Facts about Austria. The most beautiful cities in Austria Facts about Austrians

The homeland of great musicians, enveloped in the aromas of fresh baked goods and the strongest coffee, a beautiful European country where centuries-old traditions coexist peacefully with the latest achievements of science and technology, brought to life to the sounds of Viennese waltzes - all this is Austria. So, make yourself comfortable, the most interesting facts about Austria await you.

1. The official language of Austria is German, but the local dialect is very different from the German used in Germany. Moreover, the language differences are so great that often a German and an Austrian have difficulty understanding each other. Perhaps this is why there is some tension between the Austrians and the Germans.
2. Residents of Austria treat holidays with great trepidation, especially church holidays. For example, during Christmas, not only all institutions are closed, but also shops and even pharmacies. The streets are empty at this time, because Christmas is usually celebrated with family. New Year, on the contrary, is usually celebrated in large groups, having fun until you drop. Stores, by the way, are operating as usual, except that breaks are kept to a minimum.


3. Although Austria looks quite impressive on the map, you can drive all of it from edge to edge in literally half a day. By the way, the inhabitants of Austria have a completely different attitude towards time and distance. Our compatriots, accustomed to traveling several hours to work, are initially very amused by the complaints of Austrians that they live “terribly far from work - it takes a whole 20 minutes to drive.”


4. The clothes of ordinary people are not particularly beautiful - the emphasis here is not on beauty, but on convenience. Here it is not customary to go to the store or to work in the best clothes. The most common clothes are jeans and sneakers.


5. Austrians are very proud of their great compatriots, such as Mozart, who lived most of his life in Austria. Without exaggeration, Mozart is everywhere in Austria - in the names of cafes and restaurant dishes, on store windows and hotel signs. Almost every castle or museum can boast of some exhibit related to the great musician.


6. Austrians love to visit museums and the opera and even purchase special passes for this.


7. In all of Austria you can literally count on one hand the number of people who cannot ski. Children are taught this skill literally from the first steps. And there are not many ski lifts in Austria, not a few - three and a half thousand! It is not surprising that in this country.


8. The most interesting, “most-most” attractions await guests of Austria literally at every step: the oldest Ferris wheel, the largest emerald, the world’s first zoo, the largest natural lake in Europe,

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Vienna Opera

A hallmark of the cultural life of the Austrian capital and a center of musical culture. At various times, the opera was directed by Gustav Mahler, Felix Weingartner, Franz Schalk, Clemens Kraus, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, Lorin Maazel. A visit to the opera is a must when visiting the Austrian capital. The opera is closed only in the summer, and the season begins in September.

The great composer had almost a dozen apartments, but the house-museum behind St. Stephen's Cathedral was the only one that has survived to this day. The house is often referred to as “Figaro House” and is one of the most interesting sights of Austria. The reason is that it was in this house that the outstanding opera “The Marriage of Figaro” was created. The house has a gift shop and coffee shop. Mozart's apartment itself is located on the first floor. The house museum opens its doors daily at 10-00 and closes at 19-00. The program includes both a sightseeing tour and thematic excursions.

The house-museum of the outstanding psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud is located next to Türkenstrasse. It was discovered with the help of the direct participation of the scientist’s youngest daughter Anna. The opening took place in 1971. The museum has preserved as much as possible the furnishings and personal belongings surrounding the scientist. There is a thematic library and a video room with films about the life and work of the scientist. The Freud House Museum is open in the summer season from 9-00 to 18-00, from October to July it is open until 17-00.

This striking and caressing look Austrian attraction, filled with the aroma of romance. The forest inspired the creativity of many musicians and poets, and was a frequent vacation spot for royalty. By some incredible miracle, this natural masterpiece has survived to this day. The age of the Vienna Woods is impressive - according to the most conservative estimates, it is more than 10 centuries old. The forest contains a lot of interesting things, for example, the Blue Court summer palace, the largest cave lake in Europe (more than 6 thousand sq. m), Franzensburg Castle, and many many others.

Lower Austria

The brightest tourist star of the Lower Austria region is the famous and interesting city in Austria Baden, located 25 km south of Vienna, surrounded by the hills of the Vienna Woods. Here is the world famous resort with hot sulfur springs. The resort of Baden has gained fame and recognition among many, or rather even everyone, who have visited this place - the number of tourists visiting Baden is steadily growing.

