The Republic of Austria (German: Republik Österreich) is a landlocked country in central Europe. It borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The capital is the city of Vienna.
Since January 1st, 2006, the seat of the Presidency of the EU has been in Vienna, where Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel assumes leadership of Europe's most important trading bloc.
Austria is a parliamentary representative democracy consisting of nine federal states and is one of two European countries that have declared their everlasting neutrality, the other being Switzerland. Austria is a member of the United Nations (since 1955) and the European Union (since 1995).
Although Austria is a small country, its history as a world power and its unique cultural environment in the heart of Europe have generated contributions to mankind in every possible field. One might argue that Austria is internationally best known for its musicians. It has been the birthplace of many famous composers such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner, Johann Strauss, Sr., Johann Strauss, Jr. or Gustav Mahler as well as members of the Second Viennese School such as Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern or Alban Berg.
Complementing its status as a land of artists, Austria has always been a country of great poets, writers and novelists. It was the home of novelists Arthur Schnitzler, Stefan Zweig, Thomas Bernhard or Robert Musil, of poets Georg Trakl, Franz Werfel, Franz Grillparzer, Rainer Maria Rilke or Adalbert Stifter. Famous contemporary playwrights and novelists are Elfriede Jelinek and Peter Handke. Among Austrian artists and architects one can find painters Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Egon Schiele or Friedensreich Hundertwasser, photographer Inge Morath or architect Otto Wagner.
Austria was the cradle of numerous scientists including physicists Ludwig Boltzmann, Lise Meitner, Erwin Schrödinger, Ernst Mach, Wolfgang Pauli, Richard von Mises and Christian Doppler, philosophers Ludwig Wittgenstein and Karl Popper, biologists Gregor Mendel and Konrad Lorenz as well as mathematician Kurt Gödel. It was home to psychologists Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, Paul Watzlawick and Hans Asperger, psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, economists Joseph Schumpeter, Eugen von Böhm-Bawerk, Ludwig von Mises, and Friedrich Hayek (Austrian School) and Peter Drucker, and engineers such as Ferdinand Porsche and Siegfried Marcus. In addition, Austria is the birthplace of the current governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Although Austrians can look back with pride on their cultural past, current Austria does not stand back in art and science. Austria hosts a tremendous amount of culture, with its classical music festivals in Vienna, Salzburg and Bregenz, its modern artists and writers, its theatres and opera houses.
Things you should know when travelling to Austria
Most Canadian visitors to Austria do not experience problems. The crime rate is low. Petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse-snatching, has increased in recent years, particularly in train stations, pedestrian shopping areas, restaurants, cafés, hotel lobbies, tourist sites, and aboard public transport. Exercise caution around city parks and major railway and subway stations after dark. Ensure personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all times.
Avalanche Alert: Since November 1, 2004, there have already been twice as many avalanche deaths as during the entire winter last year. Many of these avalanches have happened in early February 2005, following huge snowfalls. Mountaineers and skiers should note that mountain rescue is expensive and often not included in standard travel insurance. Special coverage should be purchased. For high-altitude mountaineering and ski touring, travellers should hire a professional guide. Avalanches are a danger. Do not venture off established trails, especially in early or late winter. Avoid hiking alone. If you do, tell a friend, relative, or somebody where you are lodging: (a) where you are going, (b) what your planned route is, and (c) when you expect to be back.
The emergency number for police is 133, ambulance 144, fire department 122, and 120 or 123 for roadside assistance.
