Interesting facts about the nature of austria. Austria. Best time to visit

Vienna Opera Building

1. Austria is consistently at the top of the list of countries with the highest living standards in the world, and Vienna often tops the list of the World's Most Livable Cities.

2. Austria is a member of the EU, but not a member of NATO.

3. Vienna is home to the world's oldest zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn. It was founded as a menagerie at the court of Emperor Franz Stephen in 1752.

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Austria (Austrian Republic)- a state in Central Europe.

Capital - Vein

Largest cities: Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck

Form of government- Federal Republic

Territory- 83 871 km 2 (112th in the world)

Population- 8.4 million people (94th in the world)

Official language- Deutsch

Religion- Catholicism

HDI- 0.885 (23rd in the world)

Gdp- $ 436.88 billion (27th in the world)

Currency- euro

Borders with: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Germany

4. Among the great Austrians are the painter Gustav Klimt, whose most famous work, The Kiss, is exhibited at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna; the founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud; composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Franz Schubert; the monk Georg Mendel, whose experiments with peas formed the basis of modern genetics; the physicist Christian Doppler, who invented the Doppler Effect; car designer Ferdinand Porsche. Born in Germany, Ludwig van Beethoven lived most of his adult life in Vienna.

The most famous living Austrian is Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Monument to Strauss in Vienna

5. Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele) - the most important and largest opera and theater festival in Europe. The aim of this festival is to perpetuate the memory of Mozart, therefore only the works of this great Austrian composer are performed at the festival.

Salzburg by night

6. The most famous Austrian dish is Vienna schnitzel. These are thinly beaten veal cutlets, which are dipped in an egg, sprinkled with bread crumbs, and then fried. In Austria, schnitzel is never served with sauce.

7. The Austrian tradition of baking cakes goes back centuries, when cities fiercely competed among themselves for the best cake. Even in small villages, bakeries try to out-perform each other. Almost every austrian city has its own signature cake. The most famous Austrian cake is the Viennese Sachertorte. This chocolate cake was invented by the chef Franz Sacher for Chancellor Metternich in 1832.

8. More than 60% of adults in Austria are overweight. This is the highest in the EU.

9. Before eating, Austrians say Guten Appetit! And, before drinking, they clink glasses, looking into each other's eyes. Not making eye contact is considered very impolite behavior that will bring the rude bummer seven years of bad sex.

10. The Vienna Academy of Arts (Vienna's Akademie der Bildenden Künste) once refused to accept a young artist named Adolf Hitler for training. In 1907, out of 128 applicants, 100, including Hitler, did not enter. For the competition Hitler submitted works "Expulsion from Paradise", "Builders" and "Death". ...

11. Alpine, or downhill skiing, has been the most popular sport in Austria for over 100 years. Matthias Zdarski wrote the first skiing manual in 1897, he also invented the first ski bindings and organized the first slalom in 1905.

12. Zentralfriedhof - one of the largest cemeteries in Europe. Buried here are Beethoven, Brahms, Johann Strauss, senior and junior, Franz Schubert, the pop icon Falco. There is also a monument to Mozart in the cemetery, although he was buried in an unmarked grave in another cemetery (St. Mark's Cemetery). More than 2.5 million people are buried here, while the population of Vienna is about 1.8 million. In Vienna, they say about the dead: “He sat down at 71” (the Zentralfriedhof cemetery is the last stop of the 71 tram).

13. Austrian caves Eisriesenwelt, which are called "the world of ice giants" - the world's largest accessible system of ice caves.

14. As the center of the powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire, after the defeat in the First World War, Austria was reduced to a small republic.

15. Waltz was born in the suburbs of Vienna and in the Alpine region of Austria. Already in the 17th century, waltzes were played at balls at the Habsburgs. It became very popular in Vienna in the early 19th century and then spread to the rest of Europe.

Vienna hosts over 300 balls annually, usually from January to March. The most famous are Opernball (held at the Vienna State Opera since 1877), Philharmonic Ball (with a performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), Blumenball (famous for its floral arrangements), Zuckerbäckerball (held in the best pastry shops in Vienna with an excellent selection of sweets).

Interesting Facts about Austria: geography, nature, history and culture of Austria, Schönbrunn Palace, musicians and composers of Austria.

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Austria is the birthplace of great musicians and composers, a country where high culture coexists with beautiful mountain landscapes and excellent gastronomy. If you still know little about this state, then 15 interesting facts will help you get to know more about not only geographic features provinces here, but also with an eventful history of the region.

