| Austria |
Landlocked in Central Europe, Austria is today one of Europe's most influencial country's in
both economic and political issues. The extrordinary Alpine scenery and cultural attractions
of Austria and it's cities, have transformed it into a major tourist destination.Austria is situated in southern Central Europe, covering a part of the eastern Alps and the Danube region. The country has a wide variety of landscape, vegetation and climate and, situated as it is at the heart of a continent, it has always been a junction for communication links between the trade and cultural centres of Europe.
Austria has an abundance of natural beauty, spectacular mountains vistas, castles, cosmopolitan cities, the Danube River Valley, music festivals and world class Alpine ski-ing resorts.
Spectacular Vienna is at the top of most travellers' list's, followed by picture book Salzburg. Innsbruck
and Graz are vibrant provincial capitals.In essence, Austria has three main geographical areas.
The Lowlands of the east and south east are the country's agriculture centre. A silver lowland also fronts the Lake Constance area on it's border with Switzerland. In the Hill Country, north of the Danube River, the land rises into forested hills and lower mountains up to it's border with the Czech Republic.
Most of Austria is covered by the Alpine Region, central and west, as the Alps extend on into Austria from Switzerland.
| Capital |
| Vienna |
| Language |
| German is the native language but most Austrians under 50 speak excellent English |
| Population |
| 8.1 (July 2004) |
| Currency |
| euro (€) Joined in 1999 |
| Bordering Countries |
| Czech Republic Germany Hungary Italy Liechenstein Slovakia Slovenia Switzerland |
| Visa Requirements |
| EU Citizens do not need visas for visits up to 90 days |
| National Holidays 2005 |
| Jan 1st, 6th May 1st Aug 15th Nov 1st Dec 8th, 25th, 26th |
