Population: 7,795,786 (census 1991)

Capital: Vienna

Austrian states: Austria is divided into nine federal states (Bundeslaender):

· Burgenland - capital: Eisenstadt, pop.: 10,000
· Kaernten (Carinthia) - capital: Klagenfurt, pop.: 89,000
· Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria) - capital St. Pölten, pop.: 50,000
· Salzburg - capital: Salzburg, pop.: 144,000
· Steiermark (Styria) - capital: Graz, pop.: 238,000
· Tirol (Tyrol) - capital: Innsbruck, pop.: 118,000
· Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria) - capital: Linz, pop.: 203,000
· Vienna(state and city share the same boundaries) pop.: 1,539,848
· Vorarlberg - capital: Bregenz, pop.: 27,000

Festival Season: The opera and theater season in Austria runs from September through June.
Major festivals take place in July and August.

Climate: At a latitude of 47o North, the climate is moderate and generally agreeable. Temperatures largely depend on altitude.

Language: German is spoken by 98% of the Austrian population. English is by far the leading second language in the educational system, and is understood widely and spoken fluently by most people working in tourism-related jobs.

Currency: The unit is the Austrian Schilling (ATS). One US Dollar equals approx. ATS 12.00. On January 1, 1999, the Euro was introduced and in 2002 the Euro will officially replace the Austrian currency.

Visa requirements: A valid passport is necessary to visit Austria; no visas are required for US citizens for a stay up to three months. If you are a member of the EU - you don`t need a visa.

VIENNA [top]

It has been called Vienna Gloriosa, and for good reason: in Vienna, more than in any other city, history comes alive - more than six centuries of Habsburg rule have left an indelible mark on the city's music, art, literature and architecture. To this day, the former imperial capital remains one of the world's most beautiful cities. And the city on the "Blue Danube" maintains its well-deserved reputation as the musical capital of the world: Vienna's many concert halls, opera houses and many other places reverberate throughout the year with the glorious music that was created here over the centuries. The musical season in Vienna seemingly never ends: the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper) and Volksoper offer impressive repertoires from the beginning of September through June. During the rest of the year, one festival seems to follow the next one - it's a veritable feast for music lovers.

Population: 1,500,000

Original Name: Vindobona

Major River or Lake: Danube River

Famous Sons and Daughters: Sigmund Freud, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss, Gustav Klimt, Billy Wilder

Most Unusual Museums: Tobacco Museum, Clock Museum, Vampire Museum

Most Important Sight: Schönbrunn Palace, the most visited place in Vienna

Interesting Fact: There are more than 600 coffee houses in Vienna.

Major Cultural Event of the Year: Vienna Festival (May-June)

VORARLBERG/LECH [top]

Vorarlberg, Austria's westernmost state, is lovingly called the "Ländle" (literally: little country) by its inhabitants. The high mountain ranges of the state are complemented by flatlands along the shores of Lake Constance; and the dense forest of the Bregenzerwald is in stark contrast to the lovely slopes of the Alpine foothills. The astonishing variety of Vorarlberg extends from industrial towns in the broad Rhine valley to little mountain villages nestled in the Alps. The resort town of LECH belongs to the vast Arlberg region, which contains 275 miles of ski slopes and trails that are served by more than 80 lifts. During the summer, Lech also offers ideal vacationing in the Austrian Alps.

Population: 360,000

Capital: Bregenz

Major River or Lake: Rhine River, Lake Constance

Highest Mountain: Piz Buin, 9936 feet

Famous Sons and Daughters: Olympic Alpine Skiers Othmar Schneider and Egon Zimmermann

Most Unusual/Interesting Museums: Rolls-Royce Museum (Dornbirn), Jewish Museum (Hohenems)

Most Important Sight: Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse (High Alpine Road)

Interesting Fact: Vorarlberg has the longest summer tobogganing course in the world (Bizau/Bregenzerwald).

Major Cultural Event of the Year: Bregenz Festival (July-August)



SALZBURG (CITY) [top]

The city of Salzburg reverberates with the sounds of music; it has remained a Mecca for lovers of classical music. For a long time Salzburg served as the residence of a long line of culture-loving Prince-Archbishops. It was only incorporated into the Habsburg empire at the beginning of the last century - thus, imperial mementos tend to be of recent origin. Music reverberates through the city all year round: starting with the Mozart Weeks in January, the Easter Festival, Salzburg's renowned Summer Festival to advent and Christmas concerts or performances in old palaces.

Population: 145,000

First Settled In: 450 B.C.

Original Name: Juvavum

Major River or Lake: Salzach River

Highest Mountain: Untersberg, 5916 feet

Famous Sons and Daughters: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Herbert von Karajan

Most Unusual Museums: World of Marionettes, World of Beer

Most Important Sight: Fortress Hohensalzburg

Interesting Fact: "The Sound of Music" was almost entirely filmed in Salzburg.

