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 About Austria |
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At the geographical heart of Europe, Austria is known for its spectacular mountains and ski resorts, and its green valleys and crystal-clear lakes. While glorious architecture recalls the once-powerful Imperial House of Hapsburg, the presence of striking contemporary buildings reflects a modern country at the forefront of enggineering, invention and design.
Austria’s geographic and political history has been varied. It was occupied by Celts and Suebi when the Romans conquered it 2000 years ago. In the 8th century Charlemagne made it a border state of the Carolingian Empire. Then in the 13th century, Austria passed to the Hapsburg family and became the core of their vast empire. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Austria, and particularly Vienna, was a major cultural center.
The Austro-Hungarian empire was dissolved in 1918, and Austria became a republic. Adolf Hitler annexed the country in 1938, and the Allies occupied it in 1945. Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. Then, in 1955, a State Treaty that forbade unification with Germany recognized Austria's independence. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's perpetual neutrality as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. This neutrality, ingrained as part of the Austrian cultural identity, has been questioned since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995. |
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Location |
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Austria is a landlocked country, sharing borders with Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. Covering 83,858 sq km or 32,378 sq miles, Austria is a mountainous country, nearly half of which is covered with forests.
While Austria’s nine federal provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna form a political entity, they reflect a diversity of landscapes that fall into five sections. These are the Eastern Alps, the Alpine and Carpathian Foothills, the Pannonian Lowlands, the Vienna Basin, and the Granite and Gneiss Highlands or Bohemian Massif.
Austria’s highest mountain is Grossglockner, reaching 3798 meters or 12,465 feet. The River Danube flows for approximately 360 km or 220 miles through country, with the tributaries of the Inn, the Enns, the Mürz, and the Mur. |
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Population |
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There are just over 8,000,000 Austrians, of which 97% are of Germanic ethnic origin, 2% are of Slovene and Croatian origin, and 1% are of Turkish origin. Some 74% of the population is Roman Catholic, and equal percentages (close to 5%) are Protestant and Muslim. The remainder of Austrians identify with other religious groups, or with no group at all.
In social and business gatherings Austrians tend to be formal, usually using last names when introduced for the first time. Social pleasantries and an exchange of small-talk are part of polite society, as is dressing up for the opera or theater. The Church enjoys a highly respected position in Austria, which should be kept in mind by the newcomer to Austrian life.
Since 1945, Austria has received close to two million refugees from other parts of Europe, though many of these people have since moved on to other destinations. As of 1996 about 300,000 of the country's workforce were foreign laborers. |
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Language |
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German is the official language in Austria, in use with pronounced regional dialects. There are Croatian and Hungarian-speaking minorities in Burgenland, and a Slovene-speaking minority in southern Carinthia. |
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Education |
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Education is free and compulsory between the ages of six and 15. Students choose between two systems of secondary education, either the Gymnasium, which prepares them for university education, or Hauptschule, which provides more technical or vocational training. Students specialize in either humanities or science in the final years of Gymnasium and usually study English at this level.
About 11% of the schools in Austria are privately-run by the Roman Catholic church. These schools have a reputation for more discipline and strictness than the public schools, and some are considered elite.
There are 15 state universities and six fine arts colleges in Austria, with a total student enrollment of about 180,000. The universities are in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Klagenfurt, Leoben, and Krems an der Donau. |
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Weather |
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Austria enjoys a moderate continental climate featuring four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Summers are typically warm and pleasant with cool nights. Rainfall in summer is usually heavy, but doesn’t last too long. Winters are sunny and rather cold, with frequent snowfalls.
Because much of Austria is mountainous, with high peaks and deep valleys, weather conditions are not easily predicted. Certain Alpine valleys are subject to a warm and dry wind called foehn. The Tyrol's capital Innsbruck is well-known for its foehn winds which can prematurely trigger summer temperatures. |
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Money and Cost of Living |
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Geographically in the middle of Europe, Austria is also in the middle in terms of prices.
It is cheaper than Switzerland or the Scandanavian countries, but more expensive than Spain or Italy. Prices are generally cheaper in the countryside than in the cities.
Banking hours are Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri from 0800-1230 and 1330-1500, Thurs from 0800-1230 and 1330-1730. Opening hours may be different in the various provinces. |
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Currency |
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The Euro (€) is the official currency in Austria. The Austrian Schilling was in circulation until 28 February 2002, when it was completely replaced by the euro. One euro equals 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. |
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Health |
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Health care is of a high standard in Austria. The Austrian government sponsors the Krankenkasse or sickness fund system that helps provide universal coverage for Austrians. Private coverage is also available.
On the whole, Austrians are very health conscious. They are interested in prevention, and many types of vitamins, natural foods, biologically-grown foods, and herbal teas can be easily found. In addition, Austria boasts a number of health resorts, spas and thermal baths that are all legally certified and recognized. The range of treatments is extensive.
In heavily forested areas during the summer months, in some of the more easterly parts of the country, ticks are present and can cause discomfort. In very rare cases, serious infections develop in people who are bitten. Immunization against tick-borne encephalitis is recommended for those who will spend time in wooded areas from spring to autumn. Rabies is present in Austria, although there have been no incidents reported in recent years. For those at high risk, vaccination should be considered. If you are bitten seek medical advice without delay. |
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Weights and Measures |
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Austria uses the metric system, with units in grams and kilograms, milliliters, and liters. |
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Electricity |
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Electricity is 230 volts and 50Hz. Plugs are the C and F type, which are round pin attachments and “Schuko” plugs with receptacles with side grounding contacts. |
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