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Europe > Austria > introduction.
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S T R I A |
With a formidable line-up of attractions, Austria figures prominently on any
Europe-enthusiast’s itinerary. Ski-jump junkies head for the Austrian Alps, while
those with a predilection for fabulously ornate castles come to Vienna. Innsbruck, the
capital of the picturesque Tyrol Province and Salzburg, where the Sound of Music still
catches the gentle breeze, complete the list of top Austrian lures. But there is more to
this country than prettiness.
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Its politics have always been exciting – whether one
considers the days of imperial superstardom or these days when it’s battling the
image of being Fascist friendly. It has harboured the prodigious talent of musicians like
Mozart and Strauss who were nurtured as much by the clean Alpine air as by a cosmopolitan
and appreciative audience. This is where the cultural ferment in the 19th and 20th
centuries gave birth to the likes of Freud, Gustav Klimt and Schonberg. |
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The Austria of
today is a patriotic and modern but conservative country. Fiercely proud of its past as a
fount of culture and intellect, Austria invites you to savour the other stuff its equally
proud of - its apple strudel and sausages, schnitzel with noodles, palaces, valleys, music
and good old-fashioned charm! |
F A C
T B O X |
| Area |
83,854 sq km |
| Population |
8,139,000 |
| Capital City |
Vienna |
| People |
97% Germanic origin, 2% Slovene & Croat, 1% Turkish |
| Religion |
88% Roman Catholic, 6% Protestant |
| Language |
97% German, also some Turkish, Slovene and Croat |
| Chancellor |
Wolfgang Schüessel |
| Government |
Federal Republic |
| President |
Heinz Fischer |
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