Upper Austria

The region is located in the north of the country, bordering the Czech Republic and Germany. There are dozens of castles in the province, for example Walchen, the largest castle in Upper Austria, Schaunberg, and the most famous monastery of St. Florian.

Also in the province there is a continuation “Lake Region”. The famous resort of St. Wolfgang is located here. By the way, there are many more popular health resorts in Austria.

The capital of Tyrol is Innsbruck. The city first appeared on maps in the 13th century, and since the 16th century it was the residence of Emperor Maximilian. First of all, the city is the capital of alpine skiing, having hosted the Olympics twice. In the city you can visit the Hofburg Palace of the Emperors, St. Anne's Column, the Arc de Triomphe and many other attractions. In the suburb of Innsbruck, the town of Wattens, there is a Swarovski crystal museum - “Swarovski Crystal Worlds”. There are many attractions in Tyrol.

Salzburg

The province of Salzburgland is located in the heart of Austria. The city of Salzburg is the birthplace of the greatest composer Wolfgang Mozart. The main symbols of the city are the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Salzburg Cathedral and the oldest monastery of St. Peter in Austria (7th century AD). To the south of Salzburg there is the Eisriesenwelt ice cave, and in Seekirchen there is the Fantasy amusement park.

Burgenland

The easternmost and youngest Austrian territory with its capital in Eisenstadt. One of the most striking attractions is Esterhazy Castle. The building is an incredibly beautiful structure with elements of Baroque and Neoclassicism.

The castle is adjacent to one of the most beautiful parks in Europe. At the initial stage (at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries) it was a fortress in the Gothic style, which in 1622 was granted by the Habsburgs to the richest prince Miklos Esterhazy.

Vorarlberg

A province located in the west of the republic with its capital in Bregenz. In the city, pay attention to the convention and festival house, the safari zoo located on Mount Pfander, and the city hall. We also recommend visiting the picturesque Lake Constance, by the way, one of the largest European lakes, located on the border of Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and the Church of St. Martin.

Carinthia

This province of Austria (with its capital in Klagenfurt) is often called the “Austrian Riviera”. And this is not surprising. After all, there are a huge number of mountains and valleys and more than a thousand beautiful lakes.

The capital is famous throughout the world thanks to the stunning Minimundus Park, which is a museum of masterpieces of world architecture reduced by 25 times and a miniature railway.

Styria

Province bordering Slovenia. Famous for its countless castles and the “Land of Lakes”. On the territory of Styria there is an Augustinian monastery, the Mariazell church, the Riegersburg fortress with a Gothic chapel with a large knight's hall.

The capital of Styria is the city of Graz, one of the most amazing and distinctive cities of Austria. At one time, this city was one of the first outposts of the Austrian Empire on the border with the Turks.

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

1. More than 90% of the population speaks German. It is official throughout the country. It should also be noted that Slovenian, Croatian and Hungarian languages ​​have official status in the regions of Carinthia and Burgenland. French and English are extremely popular among the younger generation.
2. Austria- one of the first countries in the world to switch to energy-saving technologies by more than 50%. The country currently receives more than 65% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. A possible increase in this indicator by several percent is also envisaged.
3. 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.
4. About 50% of Austrian men and 20% of women are overweight, but only 8.6% each are obese (the lowest rate in Europe)!
5. According to recent sociological surveys, it has become known that the majority of Austrians spend their free time playing sports and active recreation.
6. A quarter of Austria's population lives in Vienna!
7. Interesting fact about Austria: Adolf Hitler was born in the city of 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.
8. Austria is the only EU country that is not a NATO member.
9. Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria with a population of 1.7 million people - an interesting fact.
10. The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world.
11. The official currency of Austria is the euro.
12. Interesting fact about Austria: Tiergarten Schönbrunn is the first zoo in the world! It was founded in Vienna in 1752. In honor of the 260th anniversary of the attraction in 2012, grand celebrations and replenishment of the number of animals took place.
13. 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.
14. Interesting fact: Austrian inventor Joseph Madersperger created the world's first sewing machine in 1818!
15. Haslauer is the world's first official hotel! It was founded in 803 and has been continuously performing its functions for more than 12 centuries.
16. The largest cemetery in Europe is located in Vienna. At the moment, the Zentralfriedhof cemetery contains about 3 million tombs, including the graves of Beethoven, Gluck, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert...
17. Interesting fact about Austria: Schönbrunn Palace has more than 1,440 rooms. This is not only the former residence of the Habsburgs, but also a popular attraction, the real pride of Austria.
18. Austria gave the world many famous composers of classical music, including Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, J. Strauss, Mahler, Bruckner. Every year, the country hosts hundreds of music festivals dedicated to these great musicians and composers.
19. World famous celebrity, stunning Hollywood actor and former governor of California (twice elected in 2003 and 2006), Arnold Schwarzenegger was born in the village of Tal, near the city of Graz (Austria), an interesting fact.
20. Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of the German sports car company Porsche, was originally from Austria!
21. Interesting fact: the Austrian Alps occupy 62% of the country's area.
22. The highest point in Austria is Mount Großglockner (3798 m). It is interesting to know that the country has 13 peaks above 3000 meters, and 34 above 2000 meters.
23. Neusiedler is the largest natural lake in Austria. It is included in the UNESCO heritage list and is a popular natural attraction.
24. 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's interesting to know that in 1991 there were 5% fewer atheists!
25. The name Austria comes from the German word "Osterreich", which means "Eastern Empire". The word itself originated during the Holy Roman Empire.
26. Krimml is the highest waterfall in Europe. Its height is 380 meters!
27. The first Youth Winter Olympic Games were held in Austria in 2012 (the Austrian team took 3rd place in the medal standings). - interesting fact.
28. The country joined the UN back in 1954.
29. The Austro-Hungarian Empire lasted 52 years from 1867 to 1918.
30. Interesting fact about Austria: The world's largest emerald (2860 carats) is located in the imperial treasury of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.
31. Football is the most popular sport in Austria.
32. Austria spends 0.9% of GDP on defense, which is $1.5 billion (one of the lowest in Europe).
33. Interesting fact: in Vienna and other large cities there are unique sobering machines that work like regular coffee machines. You only need one coin and your alcohol intoxication will go away in no time!
34. Austria– the country that gave the world the Viennese Waltz and the oldest Ferris wheel.

