Austria. Hearing the name of this country, only the words "stability", "quality", "reliability" are remembered. People come here in search of a calm and measured life, first-class medical care and environmentally friendly products.
We offer all potential emigrants to Austria to study in more detail the peculiarities of living in this European state.
Where is Austria located?
The country is located in the very center of Europe and borders Germany and the Czech Republic (in the north), Hungary and Slovakia (in the east), Italy and Slovenia (in the south), as well as Liechtenstein and Switzerland (in the west).
Despite the fact that there is no direct access to the sea in Austria, the geographical location is quite advantageous: there is an active trade with other states across the Danube River (Vienna and Linz are considered the main ports).
Due to its location, Austria has long become the center of skiing and recreation in Europe - more than half of the country is occupied by the Eastern Alps. The mountain ranges stretch for almost 500 kilometers.
State structure of Austria
The form of government in Austria is a federal republic. It is headed by the President, he is elected for 6 years. The highest legislative body in Austria is the Bicameral Parliament, whose term of office is 4 years.
The state consists of 9 lands:
- Burgenland;
- Carinthia;
- Upper Austria;
- Lower Austria;
- Salzburg;
- Styria;
- Vein;
- Tyrol;
- Vorarlberg.
The smallest on this list is Vienna (415 km²), the largest is Lower Austria (over 19 thousand km²). The Danube Valley contains Upper and Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna - the most populated federal states, optimal for development Agriculture.
The remaining elements of the administrative-territorial structure of Austria are located in the foothills of the Alps, therefore, they are of little use for agriculture and heavy industry, and therefore are less densely populated.
Each land has a separate legislative body (Landtag), as well as its own government - from the governor and his advisers. The government is elected by the Ladtag every 5 years (in Upper Austria, every 6 years).
Despite the federal form of government, in Austria the central power is concentrated in Vienna, while the regions have little legislative powers.
Austria is one of the European economic "giants", an industrial-agrarian state with excellent development prospects and a high standard of living. The economy of Austria today is closely connected with the economies of other EU states (especially with Germany), and its main advantages are as follows:
- top positions in the insurance and banking sectors (mainly in the states of Central and Eastern Europe);
- powerful industrial production. Transport and agricultural engineering, as well as the production of machine tools and other equipment, play an extremely important role in the economy of modern Austria. The main industrial centers of the country are Vienna, Linz and Graz;
- developed agricultural spectrum (sown area is over 4 million hectares);
- a large flow of foreign investment, as well as an effective set of reforms carried out at the level of the government of the Republic;
- tourism. It plays a special role in the Austrian economy. In particular, this applies to ski resorts in the Austrian Alps. So, on average, about 15 million tourists visit the country per year.
The weaknesses of the national economy of Austria are dependence on gas and oil imported into the country, as well as the slow pace of transition to increased competition.
Taxation in Austria
Income tax
This tax is levied on income individuals, regardless of their sources. If a citizen does not live in Austria permanently (stay in the country does not exceed 180 days), income received from Austrian sources will be taxed.
The rate is:
- 0% - for income up to 11 thousand euros;
- 36,% - for income up to 25 thousand euros;
- 43.2% - for income up to 60 thousand euros;
- 50% - for income over 60 thousand euros.
Corporate tax
Legal entities are subject to corporate tax, the specific amount is determined by the amount of profit. The general tax rate is 25%.
Value added tax
The standard rate is 20%.
Reduced rate (apartment rent, food, agricultural products, gas, electricity) - 10%.
Medical, banking, insurance services, as well as the rental of real estate (if it is not intended for living) are exempted from VAT.
Gift tax
Since 2008, the tax has been canceled. Gifts in the family circle must be registered with the tax authority if the value of gifts presented within 5 years exceeds 50 thousand euros.
Real estate purchase tax
When buying a property, you must pay a tax of 3.5% of the value of the property.
Population of Austria
The population of Austria is over 8 million. The largest ethnic group in Austria is Austrians (over 88% of the population). In second place are 6 national minorities: Slovenes, Croats, Czechs, Slovaks, Gypsies, Hungarians. The total number of this population in Austria exceeds 300 thousand people. Here are some additional things to know about the area and population of Austria.
The population of the state is extremely uneven. The maximum population density of Austria is observed in Vienna (200 or more people per 1 km²), the lowest in the Tyrolean Alps (15-20 people per 1 km², since most of this region is located in the highlands), as well as in Carinthia and Burgenland.
More than a quarter of the total urban population of Austria is concentrated in Vienna. In total, urban residents make up about 77% of all Austrians. Other densely populated cities in Austria include Innsbruck, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Vladsburg.
Since the 70s of the twentieth century, the country has seen the cessation of population growth, this is attributed to a fall in the birth rate. At the same time, the average life expectancy in Austria, on the contrary, has increased significantly and today stands at 77 years for men and 83 for women.
The country, as of 2014, is home to about 900 thousand immigrants (one of the highest rates in Europe). Almost 30% of them are from the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Turkey.
Per capita GDP in Austria at the beginning of 2015, according to IMF ratings, is about 47 thousand US dollars.
What language is spoken in Austria?
Those who come to the Republic are concerned about the question of which language is considered the most widespread in Austria. The only official language in Austria is German, which is spoken by about 88% of the population.
A characteristic feature of the national language of Austria is several Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic dialects, which appeared due to the isolation of the mountainous regions of the state. The status of the regional official languages in Austria is vested in the Hungarian, Slovenian and Gradishtish-Croatian languages.
Turkish, Serbian and Croatian are not official in the Republic, but they are spoken by 2.3, 2.2 and 1.6% of the population, respectively.
Many emigrants, having learned what is the official language in Austria, believe that knowledge of classical German (Hochdeutsch) will be enough for them. However, this is not quite true. The Austrian version has its own grammatical features, which can be learned only with a constant stay in the local language environment.
Monetary unit of Austria
Today the euro is used as the national currency of Austria, as in many other EU countries (EURO, 1EUR = 100 cents). In circulation you can find banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins of 1 and 2 euros and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents.
Before the euro, the Austrian currency was the shilling, but it was withdrawn from use on January 1, 2002 (1 EUR was then about 13 shillings). By the way, if you still have the national currency of Austria up to the euro, you can exchange it at the National Bank of the country.
