2. The German name for Austria, Österreich, refers
to the meanings "eastern kingdom" or "eastern
empire", and it derives from the word Ostarrîchi,
which first appears in the "Ostarrîchi document" of
1996. This word is probably a translation of Medieval
Latin Marchia orientalis into a local (Bavarian)
dialect. It was a prefecture of Bavaria created in
1976. The word "Austria" is a Latinisation of the
German name and was first recorded in the 12th
century.
3. President: Heinz Fischer
Chancellor: Werner Faymann
Year of EU entry: 1995
Capital city: Vienna
Total area: 83 870 km²
Population: 8.3 million
Currency: euro (€)
Official language: German Language
Government: Federation, Federal
republic, Parliamentary republic
4. Places to Visit:
Grossglockner Alpine Road
It is a panoramic road which takes you up to the
Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe Visitor Center. From there,
you get the unobstructed view of Austria’s highest
mountain, the Grossglockner. The Grossglockner
Alpine Road is a toll road, but the fabulous high
alpine scenery more than makes up for the
expenses. The road is normally open from the
beginning of May to the end of October.
5. Hallstatt
It is a small village in the Salzkammergut region,
famous for its salt production. The village has a longstanding history of wealth and prestige. The wealth
accumulated from the salt industry transformed it
into a glamorous baroque village. Visit Hörnerwerk
cavern’s subterranean salt lake and see the
prehistoric man preserved in salt. Truly one of the
most unique places in Austria, you must experience
Hallstatt.
6. Schönbrunn Palace
one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna.
Comparable in grandeur to Versailles, this 1,441
room palace was built between 1696 and 1712 at the
request of Emperor Leopold I and turned into the
imperial summer palace by Maria Theresa. The
Palace Park offers a lot of attractions, such as the
Privy Garden, the oldest zoo in the world, a maze
and labyrinth, and a marble summerhouse situated
on top of a 60 meter high hill.
7. Festivals and Celebrations
Bregenz Festival
Bregenz is different. An opera festival with two
stages: a traditional opera house, home to less
known operas, and an open-air lakeside stage,
where productions are held in the most spectacular
fashion.
8. Salzburg Festival
First held in 1920, the Salzburg Festival is one
of the cultural highlights of the year. Alongside the
regular residency of the Vienna Philharmonic,
musicians and ensembles of the highest caliber fill
the beautiful Alpine city with music and drama.
9. Music festival Grafenegg
A classical music festival in a romantic setting.
Grafenegg offers the historical backdrop for musical
masterpieces from past centuries.
10. Famous Food in Austria
Wiener Schnitzel
Veal cutlet breaded and fried, served with salad
and pommes frites or potato salad.
11. Tafelspitz
Prime beef from the rump boiled and garnished
with horseradish and apple sauce, chive sauce,
served with home-fried or roast potatoes.
13. Products
Red Bull,
The world’s preeminent energy drink distributor
and sponsor of all things fast and adrenalin pumping
comes from Red Bull. The company has its
headquarters in a very scenic part of the Austria; in
the small village of Fuschl am.
14. Austrian Coffee
One of the benefits of coming out of the wars
and eventual defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the
Battle of Vienna was the coffee brought into the area
by the Ottoman armies. The Viennese in turn have
turned coffee into an art form and are now well
known for their Vienna Coffee and “kafés” (Coffee
Houses).
15. Swarovski Crystals
Near Innsbruck in Tyrol is the town of Watten
and headquarters of Swarovski Crystal, the
manufacturer of some of the finest crystal ware in
the world. The founder moved manufacturing to
Watten Austria to take advantage of the hydroelectric power required by his newly patented crystal
cutting and polishing machine.