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Beautiful Austria beckons with its magnificent landscapes, delicious cuisine and houses with orange-brown tiled roofs. In the local province, old traditions are still strong, and the residents of each village are proud of their home, but in large cities everything possible has been done for the comfort of local residents and guests of the country.

Facts about Austria

1. Mountains cover as much as 62% of this country's territory.
2. It is in Austria that the highest point in Europe is located - Mount Grossglockner, almost 3.8 kilometers high.
3. Vienna, the Austrian capital, has been repeatedly ranked among the top 10 best cities to live in the world.
4. The world's oldest zoo has been operating here since the mid-18th century.
5. The famous actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a native of Austria.
6. Austrians rightfully consider Mozart to be their most famous compatriot, of whom they are immensely proud.
7. Baking is very popular in Austria. Every village has some kind of “special” cake, and everyone believes that their cake is the best.
8. Beer is so popular here that in many establishments it is brought to the visitor immediately, along with the menu.
9. About 60% of Austrians are overweight, making it the fattest country in Europe. At the same time, we are talking mainly about men, and the rates of excess weight among Austrian women are very low.
10. Austrian ski resorts are so popular for a reason. It was in this country that ski bindings were invented at the end of the 19th century.
11. Here is the largest cemetery in Europe, where about 2.5 million people are buried. This is a quarter more than the population of Vienna.
12. One and a half times more people live in Moscow than in the whole of Austria.
13. It was in this country that such a famous dance as the waltz appeared.
14. Austria ranks first in the world in the number of old-fashioned balls held annually. In Vienna alone there are about 300 of them a year.
15. This country is home to Krimmler, Europe's largest cascade of waterfalls, cascading down from a height of 380 meters.
16. Almost a quarter of Austria's population lives in the capital.
17. The word “Austria” is translated from Old German as “eastern country”.
18. The world's first mountain railway was built in the Austrian city of Semmering.
19. It is here, not far from Vienna, that the world's oldest Ferris wheel is located.
20. In terms of antiquity, the Austrian flag is second only to the Danish ().
21. Austria ranks third in the world in the number of cable cars.
22. This country is home to the Eisreiserwelt, the world's largest complex of ice caves. Incredible place.
23. Austria owns the world's largest emerald, weighing 2,860 carats. It can be seen in one of the Viennese museums.
24. The Austrian city of Salzburg is home to the world's oldest operating restaurant, which has been in business for over 1,200 years.
25. Among all sports, skiing is the most popular in Austria.
26. The unemployment rate here is one of the lowest in the world.
27. All public saunas in Austria are intended for everyone, men and women, without division by gender.
28. Theaters are very popular here, but tourists sometimes find it difficult to buy good seats for a performance, since local residents buy season tickets and reserve their favorite seats six months in advance.
29. More than 97% of the Austrian population speak German as their mother tongue.
30. English-speaking tourists are always amused by the Austrian city called Fuk (German: Fuсk).
31. One of the popular drinks in Austria is the Spitzer cocktail, which is a mixture of soda and red wine.
32. Among all the foreign languages ​​that Austrian students learn, Russian ranks third in popularity, second only to English and French.
33. Coffee is very popular in Austria, which cannot be said about tea, which is very expensive here due to high import duties.