Currency exchange in Austria is possible at all banks at the daily rate of the Vienna Stock Exchange. It is not recommended to change money at train stations and airports, since there is a trade surcharge in such exchangers. There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currencies in Austria.
Climate of Austria
The climate is temperate throughout the country. Summers are usually warm (20-25 ° C) and dry, while winters are mild (temperatures in lowland regions rarely drop below 2 ° C).
In mountainous areas, the air temperature in January and February can reach -14 ° C. The ski season lasts from December to April. At this time, Austria (in particular, Tyrol) is visited by millions of tourists.
I must say that the climate in Austria largely depends on the heights. So, it is in the mountainous regions that maximum amount precipitation (up to 3000 mm per year), fog prevails here.
- The standard of living in the country corresponds to the highest rates in Europe. Thus, in terms of purchasing power, the Austrians are now second only to the Germans and the inhabitants of Luxembourg. The minimum wage in Austria is just over 1,000 euros;
- The close proximity of the Alps offers excellent opportunities for recreation with the whole family;
- With a residence permit, even a foreigner will find a high-paying job. The employment rate here is the highest in Europe - over 75%;
- Austria has a strict immigration policy. The Austrian authorities place high demands on immigrants, so there are practically no problems with immigrants from poor countries.
Austria is the perfect place to stay. Theoretically, every citizen of the former USSR has the opportunity to become a full-fledged citizen of Austria, and the first step towards this, as a rule, is to obtain a residence permit.
parliamentary republic
Austria(German Österreich, IPA (German): [ˈøːstɐˌʁaɪç], full official form: Republic of Austria(Republik Österreich) - a state in Central Europe. Population 8.46 million. The capital is. Official language- German.
Federal state, parliamentary republic. It is subdivided into 9 federal states (Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Tyrol, Styria, Vorarlberg, Vienna).
Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. GDP per capita is about USD 46 330 (in 2012). The monetary unit is the euro.
Member of the United Nations, European Union. In 1955, she proclaimed permanent neutrality and non-alignment with any military blocs.
origin of name
The name of the country comes from Old German Ostarreіch- "Eastern State". The name "Austria" was first mentioned in a document dated November 1, 996.
The Austrian flag is one of the oldest state symbols in the world. According to legend, in 1191, during one of the battles of the Third Crusade, the snow-white shirt of Leopold V was completely splattered with blood. When the Duke removed his wide belt, a white stripe formed on his shirt. The combination of these colors became his banner, and in the future the flag of the Republic of Austria.
In honor of Austria, the asteroid (136) Austria is named, discovered on March 18, 1874 by the Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa at the Austro-Hungarian Maritime Observatory in Pula.
History
1917 stamp of the Austrian royal post
The lands of modern Austria were conquered by the Romans from the Celts in 15 BC. e .. In the VI-VIII centuries, the territory of the future Tyrol is occupied by the Germanic people of the Bavars, the territories of the future Austria, Styria and Carinthia are occupied by the Slavs. Conquered by the Franks in 788. In 803, the Avar brand was created, in 976 it was renamed into the Oriental brand. Since their inception, Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Tyrol have been absolute monarchies. In 1156, during the reign of the Babenberg dynasty, Austria was separated from Bavaria into an independent duchy, which in 1276 passed to the Habsburgs.
Family tree of the Babenbergs
Since 1438, the dukes of Austria were mainly elected by the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1453 (by this time they were already in personal union), the Duke of Austria received the title of Archduke. In 1526, the Czech Republic and Croatia were annexed to Austria. As a result of the Silesian Wars, the country lost Silesia. At the end of the 18th century, as a result of the partition of Poland, Galicia, Lesser Poland and Southern Mazovia (as Western Galicia) were annexed to Austria. In 1687 Hungary fell into union with Austria. As a result of the wars with France, in 1806, the Archduke of Austria lost the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, but received the title of Emperor of Austria, and since 1815, after the creation of the German Confederation, the emperors of Austria were its presidents, the country lost Southern Mazovia, but received Lombardy and Veneto. In 1859, as a result of the defeat in the Austro-Italian-French war, she lost Lombardy and Veneto, in 1866, as a result of the defeat of Austria in the Austro-Prussian war, the German Union dissolved itself.
In 1867, the Austrian emperor issued a constitution that proclaimed Austria a constitutional dualistic census monarchy, the imperial council became the legislative body ( Reichsrat), which consisted of the House of Lords ( Herrenhaus), which consisted of the titled nobility, and the House of Representatives ( Abgeordnetenhaus), elected by the electors on the basis of a property qualification according to the majority system in 2 rounds, the head of state - the hereditary emperor, the executive body - the ministry ( Ministerium), appointed by the emperor and bearing responsibility to him. The most influential party was the Social Christian Party. At the beginning of the 20th century, universal suffrage was introduced in the elections to the House of Representatives, the Social Christian Party retained its influence, but the Social Democratic Party of Austria became on a par with it.
On November 11, 1918, the Kaiser of Austria and King Charles I of Hungary declared his self-removal from the reign over Austria, on November 12, 1918, the Reichsrat abolished the monarchy and the House of Lords, proclaimed the empire a republic of German Austria ( Republik Deutschösterreich) and part German Empire, which automatically led to the rupture of the Austro-Hungarian union and the liquidation of Austria-Hungary. On the same day, the Reichsrat adopted the "Law on the State Form and Form of Government of German Austria" ( Gesetz über die Staats- und Regierungsform von Deutschösterreich), according to which elections to the constitutional national assembly were scheduled for the adoption of the constitution ( Konstituierende Nationalversammlung), before its convocation, the provisional legislature was the temporary national assembly ( Provisorische Nationalversammlung), which included all members of the Reichsrat convocation of 1911, elected from the German part of Austria. The state council ( Staatsrat) headed by the State Chancellor ( Staatskanzler) - Social Democrat Karl Renner. On November 13, 1918, Charles I declared his self-removal from reign over Hungary, on November 16, 1918, the state assembly abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the Kingdom of Hungary the Hungarian People's Republic - the break of the Austro-Hungarian union was recognized by Hungary. On November 14, members of the Reichsrat from the Czech districts of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia formed the Czechoslovak Revolutionary National Assembly, which proclaimed the Czechoslovak Republic.