Major Cultural Event of the Year: Salzburg Festival (July-August)

SALZBURG (STATE)

Salzburg State (Salzburger Land) offers seemingly unlimited choices for nature lovers: from the gentle rolling foothills of the Alps to the towering peaks of the Hohe Tauern range, from pleasant walks and easy hikes to mountain biking and mountain climbing, from flying in quiet gliders to tennis, from sailing and surfing to swimming in lovely cool mountain lakes. Much of the landscape may be familiar, since some outdoor scenes of "The Sound of Music" were filmed in Salzburg State.

Population: 550,000

Capital: Salzburg

Major River or Lake: Salzach River, Salzkammergut Lakes

Highest Mountain: Grossglockner, 11,394 feet

Famous Sons and Daughters: the creators of "Silent Night, Holy Night" (Joseph Mohr & Franz X. Gruber)

Most Important Sight: Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

Interesting Fact: Hohe Tauern National Park is one of the last large, intact mountain environments in Europe.

Major Cultural Event of the Year: Saalfelden Jazz Festival (August)

INNSBRUCK [top]

800-year old Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol has long been called the "hub of the Alps" - it is the only major city located right in the center of the European Alpine range. The majestic beauty of the rugged mountains surrounding it make a setting that is unique in the world. Like many other of Austria's "imperial cities", Innsbruck still bears the mark of the Habsburg reigns - Emperor Maximilian who loved mountain climbing, hunting and fishing - much like today's visitor - set up court in Innsbruck and left an impressive memento: the 500-year old Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl) in the center of the old city.

Population: 130,000

First Settled In: 1500, B.C.

Original Name: Veldidena

Major River or Lake: Inn River

Highest Mountain: Praxmarerkar Spitze, 7923 feet

Famous Sons and Daughters: Olympic Ski Champion Toni Sailer

Most Unusual Museum: Swarovski Crystal Worlds

Most Important Sight: Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) in the center of the city

Interesting Fact: Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympic Games (1964 & 1976)

Major Cultural Event of the Year: Festival of Early Music, Ambras Palace (August)

GRAZ [top]

Graz is Austria's second-largest city and the capital of the "green" state of Styria. Its Armory, containing the largest collection of weapons and armor in Europe, demonstrates the historically important role of this former frontier region. The medieval city center of Graz is one of the best preserved in Europe. Life in this old university town still proceeds at a gentle and serene pace.

Population: 250,000

First Settled In: 1128

Original Name: "gradec" ("little fortress")

Major River or Lake: Mur River

Highest Mountain: Schlossberg, 1419 feet

Famous Sons and Daughters: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Karl Boehm (conductor), Robert Stolz (composer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (conductor)

Most Unusual Museum: Zeughaus (Armory), the largest collection of weapons and armor in Europe.

Most Important Sight: Uhrturm (Clock Tower), next to the oldest bell in Graz, named "Liesl"

Interesting Fact: Graz has been named European Cultural City for 2003.

Major Cultural Event of the Year: styriarte Festival (June-July), Styria's classical music festival



LINZ [top]

The capital of Upper Austria, Linz is Austria's third-largest city, and features a beautifully preserved old town center with patrician houses lining the lovely town square. Linz is the one major Austrian city most closely associated with the river Danube - centuries ago, much of Austria's trade was handled in the harbor town of Linz. These days, Linz may be better known as the site of the annual music festival, in September, honoring Upper Austria's native son, composer Anton Bruckner.

Population: 211,000

First Mentioned: 411

Original Name: Lentia

Major River or Lake: Danube River

Highest Mountain: Pöstlingberg, 765 feet

Famous Sons and Daughters: Anton Bruckner (composer), Franz Welser-Möst (conductor)

Most Unusual Museum: Ars Electronica Center, the museum of the future

Most Important Sight: Old Town, with one of the largest main squares in Europe

Interesting Fact: Linz is the home of the original "Linzer Torte"
.
Major Cultural Event of the Year: Bruckner Festival (September)



KLAGENFURT [top]

Klagenfurt, the capital of Carinthia, with its numerous parks and patrician villas, gives the impression of a southern resort town: romantic renaissance courtyards with shady arcades that have been restored and now accommodate coffee houses, restaurants, art galleries and sidewalk cafés. The beautiful Carinthian countryside was source of inspiration for many composers, among them Johannes Brahms and Gustav Mahler. Every summer, the Carinthian Summer Festival, taking place during July and August, in the seaside towns of Ossiach and Millstatt, draws large crowds and many visitors.

Population: 100,000

First Settled: 12th century

Major River or Lake: Wörthersee, the warmest Alpine lake in Europe

Famous Sons and Daughters: Robert Musil (novelist), Franz Klammer (Olympic Ski Champion)

Most Unusual Museum: Mining Museum, with Austria's only subterranean events hall

Most Important Sight: Lindwurm Brunnen (Dragon Fountain), the landmark of Klagenfurt

Interesting Fact: Klagenfurt is Austria's candidate city for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games

Major Cultural Event of the Year: Carinthian Summer (July-August)