AUSTRIA

area: sqkm Austria 9 federal states:  Vienna (Wien)  Burgenland  Lower Austria (Niederösterreich)  Upper Austria (Oberösterreich)  Styria (Steiermark)  Salzburg  Carinthia (Kärnten)  Tyrol (Tirol)  Vorarlberg General Information (1)

The federal legislation is carried out by the two chambers of Parliament: National Council (Nationalrat) and Federal Council (Bundesrat) Each federal state has its own government Austria is a member of the European Union, the United Nations and most UN organizations General Information (2)

8.4 million inhabitants, 98% speak German The six ethnic groups officially recognized (Croatians, Roma, Slovaks, Slovenians, Czechs and Hungarians) are concentrated in the east and south of the country appr. 66% of the Austrians are Roman Catholic, 3,9% are Protestant, 4,5% are Muslims, the rest belongs to other religious denominations General Information (3)

Vienna

Facts and Figures the capital of Austria and a federal state at the same time surrounding province: LowerAustria located in the north-east of Austria close to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary population: 1.7 Mio area: 414,90 km 2 23 districts

Celebrities Johann Strauß (composer) Franz Schubert (composer) Franz Grillparzer (author) Arthur Schnitzler (author) Ferdinand Raimund (author) Sigmund Freud (psychoanalyst) Erwin Schrödinger (physicist) Gustav Klimt (painter) Falco (pop musician)

Tourist Attractions (1) Burgtheater Parliament Hofburg Staatsoper City Hall

Tourist Attractions (2) Karlskirche Belvedere Schoenbrun n St. Stephan‘s Cathedral Ferris Wheel

Traditions (1) Wiener Schnitzel Tafelspitz Apfelstrudel Palatschinkeen (sweet pancakes) Sachertorte

Traditions (2) Christmas tree This tradition was brought to Austria by a German princess, who married a Habsburg prince Opera Ball The most famous ball event of Austria

Burgenland the easternmost, youngest and flattest Austrian federal state capital: Eisenstadt neighbouring federal states: Lower Austria, Styria neighbouring states: Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia 7 districts

Facts and Figures 3,966 km² 284,897 people several ethnic minorities: Croatians, Hungarians, Roma home to many hot spas (Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Lutzmannsburg, Stegersbach etc.) important wine growing area Forchtenstein Castle

Celebrities Franz Liszt (composer) László Almásy (desert researcher) Andreas Ivanschitz (football player)

The highest elevation is the Geschriebenstein (884m) The lowest elevation is 114m near Apetlon on Lake Neusiedl Landscape Lake Neusiedl

Lake Neusiedl is the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe. There you can practice a number of sports, such as: –surfing –sailing –swimming –running, cycling,…

Rivers: Pinka Leitha Lafnitz Raab

Traditions Zwickelscheit (a log which is brought to the households by the youngsters on January 1; it is put under the table and is said to bring good luck) Budelfrau (a helper of Santa Claus who brings sweets for the children on January 6)

Lower Austria Located in the north-east of Austria Austria’s largest federal state capital: St. Pölten neighbouring provinces: Upper Austria, Styria, Burgenland neighbouring states: Slovakia, Czech Republic

Facts and Figures km² 1.6 million people 4 districts, called “Viertel” Schneeberg, 2076m Stift Melk

Celebrities Leopold Figl (politician) Joseph Hadyn (composer) Josef Haslinger (author) Oskar Kokoschka (painter) Max Reinhardt (stage director) Konrad Lorenz (ornithologist, Nobel Prize 1973)

Mountains: Hocheck (1061m) Schneeberg (2076m) Passes crossing the Alps: Semmering (985m) Wechsel (980m) Landscape (1)

Rivers: 36 rivers, among them: Danube, Traisen, March and Thaya Danube km long, flows into the Black Sea the Wachau Valley is an important wine growing area and a World Heritage Site Landscape (2)

Traditions St. Nicholas House Golden Bonnet (part of the traditional women‘s costume in the Wachau Valley) Midsummer fires are lit by the end of June to welcome summer, mainly in the Wachau Valley

Upper Austria the fourth-largest federal state capital: Linz (cultural capital of Europe 2009) neighbouring provinces: Lower Austria, Styria, Salzburg neighbouring states: Czech Republic, Germany

Facts and Figures km² 1.41 million people 5 regions important industry: VOEST Alpine Hallstatt

Celebrities Klaus Maria Brandauer (actor and director) Thomas Bernhard (author) Adalbert Stifter (author) Julius Wagner-Jauregg (physician)

Many mountains, e. g. Totes Gebirge (Dead Mountains), Dachsteingebirge, Höllengebirge (Hell’s Mountains) Landscape (1)

Many lakes and rivers, such as the Salzkammergut Lakes, the Danube River and the Enns River Landscape (2)

Traditions Picking eggs picking egg time stretches from Easter Monday to Whitsuntide Christmas markets sell mangers, Christmas trees, Advent wreaths and all types of Christmas decorations