On February 16, 1919, elections were held to the constitutional national assembly, the first place in which was won by the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria, the second place by a small margin - the Christian Social Party. On March 14, it passed laws on the representation of the people and on the state government, according to which the constitutional national assembly became the legislative body, the state government became the executive body ( Staatsregierung). On September 10, 1919, the Saint-Germain Peace Treaty was signed, Austria was prohibited from reunification with Germany, it recognized the independence of Czechoslovakia and Hungary. The regions of Lower Styria, Slavonia, Dalmatia and Croatia were transferred to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Transylvania and Bukovina to Romania. On October 21, 1919, it was ratified by the Constitutional National Assembly, changing the name of the state to the Republic of Austria. On October 10, 1920, it passed a federal constitutional law proclaiming Austria a federal democratic parliamentary republic, establishing a federal assembly as a legislative body consisting of a federal council and a national council, the federal government and the offices of the federal president, federal chancellor, federal ministers.
On March 4, 1933, Federal Chancellor Engelbert Dolphuss dissolved the Federal Assembly and a year later issued the so-called "May Constitution", which abolished it. She replaced the people's representation with a corporate one, the federal parliament became the legislative body ( Bundestag), 20 members of which were appointed by the state council, which, in turn, was formed by the federal president, 10 - by the federal economic council, formed by trade unions and trade and industrial unions, 10 - by the federal cultural council, created by creative unions, 9 - by the state council ( Länderrat), which included zemstvo captains by position; the executive body was the federal government, the head of state was the federal president.
In 1938, the Anschluss took place, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, the federal states were transformed into the Reichsgau Vienna, the Upper Danube, the Lower Danube, Carinthia, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol-Vorarlberg, ruled by the governors appointed by the Reich Chancellor of Germany.
In April 1945, the troops of the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition expelled the Wehrmacht from Austria, the fascist governors were removed, power was transferred to temporary land governments (in some lands they were called temporary land committees), consisting of opponents of fascism. On April 27, 1945, a provisional state government ( Provisorische Staatsregierung) from the Social Democrats, Communists (included until 1947) and Christian Socialists, headed by the State Chancellor of the Social Democrat Karl Renner. The process of denazification began, to control which the country was occupied by the troops of four member states of the anti-Hitler coalition and divided into four zones of occupation: Soviet, British, American and French. On July 4, 1945, the Inter-Allied Control Commission for Austria ( Alliierte Kommission für Österreich), consisting of representatives of the occupying parties. In September 1945, the political parties, the largest of which were the Socialist Party of Austria, the Austrian People's Party, the Communist Party of Austria and the Democratic Party. Elections to the National Council were held on 25 November 1945. In the fall of 1945, the 1919 federal constitutional law was reinstated. Negotiations on the conclusion of a peace treaty began in 1947, but it was concluded only on May 15, 1955. In October of the same year, the law on permanent neutrality of Austria was adopted, which it still observes. On October 25, all allied troops from the territory of Austria were withdrawn.
The times of the "cold war" brought diplomatic fame to Austria, its capital Vienna. Representatives of major international organizations, including the UN, have settled here. The post-war economy of the country developed successfully.
State structure
Austria is a federal state with nine independent states. The current constitution was adopted in 1920 and reintroduced in 1945.
The head of state is the federal president ( Bundespraesident), elected for 6 years.
The executive body is the federal government ( Bundesregierung), consisting of the Federal Chancellor ( Bundeskanzler) and federal ministers ( bundesminister), is appointed by the federal president and is accountable to the federal assembly.
The Austrian Parliament is a bicameral federal assembly (Bundesversammlung), which consists of a federal council and a national council. Geographically located in Vienna. Parliament can be dissolved either by presidential decree or by a vote of no confidence in the lower house of parliament.
Federal Council ( Bundesrat, Bundesrat), consisting of 62 deputies, elected Landtags- the parliaments of the lands. Lands presented different amounts deputies (from 3 to 12) depending on the population. The term of office of a member of the Bundesrat: 4 or 6 years, depending on the term of office of the Landtag that elected them.
National Council ( Nationalrat, Nationalrat), consisting of 183 deputies, elected according to the proportional-list system. Term of office: 5 years.
Political parties
Rights
- Austrian Freedom Party ( Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs) - nationalistic.
- Alliance for the Future of Austria ( Bündnis Zukunft Österreich) - breakaway from the APS.
- Reform Conservative Party of Austria ( Die Reformkonservativen).
Center-right
- Austrian People's Party ( Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) is conservative.
The centrists
- New Austria - Liberal Forum ( Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) - liberal.
- Stronach's team ( Team Stronach (TS) - Eurosceptic.
Center-Left
- Social Democratic Party of Austria ( Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) - socialist.
Left
- Green - Green alternative ( Die Grünen - Die Grüne Alternative (GRÜNE) - environmental.
- Communist Party of Austria ( Kommunistische Partei Österreichs (KPÖ) - communist.
May Day, Vienna, 2013
Largest public organizations
Unions
The largest trade union center Association of Austrian Trade Unions ( Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund, ÖGB, OAP).
Local government unions
The largest associations of local governments are the Union of Austrian Communities ( Österreichischer Gemeindebund) and the Union of Austrian Cities ( Österreichischer Städtebund).
Legal system
Austrian Constitutional Court ( Verfassungsgerichtshof) - the world's first separate constitutional court (1920). Formed by the president on the proposal of the government and both chambers. It also has the authority to resolve disputes between the Länder (or Länder and the federal center), as well as to impeach senior officials.
Highest Court of Justice: Supreme Court of Justice ( Oberster Gerichtshof), courts of appeal - the Supreme Land Courts ( oberlandesgericht), courts of first instance: land courts ( landesgericht), the lowest link judicial system: district courts ( bezirksgericht), court of administrative justice: administrative court of justice ( Verwaltungsgerichtshof).
Since 2008, there has also been a refugee court ( Asylgerichtshof), and in 2014 the Federal Administrative Court ( Bundesverwaltungsgericht), land administrative courts ( Landesverwaltungsgericht) and the federal financial court ( Bundesfinanzgericht).
Prosecutor's Office: General Prosecutor's Office ( Generalprokuratur) at the level of the Supreme Court, the highest prosecutors ( Oberstaatsanwalt) at the level of the highest land courts, and prosecutors ( Staatsanwalt), anti-corruption bodies: Federal Office for the Prevention of Corruption and the Fight against Corruption ( Bundesamt zur Korruptionsprävention und Korruptionsbekämpfung) as part of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor's Office ( Wirtschafts- und Korruptionsstaatsanwaltschaft).
