Austria Österreich

AUSTRIA

ÖSTERREICH

Austria is a federal republic and is localized in the middle of the European continent. The eight countries neighbouring Austria are: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.

The Republic of Austria consists of nine federal states and the federal capital is Vienna. The eight provinces of Austria, according to the size of their land in order, are as follows:

Niederösterreich, Steiermark, Tirol, Oberösterreich, K rnten, Salzburg, Burgenland, Vorarlberg and Wien.

In Austria, German is spoken officially and the Constitution of Austria is set up federal. In addition, the Austrian German is spoken, too. It is a rule to teach also in Slovenian, Hungarian and Burgenland-Croatian languages. In their respective territories Bavarian and other dialects are common.
It governs the head of government and head of state is the Federal President. Austria pursues an independent foreign policy (it is Constitutional). The 26th October is the National Day of Austria. The Republic is since 1955 a sovereign country and on the same date a member of the United Nations. Since 1995, Austria is a member of the European Union and the currency is Euro.

It is known that over half of Austria is mountainous. The eastern part of the world-famous Alps are located in Austria. The winter and the snow make Austria to an experience. Especially the Alps are ideal. The landscape of high mountains, for example, the Mountain Gro glockner (3,798 m high) will be used by tourists for winter sports, hiking, mountain climbing and climbing preferred. On the Gro glockner are ways, roads, and lodges build. Thus, for example, the German Alpine Club, has a refuge. There are organized tours, and you can stay here.

The summer, however, has for the most tourists a lot to show. For this there are lakes in Austria: The largest lake, the Neusiedler See in Burgenland, will be followed by the Attersee. The next is the Traunsee in Upper Austria and the lake Bodensee is shared with Switzerland and Germany.

The lakes K rntner Seen, the Salzkammergut (since 1997 is Hallstatt-Dachstein Salzkammergut the UNESCO World Heritage), the Wörthersee, Millst tter See, the Ossiacher See and the Weissensee (in K rtner), Mondsee, Wolfgangsee (on the border between Salzburg and Oberösterreich) are well-known and beautiful areas in the different seasons and have a heavenly panorama. In addition to the Salzkammergut, Austria has seven other UNESCO World Heritages.
Equally beautiful and historically is the Danube, which flows to the Black Sea, the Elbe, which flows to the North Sea and the Rhine. These are the most important rivers of Austria. The Lainsitz, Lech, Isar Inn, Salzach, Traun, Enns, Ybbs, Erlauf, Pielach, Traisen, Wienfluss, Fischa, Gro e Mühl, Kleine Mühl, Rodl Aist, Kamp, Göllersbach, Ru bach, Thaya and March are tributaries of the Danube.

The heart beat of classical music and Viennese waltz was already centuries ago in Vienna: there were Mozart, Haydn, Strauss, Schubert, Mahler and many composers, conductors and opera directors. So today there are many opera houses, theatres, orchestras and numerous festivals, cabarets and events. The traditional New Year s concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is broadcasted simultaneously in many countries. Joe Zawinul, Falco and others are contemporary Austrian representatives of the modern music of Austria.