Geography

Most of the territory of Austria is covered with mountains. The Eastern Alps make up 62% of the total area of the country. The highest point, Mount Großglockner (3798 m), is also the second highest peak in Europe. It is here that the largest glacier, Pasterets, is located, which has been actively melting since the 19th century. It is here that all the best ski resorts in Austria are located.
The Krimml cascade on the Krimler Ahe river in the federal state of Salzburg is the highest in Europe. The view of the falling water from a height of 380 meters will impress anyone who comes to see this magnificent natural landmark.
The most big lake natural origin - Neusiedler See. This is the fourth largest body of water in Europe, located in the federal state of Burgenland. Its southern tip belongs to Hungary. The lake itself is saline and is under the protection of UNESCO. Clear waters and nice beaches turned the coastal area into a popular holiday destination. By the way, other Austrian lakes are no less rich in entertainment and beauty.
Today's Austria is the German-speaking part of a huge empire called Austria-Hungary, ruled by the Habsburg dynasty from 1526 to 1918. This imperial family was one of the most powerful in Europe for several centuries. Most of the population is Catholics (about 90%). There are also Protestants and Muslims.
Austria has five big cities: Vienna, the largest locality and the capital of the state, Graz, the second largest, Linz, a port city on the Danube River, Salzburg, representing a huge cultural value, and Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol region. About one quarter of the Austrian population (at least 20%) lives in Vienna.

Story

The name of the state comes from ancient German and means “ eastern country". The flag of Austria is one of the oldest in the world. Two colors, red and white, symbolize the blood of the fighters for the independence of the republic and the Danube River. According to legend, the choice of these particular colors is associated with the events of the 12th century, when Leopold V of Austria, during one of the battles of the third crusade doused his white shirt with blood, but, removing his belt, found a strip of fabric untouched in red. At first, the flag was his banner, and only after that it became the flag of the whole country.
The territory of Austria has been inhabited by people since prehistoric times. In particular, in 1991, a body was found in the ice of the Alps between Austria and Italy. ancient man... but real story The region began at a time when the local lands were chosen by the Celts, who were later conquered by the Romans. Austria was first mentioned in documents at the end of the 10th century.
The inhabitants of Salzburg in the old days were called nothing else than "bullwashers" (Stierwascher). There are two versions of the origin of the unusual nickname. According to the first, there was a custom among the population to wash the meat of a freshly slaughtered animal in the waters of the river flowing here, and in honor of this tradition a name was given. Another legend says that during the siege of one of the fortresses of Salzburg, the defenders suffered greatly from hunger, but did not want to surrender. To deceive the enemies, they came up with the following: every day they painted one surviving bull in different colors and, as if by chance, showed him besieging. Such tactics led to the fact that the enemies retreated, having lost hope of starvation to take the fortress. At the same time, the unfortunate bull remained for centuries, giving the nickname to the population of the whole city.
The famous Queen Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, who died tragically during the French Revolution, was the youngest daughter of Emperor Franz I and Marie Theresa. The latter successfully ruled the Austrian territories and was an active reformer. Among the representatives of the Habsburg dynasty, it was Maria Theresa who enjoyed the greatest popularity.
The Semmering Railway in Austria is the world's first mountain railway, the construction of which began in the middle of the 19th century. This engineering miracle functions to this day, being part of the South railroad... Implementation of the project was a difficult and time-consuming process, especially considering the elevation differences and difficult mountainous terrain.

The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, created his theory while drinking coffee and discussing pressing problems in wonderful Austrian coffee houses.

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The culture

Austria is the birthplace of many famous composers, whose names are familiar to everyone from childhood. Mozart, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, Strauss, Mahler - just a small list of world famous authors of genius musical works. The renowned Viennese Waltz was created here. The music that accompanied the Austrian folk dance was taken as a basis.
- the main attraction not only in Vienna, but throughout Austria. This greatest architectural monument is one of the best "representatives" of the Austrian version of the Baroque style. 1441 rooms of the palace excite the imagination of both those who are just about to visit the imperial residence, and those who have seen all this splendor live.
The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, created his theory while drinking coffee and discussing pressing problems in wonderful Austrian coffee houses. The influence of this teaching on the science of man, and indeed the entire culture as a whole, cannot be assessed. Freud was and remains the greatest scientist who made a giant breakthrough and left behind numerous disciples.
Arnold Schwarzenegger - a world famous Hollywood actor and former governor of California - is not at all a native of one of the American states... His birthplace is a small village near the city of Graz in Austria.
The world's oldest Ferris wheel is located in the Prater Park in Vienna. It was built in the 19th century. Of course, the height of 65 meters is nothing compared to modern attractions, but lovers of everything unusual will definitely appreciate the old-fashionedness of the inhabitants of the Austrian capital.