Foreign policy
Since October 26, 1955, foreign policy has been built taking into account the international legal status of permanent neutrality. Neutrality has made it possible to expand the country's foreign policy opportunities and room for maneuver. During the Cold War, neutral Austria played the role of a bridge between West and East. Although neutrality was conceived along the lines of the Swiss, in practice it developed on its own. During the reign of Chancellor Bruno Kreisky, he was the basis of Vienna's almost pacifist foreign policy. Since the late 1980s, neutrality began to adapt to the new international conditions; in 1995, Austria became a member of the European Union. Its foreign policy began to lose independence and increasingly "dissolve" in the general course of the EU.
In the late 1990s, many Austrian politicians raised the issue of abolishing the country's neutrality and the expediency of NATO membership, but the country's population and opposition parties were skeptical about these ideas. Currently, official Vienna proceeds from the fact that neutrality should not be a frozen institution, but must be adapted to changing conditions, however, as before, the federal constitutional law on neutrality of October 26, 1955 is the current law. According to its norms, the country cannot take part in any wars, will not allow the presence of any foreign troops on its territory, and will not enter into any military treaty.
Austria is one of the leaders among the EU countries in terms of quality of life. Its share in the industrial production of the European Union is 2.5%. The transformation of the EU into a system of supranational institutions led to the fact that the Austrian parliament and institutions of social partnership lost some of their functions, since they were transferred to Brussels. Foreign policy held within the framework of the European consensus. In 2009-10, Austria served as a non-permanent representative on the UN Security Council.
Special services of Austria
The Austrian intelligence system includes:
- Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Fight against Terrorism - Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung (BVT);
- Military Intelligence - Heeresnachrichtenamt (HNA)
- Military counterintelligence - Heeresabwehramt (HAA).
Military establishment
The total number of the armed forces is about 49 thousand people (2004), it consists of the ground forces and the air force. The Armed Forces are headed by an Inspector General who reports to the Minister of National Defense (civilian, representative of the ruling party). In wartime, the president is the supreme commander in chief. The country has 9 military districts, territorially coinciding with the administrative division. The recruitment of the armed forces is carried out on the basis of the law on universal conscription and for hire. Draft age: 18 years, employed: 16. Duration of military service since 2007 6 months, after which conscripts up to 50 years of age are involved in military exercises according to the plan of the Ministry of Defense (no more than 60 days). The total number of persons liable for military service, suitable for military service: 1.9 million (2004)
Defense spending around (2005) 1.5 billion USD (0.9% of GDP).
Administrative division
Austria is divided into 9 federal states, one of which (Vienna) is the capital city.
Innsbruck, Tyrol
Advantages:
- wide production base:
- strong industry (chemical and petrochemical, electrical engineering, textile industry, woodworking):
- skilled workforce;
- tourism is an important source of attracting funds from abroad.
Weak sides:
- dependence on imported raw materials, primarily oil and gas;
- delay in the transition to increased competition.
The volume of GDP in current prices in 2010 amounted to 284 billion euros. GDP per capita in 2010 was 33.85 thousand euros. GDP production per 1 employed in 2010 (labor productivity) - 77.6 thousand euros.
The Austrian economy is distinguished by a relatively low level of inflation (in 2002 - 1.8%) and unemployment (in 2000 - 3.7% of the working-age population, in 2002 - 4.3%). The consumer price index in 2002 to 1996 was 108.8, while in the EU as a whole - 110.8.
Approximately 2.2% of GDP is produced in agriculture and forestry, 32.3% in industry, energy and construction, 65.5% in services, trade, transport and communications, banking and insurance systems. One third of the volume of industrial production falls on the state sector of the economy.
However, the Austrian economy has a number of problems associated with European integration. The agro-industrial sector is of particular concern due to the new conditions competitive struggle dictated by the countries of united Europe. The EU price and quota policy is contributing to the painful transformation of agriculture, which is causing increasingly fierce opposition from Austrian farmers. As a result of the course of Austria within the framework of the EU's single agricultural policy, 69% of all agricultural land was found to be unprofitable.
The total volume of accumulated foreign direct investment in Austria at the end of 2001 was estimated at 23-24 billion euros. Of these, about 45% are in the FRG, 28% - in other EU countries, 12% - in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, 7% - in the USA and Canada and 8% - in other countries
By attracting foreign investment and cooperating with foreign partners, Austrian companies form the most important technological industries that were practically absent in the country's economy (telecommunications equipment).
Bombardier Talent in the Alps, in the Enns Valley
Culture
All major cities of the country have their own theaters. The Vienna State Opera was opened on May 25, 1869. It was led by G. Mahler, R. Strauss, K. Boehm, G. von Karajan. Music festivals are held throughout the year in various cities of Austria (primarily Vienna and Salzburg). Other famous theaters are the Burgtheater and the Volksoper.
Ball in one of the halls of the Hofburg
The most famous museums in the country: cultural and historical (), art and history, natural history, history museums in Vienna, the Albertina Museum. There are numerous house-museums associated with the life and work of great people: W. Mozart, L. Beethoven, J. Haydn, F. Schubert, I. Strauss, I. Kalman.
The main national holiday is October 26 - the day of the adoption of the law on permanent neutrality (1955).
Education
The legal basis for primary and secondary education in Austria was established in 1962. The Federal Ministry of Education is responsible for funding and overseeing primary, secondary and, since 2000, higher education. Primary and secondary education is managed at the level of the respective Länder authorities.
Kindergartens are free in most lands. Parents can send their children, if they wish, to this institution at the age of 3 to 6 years. The maximum group size is about 30 people, each group is usually under the care of one qualified teacher and one assistant.
Primary education lasts for 4 years, starting at six years. Typically, during this time, the class is led by one teacher in order to develop a stable teacher-student bond that is considered important for children's well-being. Lessons begin at 8 am and run until noon with hourly 5 or 10 minute breaks. At school, children receive homework every day.
Public schooling in Austria is free and compulsory. Basic school: 2 levels, up to grade 9. Secondary schools then offer students various vocational education programs and university preparatory courses - an additional 4 years of study.
