AUSTRIA

Physical geography

Landlocked in the centre of Europe, bordered by Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and covering an area of 83,858 square km, Austria has a very varied landscape. To the south and west of Austria lies the Alps mountain range, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. They are snow-capped for most of the year. To the east of the country, the river Danube has over thousands of years created lowlands with a very different character to the alpine region. Temperatures are generally low.

Haslauer

Iconic places

Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence located in Vienna. The 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in the country. Since the mid-1950s it has been a major tourist attraction. The history of the palace and its vast gardens span over 300 years, reflecting the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. Founded in 803 as Stiftskeller St. Peter, Haslauer is the world's oldest inn/restaurant still in operation, and the oldest company in Europe; it is a precursor of modern restaurants.

Iconic object

Austrian traditional dresses are nearly the same as in Bavaria. The Dirndl is an Austrian traditional dress as it is in Bavaria. It is a popular dress for many occasions and worn by women of all ages.

Important historical figure

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791), baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era.

Important living person

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-born American actor, model, producer, director, activist, businessman, investor, writer, philanthropist, former professional bodybuilder, and politician. Schwarzenegger served two terms as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011.

History before 2000

Settled in prehistoric times, the central European land that is now Austria was overrun in pre-Roman times by various tribes, including the Celts. Austria emerged from the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as the continent's dominant power. 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. Kurt von Schuschnigg, his successor, struggled to keep Austria independent, but on March 12, 1938, German troops occupied the country, and Hitler proclaimed its Anschluss (union) with Germany, annexing it to the Third Reich.

History since 2000

In 2000, the European Union condemned Austria's new coalition, froze diplomatic contacts, and imposed sanctions, accusing Haider of being a racist, xenophobe, and Nazi sympathizer. Nowadays Austria is an active country in the EU.

Human geography

There are 8,4 million inhabitants; population growth is 0,53%. Life expectancy is rather high: 79 years for men and 84 for women. All Austrians are literate. There are disputes between Muslims and Protestants, minorities who want to be better accepted.

Languages and cultures

The official language is German. The accent varies from one mountain massif to another and natives sometimes have difficulty being understood. In Burgenland, approximately 25,000 people speak Croatian, and in Carinthia, 20,000 people speak Slovenian. The culture is very Germanic.

Political system

Austria is a federal republic, made up of 9 Bundesländer, whose federal capital is Vienna. It is organized according to the principle of division of powers and a representative democracy with parliamentary system. Austria became a member of the European Union in 1995.

Economy

Austria is the one of the twelve richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita. Until the 1980s, a wide part of the industry of the country was under the control of the State. The economy of Austria is also marked by the importance of tourism. Austria has 18 Members of the European Parliament.

Youth

Youth is very active and well-educated; they have some of the best schools in the world.

Article by Pierre Etienne PION