Austria is a country that is famous not only for its beauty, but also for its many sights of cultural heritage. Located in the Alps, Austria, has long been a place of pilgrimage for skiers and tourists, but in addition to a developed sphere of recreation for foreigners, the country boasts a considerable number of worthy composers - from classical Mozart to Strauss and the von Trapp family.

In this article, we would like to review 10 places worth visiting if you decide to travel to Austria.

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Located in the Hohe Tauern National Park, resort town Bad Gastein (Bad Gastein) is well known for its epic buildings surrounded by mountains and misty clouds. At 1,000 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level, we see tourists walking to Bad Gastein to breathe in the clean mountain air, soak up their hot springs and enjoy the spa treatments.

Bad Gastein is also popular with holidaymakers who enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking or mountain biking in the summer.

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Wörthersee

The largest lake in Carinthia, Wörthersee is one of the most popular places in Austria in summer. It is suitable not only for those who want to canoe on the lake, but also for cavers who will definitely want to see several caves, including the Griffen Stalactite Cave, which is considered the most colorful cave in Austria.

Those who love foreign cathedrals will not be able to miss the Gurk Cathedral (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary), which was built in the 12th century, and lovers of old cars can enjoy a visit to Gmund, the birthplace of Porsche, or the Great Automobile Museum with a huge collection of cars, motorcycles and much another.

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This student Mecca is Austria's second largest city, Graz, known as a city of students, with six universities teaching over 44,000 students. It is one of the best preserved old cities in central Europe and reflects the culture Balkan Peninsula and Italy. The city is filled with numerous museums ranging from art museums to armory.

A city also renowned for its culinary delights, Graz offers a wide variety of international cuisine. The chefs can give you a gift of a bottle of pumpkin seed oil, a local product that nearly every farmer produces.

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St Anton am Arlberg is the leading ski resort in Austria located in Tyrol. This place offers professional ski slopes which are designed for different levels of skiing skill. The city attracts enterprising young people and is famous for its “work hard, play hard” principle. The vast landscape attracts tourists in winter, but there are also summer climbers who come here all year round.

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Permeated by the Danube River, the Wachau Valley is popular tourist spot in the southern part of Austria. Dunstein is well known as the site where Duke Leopold V kept the British King Richard the Lionheart imprisoned for several years in the late 12th century, while Melk is famous for the beauty of a Benedictine abbey.

Wachau is also famous for its wines, and apricots are also grown here. There are over 500 in the Wachau Valley historical monuments, so tourists will have to choose which ones they will have time to visit.

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Zell am See

Zell am See, which is located in the state of Salzburg, is another well-known tourist resort, which is famous for its mountains and lakes. As early as the beginning of the 19th century, Zell am See hosted several international ski competitions.

On the ski slopes One of the most famous landmarks is the Church of St. Hippolytus, which dates back to the early 16th century. Grossglockner begins in Zell am See - a panoramic road that is famous for the stunning beauty of the Alpine landscape.

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Innsbruck (translated as "bridge over the Inn") is an all-season tourist paradise. It is known worldwide for its winter sports, since the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics.

But, this Tyrolean city offers more than just skiing. It offers a glimpse of beautiful cathedrals such as the Hofkirche, which houses the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I, the Ambras Castle Hotel, which has a collection of paintings and armor, and the Bell Museum, with 400 years of history, and many interesting exhibits.

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Salzkammergut are sparkling clean lakes, green hills, beautiful mountains, romantic cities such as St. Wolfgang and Hallstatt. Travelers who have seen The Sound of Music film know what the area looks like, because the film was filmed in the city, the outskirts of Salzburg and the neighboring region of Salzkammergut. The resort area is popular with sunbathers as well as visitors who enjoy relaxing spa treatments.

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Located in central Austria close to the German border, Salzburg is probably best known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Travelers come to Austria's fourth-largest city to see the sights that inspired Mozart's unforgettable music. From the top of the hill of the medieval fortress, one can see the picturesque Old city and breathtaking alpine landscapes. Salzburg is one of the best places for holidays in Austria.