Universities have a high degree of freedom and offer wide choose educational programs. Education at universities was free until 2001, this year the accreditation of private universities began. The largest universities: Vienna (the oldest university in Austria, founded in 1367), Vienna University of Economics, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg universities Since 2009, tuition at public universities for non-EU citizens is paid. In accordance with the Law on Higher Education of September 24, 2008, the following rates for studying at public universities apply:
- Tuition fees per semester: € 726.72 (for 2013)
- ÖH Student Organization Contributions: € 17.5 (for 2013)
Students with a long-term visa (Daueraufenthalt) and students of the University of Vienna who are citizens of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan are exempted from payment.
The science
Austria has given the world a large number of famous scientists, including such famous minds of the 19th century as Ludwig Boltzmann, Ernst Mach, Victor Franz Hess and Christian Doppler. In the 1920s and 1930s, the contributions of such scientists as Lisa Meitner, Erwin Schrödinger and Wolfgang Pauli became key to the development of atomic physics and quantum mechanics. The modern physicist Anton Zeilinger was the first to realize the effect of quantum teleportation.
In addition to physicists, two of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Karl Popper, were born in the country. Biologists Gregor Mendel and Konrad Lorenz, mathematician Kurt Gödel, designers Ferdinand Porsche and Siegfried Markus were also Austrians.
Starting with the famous medieval scientist Paracelsus, the main areas of research of Austrian scientists were medicine and, since the 19th century, also psychology. Prominent physicians such as Theodor Billroth, Clemens Pirke and Anton Eiselsberg were representatives of the Vienna Medical School in the 19th century. Also widely known are the Austrian psychologists Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Paul Vaclavik, Hans Asperger and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. According to the Austrian Ministry of Health, as of November 4, 2009, there were 493 cases of swine flu virus infection in the country.
Economists such as Joseph Schumpeter, Eigen von Boehm-Bawerk, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich von Hayek contributed to the development of the Austrian School of Economics, which is one of the competing areas of modern economic theory.
Currently, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, founded in 1847, is engaged in fundamental research. It includes the K. Lorenz Institute for Comparative Behavior Research, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and others. In total, there are about 2,200 scientific institutions in Austria, which employ about 25 thousand people. The state actively participates in international scientific cooperation, on its account more than 1000 research projects of the EU framework program.
Literature
The overwhelming majority of works that are usually attributed to Austrian literature are written in German, although, of course, authors who wrote in other languages lived on the territory of the Holy Roman and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Frau Ava was the first poet to write in German in the early Middle Ages. Minnesang and the heroic epic are usually attributed to German medieval literature, although many famous authors, such as Walter von der Vogelweide, had direct relation to Austria. In the 15th century, as in all of Europe, in Austria the literature of humanism became the defining one, the most prominent representative of which is Nicholas of Kuzansky, bishop. Baroque literature in the 17th century and the Enlightenment in the 18th century did not give world-famous names. The representative of romanticism, which was also influenced by Biedermeier and classicism, in Austrian literature in the first half of the 19th century was Franz Grillparzer. Adalbert Stifter became the largest figure in the literature of the Austrian Biedermeier. Realism and naturalism in Austrian literature is represented by the names of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Ferdinand von Saar, Ludwig Anzengruber and Peter Rosegger. However, Austrian literature really reached the world level at the beginning of the 20th century. Among the most famous writers of this period are Franz Kafka, Robert Musil, Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth. Despite its rich and glorious history, Austrian literature boasts only one Nobel laureate. She was named Elfriede Jelinek in 2004. According to the Nobel Committee, she received the prize "For musical play of voices and echoes in novels and plays that, with extraordinary linguistic zeal, reveal the absurdity of social clichés and their enslaving power."
art
The Kiss by Gustav Klimt is one of the most famous works of Austrian painting.
Until the 18th century, Austrian art rarely separates from German art, especially since a highly developed one was part of the Austrian Empire. In the 18th century, Austria was dominated by the Baroque, whose famous representatives were Johann-Michael Rottmayr, Martin van Meitens and Franz Anton Maulberch. In the first half of the 19th century, portraits and landscapes of Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, a representative of the Biedermeier style, gained wide popularity in Europe. Later, the landscapes of Adalbert Stifter and the historical canvases of Hans Makart stand out.
Nevertheless, Austrian art gained worldwide fame at the turn of the 20th century, when Vienna, thanks in part to the activities of the Vienna Secession, became one of the main centers of Jugendstil. Three of the greatest Austrian artists of this period: Gustav Klimt (Art Nouveau, Jugendstil), Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka (Expressionism), each of whom opened a new direction in the visual arts.
After the Anschluss in 1938, their work, along with other artists of the early 20th century, was declared degenerate and persecuted. Other Austrian artists of the first half of the 20th century are widely known, for example, Koloman Moser and Albin Egger-Linz, the sculptor Fritz Wotruba.
In the second half of the 20th century, the Viennese school of fantastic realism (close to surrealism) appeared. Its founder was Albert Paris Gutersloh, and one of the most prominent representatives was Edgar Hene. Among contemporary artists, Gottfried Helnwein and Arnulf Rainer are distinguished. The work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser is widely known with his abstract decorative works. Hundertwasser also made significant contributions to architecture, decorating many of the most common buildings in bright colors.
Music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Austria is home to many famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Michael Haydn, Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner, Johann Strauss Sr., Johann Strauss Jr. and Gustav Mahler. Also known are members of the Second Viennese School, such as Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern and Alban Berg. Most of Mozart's career was spent in Vienna. Composer Ludwig van Beethoven spent most of his life in this city.
The current Austrian national anthem was written by Mozart and selected after World War II, replacing the previous anthem written by Joseph Haydn.
The country is also home to the notable jazz musician, keyboardist Josef Zawinul.
Pop and rock musician Falco, world famous in the 1980s, was also Austrian. He was glorified by the song Rock Me Amadeus, dedicated to Mozart.
In 2014, Austrian-born Tom Neuwirth under the female alter-ego Conchita Wurst became the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Ballet
Ballet art in Austria originated in the 16th century, when court performances with dances were arranged. The first dance masters at the Viennese court were the Italians F. Legnano and C. Negri, as well as C. Beccaria, S. and D. Ventura. Equestrian ballets, masquerades were staged, dances were included in drama and opera performances. At the same time, itinerant troupes developed folk dance traditions. Composer J. Schmelzer wrote music for many dance performances from the middle of the 17th century. In the 1670s, professional dancers appeared in the Viennese court troupe, headed by the composer A. Draghi.