34. This country is the only one of all the EU states that has not joined the NATO military bloc.
35. Most Austrians are Catholics, but in the last 20-30 years the number of atheists has been growing year by year.
36. Less than 1% of the country's budget is spent on the defense of Austria's state borders.
37. Large Austrian cities have sobering stations. After paying the fee, they spray a mixture into the face, bringing the person to his senses.
38. About 30% of all women in Austria work in management positions.
39. The divorce rate in this country is the highest in Europe.
40. Sigmund Freud, the most famous psychologist in the world, worked in Austria.
41. It is almost impossible to see a stray cat or dog here.
42. Owning a dog in Austria is taxable.
43. Bribery at the everyday level is completely absent here.
44. All Austrians are subject to a 1% tax on their salaries for the benefit of the Church.
45. Austrians are half as likely to suffer from Internet addiction as other Europeans. Social networks are also not very popular here.
46. The Austrian city of Litz was founded 15 years BC.
47. There are about as many cars in Austria as there are people.
48. Newspapers are still very popular here. About 3 million copies are printed daily.
49. Austrians receive the right to vote a year later than in most other countries of the world - at 19 years old.
50. The highest mountainous settlement in Europe, the village of Hochgurl, lying at an altitude of more than 2.1 kilometers, is located precisely in Austria.
51. According to polls, more than half of Austrians do not support the authorities’ intention to remain part of the European Union.
52. The most popular male name in Austria is Lucas. The most popular women's is Julia.
53. It was in this country that the world's first greeting cards appeared.
54. Once a year, “Night of Museums” is held in Austria. A ticket usually costs 12 euros and gives entry to all museums in the country.
55. Education for children in kindergarten for 2 years is compulsory in Austria.
56. There are no orphanages here, and childless families who want to adopt a child wait for years for their turn.
57. It's very clean here. All waste in Austria is sorted and sent for recycling. Austrians don’t litter at all, and not because of fines, but simply because it doesn’t occur to them.
58. Here is the highest railway station in Europe, located at an altitude of 1.3 kilometers.
59. Parking in all major cities in Austria costs money.

Austria is a recognized symbol of European culture, the classical style of the Old World and the European mentality. For centuries, this country has been a model of living standards, a high degree of development of various types of arts, architecture and science. Its closest neighbors looked to Austria, and the country itself often played an important role in world politics.

But what do we know about Austria and the people who live there? How are they different from the Germans living in Germany and speaking the same language with them? How should a tourist behave around Austrians so as not to be considered ignorant or worse? Let's try to figure it out.

Flag of Austria

Mentality and behavioral characteristics

• 90% of Austrians communicate in German, which is the official language in the country. However, mention should also be made of Slovenian, Croatian and Hungarian, which are official in Carinthia and Burgenland. Austrian youth are actively studying French and English.
• Opinion polls say that the majority of Austrians prefer to spend their leisure time playing sports and other outdoor activities.
• Austria is a very hardworking country. The unemployment rate here is at a record low. Most of the population works 9 hours a day and is additionally delayed at work.
• Austrians are jealous of healthy eating. Only 20% of Austrian women have problems with excess weight. This is the lowest rate in all of Europe.