Styria the second largest of all of Austrian federal states (concerning the area covered) capital: Graz (cultural capital of Europe 2003) neighbouring federal states: Burgenland, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Carinthia neighbouring states: Slovenia

Facts and Figures km² 1.21 million people Styria is called “the green heart of Austria” (61% of it are covered by forests, fruit gardens, vineyards and grasslands) 17 districts Styria is the home of the well-known company “Magna” (car supply industry)

Celebrities Peter Rosegger (author) Karl Böhm (conductor) Karlheinz Böhm (his son; actor, founder of “People for People”) Thomas Muster (tennis player) Peter Simonischek (actor) Arnold Schwarzenegger (governor of California) Elfriede Jelinek (author, Nobel Prize 2004)) Viktor Kaplan (engineer)

There are some rather high mountains  the Dachstein (2995m; the highest one)  Schladminger Tauern (2862m)  Rottenmanner Tauern (2475m) Many people go skiing in the Styrian mountains in winter South-eastern Styria is famous for its fruit cultures (Steirische Weinstraße) Landscape (1)

Landscape (2) The biggest rivers are called Enns, Mur and Mürz Graz: Murinsel

Traditions the Dirndl, consists of a close fitting bodice combined with an apron in a different colour The traditional Steireranzug is a greyish garment made from loden with green embroidery the Lederhosen, knee-long trousers or short-pants made from leather, are worn with rustic shoes and woollen socks

Salzburg divided into five regions, called “Gau” capital: Salzburg neighbouring federal states: Upper Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Tyrol neighbouring states: Germany

Facts and Figures km² people Winter sports and various music festivals are the main attractions for tourists City of Salzburg and Hohensalzburg

Celebrities Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg Hermann Maier (skier) Annemarie Moser-Pröll (skier)

The main river is called Salzach The most important lakes are called Wolfgangsee, Fuschlsee and Wallersee Landscape

Traditions Perchten are figures wearing beautiful or ugly masks (Schönperchten and Schiachperchten) and going around in the villages on January 6 May trees are put up on May 1 to welcome spring Prangstangen are decorated with flowers and are carried around in June to secure a good harvest for the farmers

Carinthia the southernmost Austrian federal state capital: Klagenfurt neighbouring provinces: Styria, Salzburg, Tyrol neighbouring states: Slovenia, Italy

Facts and Figures km² million people 8 districts the chemical industry, mechanical engineering industry and electrical industry are increasing constantly Lindwurm in Klagenfurt the tourist industry is also a very important business sector

Carinthia offers a number of attractions for every season –skiing in winter –hiking in summer –swimming and other water sports a number of historical sights –Roman excavations at the Magdalensberg –impressive castles, e.g. Hochosterwitz Burg Hochosterwitz

Celebrities Ingeborg Bachmann (author) Peter Handke (author) Franz Klammer (skier) Armin Assinger (skier and TV presenter) Paul Watzlawik (physcho-therapist and author)

The area around the capital is a basin in the centre of the Alps (Klagenfurter Becken) The most important river valleys are the Möll-, Drau- and Gail-Valleys Landscape (1)

Mountains:  The Carnian Alps and the Karawanken form the border with Italy and Slovenia  The Central Alps (Tauern) separate Carinthia from Salzburg Landscape (2)  Carinthia shares the Großglockner (3798m) – the highest mountain of Austria – with Tyrol

Traditions the Villacher Fasching (Carnival) is one of the most famous carnival festivals of Austria several Christmas markets are held in the country

Tyrol capital: Innsbruck dominated by the wonderful peaks of the Alps neighbouring federal states: Salzburg, Vorarlberg neighbouring states: Germany, Italy, Switzerland

Facts and Figures North and East Tyrol (8 districts)  km²  people South Tyrol (has been a part of Italy since 1918)  km²  people

Celebrities Albin Egger Lienz (painter) Tobias Moretti (actor) Toni Sailer (skier) Karl Schranz (skier) Stephan Eberharter (skier)

The highest mountain of North Tyrol is called Wildspitze (3768m) Stubaier Alpen (more than 3000m high) Rivers:  Lech and Inn (North Tyrol)  Drau and Isel (East Tyrol)  Etsch and Eisack (South Tyrol) Landscape

Traditions bread consecration is an important Easter tradition Aperschnalzen is a traditional expelling of winter

Vorarlberg the westernmost, and second smallest Austrian federal state capital: Bregenz neighbouring federal state: Tyrol neighbouring states: Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein

Facts and Figures km² people 6 regions Main area for winter sports is the Arlberg region The Montafon Valley is the original home of a famous cow race

Celebrities Lorenz Böhler (physician) Robert Schneider (author)

The Arlberg is not a mountain but the mountain pass (1793m) between Vorarlberg and Tyrol Lake Constance (Bodensee) is one of the biggest lakes in Europe The river Rhine forms part of the western border of the federal state Landscape

Traditions cheese from Vorarlberg is very famous Funkenfeuer is a tradition of expelling winter midsummer fires are lit at the end of June

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