At the beginning of the 20th century, rhythmoplastic dance spread, which acquired its national forms here, in particular, in the art of the Wiesenthal sisters who performed waltzes. G. Bodenwieser and R. Hladek are also named among the representatives of this trend. In the 1920s and 1930s, choreographers G. Kröller and M. Walman worked at the Vienna State Opera, staging the popular ballet Austrian Peasant Wedding. W. Frenzl, who revived traditional Viennese ballets. The most famous artists of that era were G. Pichler, H. Pfundmayr, M. Buchinger, R. Rab, A. Krausenecker, representatives of the Frenzl and Birkmeier families.
In 1942-58, E. Hanka was the choreographer of the Vienna State Opera. Under her leadership, the troupe survived the hardships of the war years. She formed the repertoire of the first post-war decade, which mainly included her productions: over 60 ballets, many with music by Austrian and German composers Joan of Tsarissa by Egka, The Venetian Moor by Blacher, Hotel Sacher by Helmesberger, arranged by Schönherr and Medusa »Von Einem.
In the 1940-1950s, the leading dancers were the dancers J. Drapal, L. Templer, E. Brexner, L. Breuer, M. Bauer, dancer R. Novotny. The troupe of the Vienna State Opera was headed by D. Parlich (1958-61), A. Millos (1963-66 and 1971-74) and V. Orlikovsky (1966-71). In Vienna, ballets are also staged at the Volksoper Theater (in 1955-72, chief choreographer D. Luca) and at the Theater an der Wien (in 1967-74, choreographer A. Mitterhuber). Ballet companies also work in the cities of Graz, Linz, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, etc. The main ballet school has been functioning at the Vienna State Opera (since the 1760s). Luke also had her own school. In Laxenburg, under the leadership of R. Chladek, there is a branch of the dance school of E. Jacques-Dalcroze.
Among the researchers of ballet are F. Derra de Moroda, the author of books and textbooks about dance (in 1952-67 she had her own school), critics include G. Brunner, L. G. Schüller, A. Oberhauser.
Theatre
From the 11th to 12th centuries, mysteries and liturgical dramas were staged in Austrian monasteries and abbeys. The Austrian theater began to take shape in the 16th century with the formation of the multinational Austrian state. In the 16th century, countless wandering theatrical troupes moved around Austria, performing comic scenes, acrobatic and dance performances. The scenes for the performances of the artists were written by W. Schmelzl. At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, theaters arose under the Jesuit colleges, promoting obedience to the church and the emperor. The performances often used the technique of Italian theater.
In the 17th century, the art of Italy had a great influence on the Austrian theater. Scripts by Italian masters helped to perfect the creations of actors in itinerant theaters. Avantcinus's play "Conquering Piety" was presented in Vienna in 1659. The performance was notable for the abundance of external effects and the brilliance of the spectacle. In 1712, the first stationary theater was created in Vienna. The experience of German folk theater and Italian comedy was used to stage the performances, consolidating the principle of improvisation on the stage.
At the end of the 18th century, new theaters were opened on the outskirts of Vienna: the Leopoldstadttheater in 1781, the Josefstadttheater in 1788, the Wiedenertheater in 1787. Operas by W.A. Mozart and I. Haydn, knightly dramas, children's ballets were staged in these theaters. In 1741, the royal court theater, called the Burgtheater, was opened in Vienna.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the development of theaters began in small towns in Austria. F. Raimund and I. Nestroy made a huge contribution to this. They created their own genre of national comedy and began to further advance the development of the traditions of democratic theater.
The 1920s saw an upsurge in the creative activity of the Burgtheater. The theater is directed by the actor and director A. Heine. During the Nazi occupation, former figures of Austrian culture were persecuted. Most of the theaters were closed and destroyed. After the liberation of Austria by Soviet troops, the struggle for cultural independence began. Most theaters stage works of foreign classics, including Russian. In the Burgtheater were staged "Woe from Wit", "Calypso", "Egor Bulychov and others", "Nathan the Wise".
Cinema
In 2009, Vienna hosted the Russian Film Festival Days of Russian Cinema in Austria and Slovakia. The President of the Golden Knight Foundation, Nikolai Burlyaev, led the Russian delegation. The films "Ivan's Childhood", "Andrei Rublev", "Lermontov" were presented in Vienna, as well as creative thematic meetings.
Architecture
Old Town and Hohensalzburg, Salzburg
Of the Romanesque buildings in Austria, only temples have survived (for example, the Ruprechtskirche church in Vienna). Gothic forms are embodied in the buildings of the Cistercian Order, the fountain pavilion in the Heiligenkreuz monastery. Among the masterpieces of the Gothic is St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. The Renaissance in Austria is associated with the activities of Emperor Maximilian I, the patron saint of artists, including Albrecht Durer, who created sketches of bronze figures at Maximilian's tomb. Renaissance secular buildings: houses in Klagenfurt, Portia in Spittal, Hochosterwitz fortress in Carinthia. Many palaces and temples in Vienna, Salzburg, Graz were built in the classical Baroque style. The most famous representatives of the Baroque are Josef Mungenast (monastery church in Dürnstein), Jacob Prandtauer (monastery in Melk), Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (National Library in Vienna) and Lucas von Hildebrandt (Mirabell castles in Salzburg and Belvedere in Vienna).
The whole town of Baden near Vienna has retained the personality of the classicism master Josef Kornhäusel. The historicist style was an attempt, after the upheavals of 1848, to build on the past and demonstrate the strength of the empire through monumental structures such as the Ringstrasse in Vienna. Half a century later, adherents of the secession under the motto “Time is its art. Art - Its Freedom ”advocated disengagement from conservative academic circles. In this Austrian manifestation of the Art Nouveau style, representatives of various fields of art worked closely with each other. The leaders of the movement were the painter Gustav Klimt and the architects Otto Wagner and Josef-Maria Olbrich. The buildings of the postmodern style, which are rich in the central part of Vienna, create a special flavor. Among the structures of modern architecture - the building of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Center in Vienna.