Austrian Parliament building

• In Austria it is customary to go to shared saunas, without distinction by gender. Men, women and children can use the same sauna, but it is recommended to remove swimwear inside so as not to cause surprised looks from others.
• Parents in Austria put their children on skis at a very young age - sign up for local ski schools has been going on since the age of 4, and by the age of 7, children are actively participating in international competitions.
• Important: Advanced social views do not prevent Austrians from remaining very pious people. Christmas is celebrated here on a special scale, and for the first few days after Christmas Eve, not a single store is open in the entire country.
• After 20:00 Only tourists remain on the streets of Austrian cities. Local residents prefer to spend evenings in the company of friends, with family, or at home.
• Women in Austria don't like to use cosmetics, believing that it negatively affects the skin of the face. In addition, dressing too brightly for an Austrian woman is considered a vulgar tone, which cannot be said about men - the range of men's clothing stores here is much wider than women's.
• Austrians don't like neighbors from Germany. The long-standing confrontation is caused by political competition, as well as the attitude of the “burghers” towards Austria - they consider it a beautiful appendage of Greater Germany.
• But what we have in common with the “great” Germans is love of bread. Lines at bakeries can line up early in the morning. At the same time, it is customary to eat bread “in its pure form”, in no case mixing it with soup or other dishes.
• Austrians' love for theaters and museums visible by the number of empty seats in the auditoriums - there are very few of them. Many residents of Austria buy annual tickets to their favorite theater, so it is extremely difficult for tourists to find seats in the stalls.

The Austrian city of Braunau am Inn is the birthplace of Adolf Hitler

• In Austria they honor the memory of Mozart, undeservedly forgotten during his lifetime. Portraits of the great composer can be bought literally everywhere, and the name Wolfgang is still very popular among newborn children.
• Another souvenir appeared here after the famous reservation of US President Bush Jr. Immediately after the incident, the witty Austrians issued a souvenir sign with the inscription in several languages: “There are no kangaroos here!”
• Unlike the rest of Europe, which prefers bicycles, Austrians love to ride scooters, including to work. There are models for children, adults, men and women. The love for this particular type of transport is explained simply - a scooter takes up much less space in the apartment.
• The practicality of the Austrians is reflected in waste separation. Paper, food waste and plastic are thrown into different containers here.
• Austrian students love learn Russian language. Today it is one of the three most popular languages ​​for learning foreign languages, after English and French.
• In addition to beer and strong schnapps, Austrians love to drink Spitzer- a local invention representing a cocktail of red wine and soda. In winter, every Austrian cafe or bar offers visitors to warm up with mulled wine.
• Austrians do not like tea because it is expensive. High import duties made the popular drink something of a luxury. Much cheaper in Austria coffee, which is used here in huge quantities.
• Punctuality- this is not about the Austrians. Being late even for a business meeting is not considered something terrible here, and latecomers often laugh it off with the phrase: “We’re not in Germany!”

The official currency of Austria is the euro

Other facts

• Austria is one of the leading countries in the use of energy-saving technologies. At this stage, more than 65% of the country's electricity is produced from renewable sources. Moreover, this figure is planned to increase.
• Austria is one of the richest and most developed countries on the planet.
• Vienna is home to 25% of Austria's population.
• The Austrian city of Braunau am Inn is notable for being the birthplace of Adolf Hitler. The events of one of the parts of Volume I of War and Peace unfold here.
• Austria is the only EU member state that has not joined NATO.
• The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the whole world.
• The official currency of Austria is the euro.
• Vienna is home to the world's first zoo, Tiergarten Schönbrunn. It appeared in the Austrian capital back in 1752.

Penguins at the Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo

• The world's first official hotel opened in Austria. We are talking about Haslauer, this happened in 803. The establishment is still ready to receive guests arriving in Austria.
• Vienna has the largest cemetery in Europe. It is called the Zentralfriedhof, and now there are about 3 million graves on it, including the tombs of such famous people as Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss, etc.
• Many famous composers of classical music come from Austria - Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Strauss, Bruckner, etc. The country does not forget about its heritage; many annual classical music festivals are held here.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor whose name everyone knows, and also a two-time former governor of California, was born in the Austrian village of Thal, which is located near the city of Graz.
• The world is also indebted to Austria and the founder of the German luxury sports car company Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche.
• More than half of the country's area is occupied by the Austrian Alps - almost 62%.
• Austrians are staunch Catholics. Among the followers of this faith are 74.5% Austrians. An interesting fact is that since 1991, the number of atheists in the country has increased by 5%, amounting to 12%.
• The name Austria comes from the German Osterreich, which means “Eastern Empire”. The term originated during the Holy Roman Empire.

Krimml Waterfall

• Austria is home to the highest waterfall in Europe - Krimml. Its waters fall from a height of 380 meters.
• The favorite sport among Austrians is football.
• Austria's defense costs are negligible - only 0.9% of GDP, or $1.5 billion. This is one of the lowest rates among European countries.
• There are sobering machines on the streets of Vienna and other major cities in Austria. It is enough to insert a coin there and the alcoholic intoxication will disappear.
• Austria is the birthplace of the Viennese Waltz and the first Ferris wheel.