Small yet beautiful, Austria has unrivaled Alpine scenery, some of Europe's finest baroque architecture, and a long musical and cultural tradition. The Austrian people also are known for their warmth and hospitality toward visitors. Straddling the center of Europe, the country has exerted a critical influence on the region's history through the centuries, becoming a major player in world politics. Today, despite loss of territory and power after two world wars, Austria retains its status as the crossroads of modern Europe. The grandeur of the mountains draws visitors from all over the world, while the combination of efficiency and charm makes Austria one of Europe's most beguiling tourist destinations.
The Land
Austria is the most mountainous country in Europe, with more than 70 percent of the land occupied by the Alps and Alpine valleys. This section of the eastern Alps is characterized by massive mountain chains with sheer rock faces and jagged ridges broken by deep valleys. The Tyrol region, bordering the Swiss and Italian Alps in western Austria, is renowned for its stunning scenery and is a popular skiing and hiking area. Below the tree line the mountains are heavily forested, giving way to lush Alpine meadows, grazed in summer by gentle-faced cattle and carpeted with vivid wildflowers.
Picturesque villages sit amid the pastures and along the valley bottoms, each with distinctive churches, clusters of traditional shuttered houses and wooden farm buildings. The Danube (Donau) river dominates northeastern Austria, and most of the country's people inhabit the rolling terrain around the river. The flat fields of the Vienna basin are intensely cultivated, producing grain, fruit and vines.
The Hbsburg Legacy
Throughout six centuries of Habsburg rule, Austria dominated the politics of much of Europe. The Habsburg Empire spread from Spain to Hungary, with sons and daughters of the ruling families marrying into other European ruling houses and thus furthering its influence. Vienna, with its grandiose architecture splendidly illustrates Austrian prestige, and the entire country is rich in building from the days of the empire.
The Viennese Court sent administrators and army officials into the provinces; they brought along Viennese customs, altitudes and manners, as did the nobility who spent time both in the capital and on their country estates. The high-handed approach of these outsiders throughout the provinces has left a legacy of mistrust of the Viennese still discernible today- Historically, too, because of the terrain, the different areas of Austria were immensely varied, each valley having its own dialect, dress, habits and way of life.
Crossroads of Europe
At the end of World War II. Austria was divided into four zones of occupation, with the Allied powers occupying most of the western half. With economic aid provided by the Marshall Plan after The World War II, this area was able to industrialize more efficiently than the Soviet-occupied zone, and the east-west divide continued even after the Second Republic was founded in 1955 and independence was regained.
Present-day Austria shares a boundary with eight other European countries: Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, Its 8 million inhabitants live in nine provinces, each with its own very distinctive characteristics.
More thin half the working population is employed in the service sector: education, tourism, administration and health. Traditional agriculture only continues thanks to large subsidies, and now employs less than 10 percent of the workforce. The vast majority of Austrians speak German or a German dialect. Austria was only slightly affected by the Protestant Reformation and is still a deeply Catholic country. Its glorious baroque chinches are packed for Sunday Mass.
Proud Traditions
Despite sharing a common language. Austrians are very different from their German neighbors - more lighthearted, and generally more relaxed in their approach to life. They see themselves, correctly, as hospitable and cordial, thus defining the term "Gwmutlichkeit". This manifests itself in an easy friendliness to everyone, and it's one of the first things visitors notice. Every region sees itself as the best, and people proudly wear regional dress and enjoy traditional music and festivals. So when you encounter people wearing Lederhosen (leather pants) and Dirndl (bodice dresses), it's for their benefit, not yours.
There's an elegance and ease to much Austrian life: cafes buzz with the chatter of people. Bierkeller (taverns) are packed with young and old, and streets are full of strolling crowds. Manners are conservative, even old-fashioned; this is a country where children open doors and give up seats for adults, and outside of the cities nearly every stranger is greeted with an amicable "Gruss Gott."
Environmental Issues
It's not only the tree-clad mountain slopes and verdant valleys that make Austria green; this is one of the most environmentally aware countries in Europe. Austria banned all nuclear power in the 1970s, and since then its green policy has made giant strides. Heavy investment in public transportation has dramatically lessened the use of cars. This is a huge benefit to visitors, making travel in Austria, with its seamless connections between different forms of public transportation, very easy. Despite the Alpine terrain, Austrians cycle a lot, and every town has bike routes and parks. Recycling is a way of life; there are many different types of garbage cans, each clearly labeled for the appropriate trash.
Sauerkraut and Strudel
Austrians take food seriously, and waiters are genuinely interested to know whether you've enjoyed a meal and alarmingly downcast if you can't cope with the vast portions served. Mealtimes are closer to American schedules than elsewhere, with lunch around noon and dinner any time after 6.
Each region has its own specialties, but the emphasis everywhere is on heavy soups, plenty of meat, dumplings and noodles, and cream, cream, cream. The latter appears in sauces, soups, coffee and whipped mounds decorating just about every dessert. Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) frequently accompanies main courses, along with piles of potatoes, and salads are drenched
in creamy dressings.
Austrians indulge their passion for coffee and cakes between meals, and you should certainly sample apple strudel and Sachertorte, a wickedly rich chocolate cake oozing apricot jam. There are many different types of beer, and some excellent wines. You should also try Schnapps, a strong fruit or herb-based liqueur, drunk as a digestive aid. Coffee is the national drink, with cafes often serving as many as 20 or more different variations; hot chocolate is good, too. And on the healthy side, there are outstanding fruit and vegetable juices.
Summer and Winter
Austria offers visitors as much in the winter as in the summer. For Europeans, the Austrian Alps have been a favorite skiing destination for many years, with impeccably organized facilities, trails ranging from gentle slopes to world-class black runs, and wonderful apres-ski dining and nightlife.
Summer sees the Alpine pastures are their best, and the whole country is crisscrossed, with hiking trails through glorious mountain scenery. It's in summer, too, that die cities come alive, with strolling crowds, colorful flowers and a plethora of music and folk festivals. Spring starts late, so it's best to plan a visit in May or later. In early spring and again in autumn, you may experience the dreaded fobn wind in western Austria; this is a fierce, warm, dry wind from the south that is notorious for making people generally tired and grumpy, so be prepared.