Kitchen
Austrian cuisine has for centuries adhered to the traditions of the noble cuisine (Hofküche), which is famous for its well-balanced dishes of beef and pork with various vegetables. There is also a Mehlspeisen bakery that bakes cream cakes and all kinds of pastries.
Traditional dishes are donuts filled with apricot marmalade or cream, as well as apple strudel.
Their neighbors, Hungary, Czech Republic, Italy and the Balkans, had a particular influence on the development of Austrian cuisine.
The favorite drink of the Austrians is beer.
mass media
The largest news agency is the Austrian Press Agency ( Austria Presse Agentur, APA, APA).
Over 20 daily newspapers are published in Austria. Their one-time circulation is about 3 million copies. Since January 1996, the Russian-language edition "New Vienna Journal" has been published monthly in Vienna. Such Russian-language editions are known as the newspaper "Compatriot", a monthly Russian-language newspaper that publishes detailed information about the life of the Russian-speaking diaspora in Austria. Argumenty i Fakty Evropa newspaper, the leading Russian weekly newspaper and the absolute leader among the Russian press abroad. "AiF" in Austria is published in Russian, has regional supplements, a wide correspondent network and representative offices abroad.
Radio broadcasting has been conducted since 1924, television broadcasts since 1956. Until 2011, television broadcasts were conducted by the state television center "Austrian Radio" ( Osterreichischer Rundfunk, ORF) on two programs (“ORF 2” and “ORF Eins”), in large cities the commercial television studio “ATV” was broadcasting the third program, and in Vienna, the commercial television studio “Puls TV” was also on the fourth program. Since 2011, television programs have been broadcast on the first (includes the first, second programs and the ATV program) and the second (includes the cultural and educational, sports programs "Austrian Radio", 3sat, the Puls 4 program and the Servus TV program, as well as the international program 3sat) to bouquets of programs, in large cities German programs are relayed in 3 more bouquets of programs. Austrian Radio broadcasts on 9 land and 2 national programs (Ö1 and Hitradio Ö3), in large cities, Austrian Radio broadcasts a fourth program (FM4), several more programs are broadcast by private radio stations - the national KroneHit and Life Radio and Land - Antenne Steiermark, Antenne Kärnten, Antenne Salzburg, Antenne Vorarlberg, Antenne Tirol, Radio 88.6.
Sport
Bad Gastein
Alpine skiing is the most popular sport in Austria. The Austrians are the most successful alpine skiers in the history of the Olympic Games (105 awards) and world championships. Austrians have won more awards in alpine skiing at the Olympic Games than in all summer sports combined. The Austrians are also successful in ski jumping. Throughout history, at the Summer Olympics, the Austrians have won more than 2 gold medals only once (in 1936 in Berlin). At the 2012 London Games, Austria failed to win a single medal for the first time since 1964.
Was twice the capital of the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976.
The Austrian Football Championship has been held since 1912. The Austrian Cup has been held since 1913. The main football association in Austria is the Austrian Football Association ( Österreichischer Fußball-Bund), consists of 8 state football unions. In 2008, Austria together with Switzerland hosted the European Football Championship, the final of which was held in Vienna.
The first world chess champion was a citizen of the Austrian Empire, Wilhelm Steinitz. In the mid-1990s, tennis player Thomas Muster was number one in the world for 6 weeks, and the Austrian team won the most medals in alpine skiing during the Olympic Games.
Holidays
| Holiday | date | K | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staatsfeiertag (Labor Day) | The 1 of May | |||||||||
| Florian | May 4th | |||||||||
| Ascension of the Lord | (Easter + 39 days) | |||||||||
| Trinity Monday | (Easter + 50 days) | |||||||||
| Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ | (Easter + 60 days) | |||||||||
| Dormition of the Mother of God | August 15 | |||||||||
| Rupert | 24 september | |||||||||
| Referendum day | 10 october | |||||||||
| National holiday | October 26 | |||||||||
| All Saints' Day | Nov. 1 | |||||||||
| Martin of Tours | 11th of November | |||||||||
| Leopold | 15th of November | |||||||||
| Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary | 8 december | |||||||||
| Christmas eve | December 24 | |||||||||
| Christmas | December 25 | |||||||||
| St. Stephen's Day | December 26 | |||||||||
| Saint Sylvester's Day | 31th of December | |||||||||
| Total | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Tourism
Hallstatt
Austria belongs to the Alpine tourist region of the Western European zone of Europe, since most of the country's territory is covered by the Alps.
Austria is a country of traditional winter tourism. Along with Switzerland, this country is a kind of ski "Mecca" for Europeans. Today tourism is the main source of income for the country, covering the traditionally negative trade balance. In this industry, 70 thousand medium and small tourist enterprises (hotels, restaurants, health resorts, swimming pools and beaches) employ 350 thousand people. In terms of the share of gross receipts from tourism in GDP (over 6%), the state occupies one of the leading places in the world, and in terms of income from the tourism sector of the economies of small European countries it firmly holds a leading position.
In Austria, a system of tourist services has long been formed and debugged. Many towns and villages such as Bad Gastein, Millstatt, Ischgl, St. Anton am Arlberg and Mayrhofen have become major European resorts, and former villagers are engaged in the hotel business. Ski tourism has changed the Austrians, today it is life and hope for the future.
Notes (edit)
- World Atlas: Maximum detailed information / Project leaders: A. N. Bushnev, A. P. Pritvorov. - Moscow: AST, 2017 .-- S. 20. - 96 p. - ISBN 978-5-17-10261-4.
- Austria
- Human Development Report 2014 (eng.). United Nations Development Program. - Human Development Report (2014) on the website of the United Nations Development Program. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
- Until 1999 - Austrian schilling.
- States and territories of the world. Reference information // World Atlas / comp. and prepare. to ed. PKO "Cartography" in 2009; ch. ed. G.V. Pozdnyak. - M.: PKO "Cartography": Onyx, 2010. - S. 14. - ISBN 978-5-85120-295-7 (Cartography). - ISBN 978-5-488-02609-4 (Onyx).
- Schmadel, Lutz D. Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. - Fifth Revised and Enlarged Edition. - B., Heidelberg, N. Y.: Springer, 2003. - P. 27. - ISBN 3-540-00238-3.