Those looking to relive scenes from The Sound of Music should definitely check out the 17th-century Baroque sights: the Mirabell Palace and the von Trapps' house, now a hotel. Lovers of Mozart can visit his birthplace as well as the renovation of his home.

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Elegant waltzes by Johann Strauss come to mind immediately when we think of Vienna, the capital of Austria and its largest city. The city is also famous for other classical composers such as Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven and Schubert. Travelers can take a break from music by visiting the Hofburg, which houses Art Museum with an outstanding collection of paintings by old masters. Vienna is also famous for its cafes, where travelers can relax while deciding which museum or park to visit next.

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Conclusion

This was the article 10 best places to visit in Austria... Thank you for your attention!

Austria is clean air, beautiful nature, unique architecture and an immense number of interesting and unusual facts... In our article, we have collected only the most interesting and useful facts.

More than 90% of the population speaks German... It is official throughout the country. It should also be noted Slovene, Croatian and Hungarian, which have official status in the regions of Carinthia and Burgenland. French and English are very popular among the younger generation.
Austria is one of the first countries in the world to switch to energy-saving technologies by more than 50%. On the this moment the country receives over 65% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. It also provides for a possible increase in this indicator by a few more percent.
The population of Austria is 8.5 million people, the area is 83 871 km 2. The country is one of the richest and most developed countries in the world - an interesting fact.
About 50% of Austrian men and 20% of women are overweight, but only 8.6% are obese (the lowest in Europe)!
According to the latest opinion polls, it became known that most Austrians spend their free time playing sports and outdoor activities.
A quarter of Austria's population lives in Vienna!
Interesting fact about Austria: Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn in Upper Austria. It should be noted that the events of one of the parts of the first volume of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" take place in this town.
Austria is the only EU country that is not a NATO member.
Vienna, the capital and largest city of Austria with a population of 1.7 million, is an interesting fact.
The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world.
The official currency of Austria is the euro.
Interesting fact about Austria: "Tiergarten Schönbrunn" - the first zoo in the world! It was founded in Vienna in 1752. In honor of the 260th anniversary of the landmark, in 2012, there were grand celebrations and replenishment of the number of animals.
Austria has a very low unemployment rate. It is interesting to know that in Europe Austrians are called "incorrigible workaholics", since the majority of the population works 9 hours a day and stays at work for a long time.
Fun fact: Austrian inventor Josef Madersperger created the world's first sewing machine in 1818!
Haslauer is the world's first official hotel! It was founded in 803 and has been continuously performing its functions for more than XII centuries.
The most big cemetery in Europe, located in Vienna. At the moment, the cemetery "Zentralfriedhof" contains about 3 million tombs, including the graves of Beethoven, Gluck, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert ...
Interesting fact about Austria: Schönbrunn Palace has over 1,440 rooms. This is not only the former residence of the Habsburgs, but also a popular attraction, the real pride of Austria.
Austria has given the world many famous composers classical music, including Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, I. Strauss, Mahler, Bruckner. Every year the country hosts hundreds of music festivals dedicated to these great musicians and composers.
World famous, stunning Hollywood actor and former governor of California (twice elected in 2003 and 2006) Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in the village of Thal, near the city of Graz (Austria) - an interesting fact.
Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the German sports car company Porsche, was originally from Austria!
Interesting fact: the Austrian Alps occupy 62% of the country's area.
Highest point Austria is Mount Großglockner (3798 m). It is interesting to know that the country has 13 peaks above 3000 m, and 34 above 2000 meters.
Neusiedler is the largest natural lake Austria. It is included in the UNESCO heritage list and is a popular natural attraction.
Interesting fact about Austria: 74.5% of the population are Catholics (adherents of the Roman Catholic Church), 4.9% are Lutherans, 12% are atheists, 8% are representatives of other faiths. It is interesting to know that in 1991 there were 5% fewer atheists!
The name of Austria comes from the German word "Osterreich", which means "Eastern Empire". The word itself originated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire.
Krimml is the most high waterfall in Europe. Its height is 380 meters!
The first Youth Winter Olympic Games were held in Austria in 2012 (the Austrian national team took 3rd place in the medal standings). - interesting fact.
The country joined the UN back in 1954.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire existed for 52 years from 1867 to 1918.
Interesting fact about Austria: The world's largest emerald (2,860 carats) is located in the imperial treasury of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.
Football is the most popular sport in Austria.
Austria spends 0.9% of GDP on defense, which is $ 1.5 billion (one of the lowest in Europe).
Fun fact: in Vienna and others large cities there are unique sobering machines that work on the principle of conventional coffee machines. You only need one coin and your alcoholic intoxication will be lifted!
Austria- the country that gave the world the Vienna Waltz and the oldest Ferris wheel.

