous sights is the Goldenes Dachl, a roof of gold that adorns the city’s cozy old town. Before Christmas, you can enjoy the aroma of mulled wine (Austria’s answer to mulled wine) in the Altstadt (Old Town) during the Christmas market.
Salzburg
Salzburg is a city in Austria with 150,269 residents (2007). The city is known for its baroque architecture, history and as a gateway to the Alps.
The old town is dominated by baroque towers and many churches. The area is surrounded by two smaller mountains, Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg. The city is located about 150 km east of Munich in Germany and 300 km west of Vienna.
The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and raised in Salzburg. His birthplace and residence are a popular tourist attraction. His family is buried in a small cemetery in the old town and there are many monuments dedicated to “Wolferl” in the city.
Since 1996, the old town has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vienna
According to Countryaah, Vienna is the capital of Austria, and has just over 1.6 million residents (2005). Until 1918, the city was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today, Vienna is home to several international institutions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The city is often associated with 19th century romance; Viennese waltzes, Strauss and Spanish riding school. The people of Vienna are delighted and proud of their history. The riding school remains, and still holds balls where the Viennese waltz is played all night long.
In 2001, Vienna’s historic city center was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.