- A. Yu. Vatlin "Austria in the XX century"
- Punjab riots after Vienna killing
- Religion in Austria
- Austria // New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, The / Stanley M. Burgess, Eduard M. Van Der Maas. - Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan; Exp Rev edition, 2002 .-- P. 29 .-- 1328 p. - ISBN 0310224810.
- Economy of Austria: general information
- Schweinegrippe: 493 Erkrankte in Österreich Wiener Zeitung (German)
- Great Russian Encyclopedia: In 30 volumes / Chairman of scientific-ed. Council of Yu. S. Osipov. Resp. edited by S. L. Kravets. T. 1. A - Questionnaire. - M .: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2005 .-- 766 p .: ill .: maps.
- Theatrical encyclopedia. Ch. ed. S. S. Mokulsky. T. 1 - M .: Soviet encyclopedia, 1961, 1214 stb. with ill., 12 p. ill.
- New Vienna Journal
- Land law severance often applies only to schools and institutions.
- Legal days off only for members of certain religious communities.
- Day off since 2004
- Until 2003, also a day off at.
- If December 8 is a working day (Mon-Sat), then sellers are allowed to work.
- (KV) Non-working day or partly non-working day by agreement between employers and trade unions (German: Kollektivvertrag)
- The total number of federal holidays is 13 or 12, depending on whether it falls on December 8 as a weekend or not.
- General characteristics of tourism in Austria
Literature
- A. Yu. Vatlin Austria in the XX century: textbook. Manual for universities. M., 2006
- Vatlin A. Yu., Kotov B. S., Sorokin A. K. (and etc.) USSR and Austria on the way to the State Treaty. Pages of documentary history 1945-1955. M .: Political encyclopedia. 2015-455 p.
- Vocelka K. History of Austria. Culture, society, politics. M. 2007
- Zhiryakov I. G. Soviet occupation of Austria: some political and legal conclusions and generalizations. // "Law and Life", No. 112 (7), 2007
- B. S. Kotov Correspondence between Stalin and Renner / Historian, No. 5, 2016
- Kruzhkov V.A. What is Austrian neutrality // New Vienna Journal (October, 2008). - Vienna, 2008.
- Kruzhkov V.A. How Austria became neutral // International Affairs, no. 8-9, 2008
- "Austria. Around the world. Guide "I. K. Antonova, A. G. Khropov - M., Around the World - 2011, ISBN 978-5-98652-345-3
- Brook-Shepherd, Gordon (1998). The Austrians: a thousand-year odyssey. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7867-0520-7.
- Jelavich, Barbara (1987). Modern Austria: empire and republic 1815-1986. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-31625-5.
- Johnson, Lonnie (1989). Introducing Austria: a short history. Riverside, Calif .: Ariadne Press. ISBN 978-0-929497-03-7.
- Rathkolb, Oliver. The Paradoxical Republic: Austria, 1945-2005 (Berghahn Books; 2010, 301 pages). Translation of 2005 study of paradoxical aspects of Austria "s political culture and society.
- Schulze, Hagen (1996). States, nations, and nationalism: from the Middle Ages to the present. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-631-20933-1.
BNE: XX450936 BNF: 152383744, 11862316m CiNii: DA00906755 GND: 4043271-3 ISNI: 0000 0001 2265 1953 LCCN: n79040121 NDL: 00568970 NLA: 3508811052 SUDOC431F359863
The name of this beautiful country comes from the ancient German word Ostarrichi - "eastern country".
Full country name: Austrian Republic.
Capital: Vienna.
Area: 83 859 km 2.
Population: 8,151 thousand people.
Location: Austria is located in. It shares borders with the following countries: with Slovakia and Hungary in the east; with Slovenia and in the south; with the Czech Republic and in the north; with Switzerland and Liechtenstein in the west.
Austria has no access to the sea, and most of the country's territory is occupied by the Alps and their foothills. Highest point in the country- Mount Grossglockner, 3,797 m high.
Administrative division: Austria consists of 8 federal states and an equivalent metropolitan area.
Flag and coat of arms of Austria:
Form of government: A republic with a federal state structure.
Head of State: President who is elected by popular vote for 6 years.
The highest legislative body: Bicameral Parliament (Federal Council and National Council), elected for a term of 4 years.
Supreme executive body: The government is headed by the Federal Chancellor.
Major cities: Innsbruck, Graz, Salzburg, Linz.
Official language: German.
Religion: Catholics - 80%; Protestants - 9%; Orthodox - 3%; Muslims - 2%.
Ethnic composition: Germans - 88.5%; Italians, Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Slovenes, Slovaks - 15%; Serbs, Bosnians, Turks - 10%.
Currency: Euro = 100 cents.
Climate: The Austrian Republic is temperate, transitional to continental and highly dependent on altitude. Winters with frequent snowfalls are mild. January is the coldest winter month. In the valleys, the temperature drops to -2 ° C, and in the mountainous regions - to -14 ° C. Snow lasts 7-8 months in the mountains.
Austrian summers are sunny and warm. July and August are the hottest months. Summer temperature is around + 20 ° C. Quantity : on the southwestern and western slopes of the Alps - up to 2,000 mm per year; in the east of Austria - from 600 mm per year.
Flora: Broad-leaved forests such as ash, oak, hornbeam, beech are located up to a height of 600-800m; conifers appear at an altitude of 1,400 m; and alpine meadows begin at an altitude of 2000 m.
Fauna: Alpine ptarmigan, ibex, alpine marmot, chamois are found in the highlands of the country. There are also rare species of animals - brown bear, elk, red deer, roe deer, which live in deciduous forests.
Rivers and lakes: - Danube (tributaries: Drava, Inn, Morava, Mur and Ens), Rhine. 580, which are mainly of glacial origin, including Lake Constance, Neusiedler See.
Sights: In Vienna - the world's oldest zoo (1732), a collection of the Academy of Fine Arts, Schönbrunn Palace, the famous Vienna Opera in the Burgtheater, Belvedere Park, a collection of jewels of the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
In Graz- Castle of the XI century, Museum of Forensic Science, Cathedral of the Knights of the Teutonic Order of the XIII century.
In Salzburg- Fort of the XI century, the House-Museum of Mozart.
In Innsbruck- Imperial Palace Hofburg XIV-XVIII centuries, Fürstenburg castle.
That's all! This was another "review" of a country called the Republic of Austria. See you in new "reviews" of other countries of the world.