The article has come to an end, but you can still watch the stunning

This section contains the main attractions of Austria with photos and descriptions, location on the map of the country. The article below can serve as a guideline for drawing up an individual route. You will find out what to see in Austria: museums, galleries, theaters, cathedrals, palaces and castles, parks, nature reserves, resorts and other popular places.

Despite the modest size of the territory, Austria has a huge number of attractions - natural and man-made. The country offers almost all types of tourism: from cultural sightseeing to hiking and sports.

It is here, in cities surrounded by mountain alpine peaks, blue lakes, forests and meadows, that the best examples of classical music were created: the great composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert and Johannes Brahms found their inspiration.

In winter, ski resorts are very popular in Austria, and in summer, hikers flock to National parks and to the alpine meadows.

While resting in large cities, you can make a rich overview program for several days: visit the royal residences and castles, which are now open to the most interesting museums, go to the Vienna Opera and the National Library, see the Hundertwasser House with your own eyes, and then - the shocking exposition of the Museum of Pathology. And how pleasant it will be to stroll along the spacious squares and central streets, where there are usually architectural monuments and everything is steeped in history, including local shops and restaurants.

What to see in Austria

Sights of the cities of Austria

The most popular sights of Austria are located in the capital - Vienna. The beautiful St. Stephen's Cathedral is the symbol of the city and the country's most famous cathedral for tourists. The Viennese Belvedere Palace, the Schönbrunn and Hofburg palace complexes, where the residences of the Habsburgs were once located, are not inferior to it in terms of attendance.

The main walking and sightseeing route in the Austrian capital certainly runs along the Ringstrasse, which encircles Inner city and encompassing such iconic sights of Vienna as the Burgtheater and Vienna Opera, parliament building, Town Hall, Stock Exchange and others.

Thinking over the route of travel in Austria, you can get acquainted with the lists of attractions of major tourist cities: Salzburg, Graz, Baden, Tyrol and other regions.

The most picturesque attraction of Salzburg is Mirabell Castle with a park, the famous avenue of dwarfs, greenhouses and ponds. From here there is an excellent view of the Hohensalzburg fortress-museum - one of the largest in Europe. Also, guests of Salzburg usually visit the Mozart Museum and the house where the composer was born.

Among the attractions of Graz, central city the land of Styria, includes architectural monuments and museums. Of greatest interest to tourists is the huge exposition of the Graz Arsenal - the legendary military museum, where samples of medieval weapons and equipment are kept. The Parliament building is unusual in its architecture - Landhaus.

Tyrol in western Austria is famous for its large alpine ski resorts, but the region is worth visiting not only for their sake, but also for its stunning beauty national parks, castles and museums. In particular, in the city of Wattens there is an interesting theme park-museum "Crystal Worlds of Swarovski". While in the regional center of Innsbruck with children, it is worth visiting the Alpine Zoo - the highest in Europe.

One of the main attractions of Austrian Baden and the region of Lower Austria is the Göttweig Abbey. It is a working Benedictine monastery, included in the UNESCO heritage list and regularly receiving tourists from all over the world.

What to see in Austria: natural attractions

Austria is not only rich cultural heritage, palaces, cathedrals and other architectural monuments and city attractions. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the country not for the sake of these values, but in order to see the Alps: mountain ranges and green meadows, karst and ice caves, the unique flora and fauna of the region.

The world's largest ice cave, Eisreisenwelt, is located near Salzburg. For tourists, a 1 km route is available. Leads to the cave cable car, can be reached by car and by train, then walk a little.

The national parks of Austria, which amaze with their landscapes and beauty of nature, deserve a separate review.

Located on the border with Germany mountain park Untersberg from where it opens impressive view to Salzburg and the valley. On its territory there are several caves and walking tourist routes, and many legends are associated with the place itself - both completely fabulous and historical.

Looking for wildlife, animals and plants of rare species, you can go to the Gesoise nature reserve, located in the region of the federal state of Styria, or to the huge Hohe Tauern national park, which occupies part of the lands of Tyrol, Salzburg and Carinthia.

You will find an abundance of alpine meadows, springs, mountain streams and pastures in another Austrian reserve - Kalkalpen, where you can take a bicycle or horse ride, visit karst caves and also see lynxes and brown bears.

Video review of the sights of Austria. Nature Austria aerial view.