Austria is a landlocked country located in the central part
of Europe, north of Slovenia and Italy.
Travel Insurance for Austria:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Austria
Its bordering countries are Slovakia , Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein , Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and
the Czech Republic . It is a
popular tourist destination year-round, with sightseeing in the
beautiful mountains in the summer and skiing the Alps in winter.
The Alps comprise a large part of the country with the highest
peak being the Grossglockner at approx. 12,500’. Austria
also has a lot of forest land and the main river is the Danube.
The population is mainly comprised of Germans, with approximately
ten percent being immigrant groups of Bosnians, Serbians, Croatians
and Turks. German is the official language, with some Croatian,
Slovene and Hungarian spoken in certain areas. Roman Catholic
is the dominant religion with some Protestant, Islam and others.
Vienna , the capital city,
was home to the ruling Habsburgs for approx. six hundred years.
The Imperial Palace is a popular attraction as are many of Vienna ’s
famous museums and palaces, Opera House and world-famous Spanish
Riding School .
Salzburg , birthplace of Mozart, is another popular
city to visit with its many museums and palaces. It is a very
picturesque city, located on the River Salzach, between two mountains.
Salzburg has many castles, palaces, museums and other cultural
places of interest.
The true story of the famous von Trapp family of the movie The
Sound of Music fame lived in Salzburg . During the 1920s
the nun, Maria, went to work for the widowed Captain von Trapp
as governess to his children. When Captain von Trapp refused
to be a part of Hitler’s military the family had to flee
to Italy , and then ended up in New York . Maria eventually wrote
a book of their story whilst living in America, which then went
on to become one of the most loved and watched movies of all
time.
Located in the wide Inn valley in the western part of Austria
, Innsbruck is world famous
for its winter sports with every type of activity from skiing
and snowboarding to tobogganing, snowshoeing and horse-drawn
sleigh rides. Innsbruck has several ski areas, including the
closest, Nordkette. Other popular areas close by are Stubai Valley
, Axamer Lizum and Igls. The area is also a popular summer destination
for mountaineering and other outdoor activities.
The city of Graz is the second largest city in Austria
and capital of the county of Styria in the SE area of Austria
. It is beautifully situated between hills on three sides and
has a wealth of historical buildings and baroque architecture.
The most significant attraction is the Schloss Eggenberg and
the fortress situated on the Schlossberg is a dominant feature.
Former Mr. Universe and movie star turned California Governor,
Arnold Schwarzenegger, was born and raised in Graz . He moved
to America and rose from rags to riches, living the American
Dream. He is affiliated with the famous Kennedy family via his
marriage to Maria Schriver.
The city of Linz is located on the Danube
river in the northeaster part of Austria . It is also the capital
of the state of Upper Austria (Oberosterreich). Composer, Anton
Bruckner, lived in Linz for over a decade and has a concert hall
named after him, the ‘Brucknerhaus’. Mozart wrote
his Linz Symphony, Symphony No. 36 in Linz . and today the city
still has a very active musical culture. The area was also home
to Adolf Hitler and his family. |
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