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About Austria

  

Geographical position: The country extends in the mountainous areas

of Central Europe and borders with Germany, the Czech Republic,

Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Slovenia, the principality of Liechtenstein as well

as with Switzerland. Austria has no coast and the river Danube flows

in the country's north.

 

Highest Summit: Grossglockner (3797 m ASL)

 

Area: 83 850 km2

 

Climate: Mountainous and slightly continental

 

Time: GMT+1

 

Capital: Vienna (population 1,6 million) - being an autonomous

administrative unit.

 

Political System: Form of Government - Federal Republic, Head of state:

Federal President (Bundespräsident), which is elected for a term of 6 years,

the head of government is the Chancellor (Kanzler) and the supreme

legislative authority is the Parliament, consisting of two chambers (houses).

Administratively, the country is divided into 8 units called Bundesländer

(i.e. federal states) + the country's capital. Each such "federal state" has its own

constitution and parliament.

Population: 8 millions (out of them 81% Austrians, 3% Germans, Czechs, Croats,

Hungarians and Turks).

 

Official language: German

 

Religion: 80% Catholics, 9% Protestants, 3% orthodox, 2% Muslims.

 

State holidays:

01.01 – New Year  
06.01 – Epiphany
March to May – Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
01.05 – Labour Day
May – Ascension Day, Whit Monday and Corpus Christi,
15.08 – Assumption Day
26.10 – State holiday of the Austrian Republic

01.11 – All Hallows
08.12 – Maria Immaculate Conception
25.12-26.12 - Christmas Eve, Christ-Day and Stephen's Day 

 

Cuisine: Numerous Austrian dishes took off on a triumphal course from Vienna all over the world, although many of those dishes actually did not originate in Vienna at all. For example the notoriously famous "Wiener Schnitzel" comes originally from Milan and can be found on the menus of almost all restaurants and cafés. The little goulash (kleines Goulasch) comes from Hungary and is served traditionally with a glass of beer. There is also the typical Viennese breakfast, especially after a "long night". Hungary is also the country of origin of the so-called „Krautfleisch“ (Meat with Sauerkraut), as well as the „Backhändel“ (grilled chicken). A really special titbit is the so-called „Tafelspitz“, i.e. stewed beef-fillet. We recommend trying the Tafelspitz in all its possible varieties and versions. The roast-pork and numerous dished made of bowels is an integral part of the Viennese cuisine.

 

Beverages: The traditional beverages include of course the world-known Viennese „Melange“ coffee, wine from the slopes of Vienna's  surroundings as well as beer of the brand Ottakringer and Gösser.