Austria(gatbonton)

Ma. Angela L.Gatbonton

BHRM – 3B

The German name for Austria, Österreich, refers

to the meanings "eastern kingdom" or "eastern

empire", and it derives from the word Ostarrîchi,

which first appears in the "Ostarrîchi document" of

1996. This word is probably a translation of Medieval

Latin Marchia orientalis into a local (Bavarian)

dialect. It was a prefecture of Bavaria created in

1976. The word "Austria" is a Latinisation of the

German name and was first recorded in the 12th

century.

President: Heinz Fischer

Chancellor: Werner Faymann

Year of EU entry: 1995

Capital city: Vienna

Total area: 83 870 km²

Population: 8.3 million

Currency: euro (€)

Official language: German Language

Government: Federation, Federal

republic, Parliamentary republic

Places to Visit:Grossglockner Alpine Road

It is a panoramic road which takes you up to the

Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe Visitor Center. From there,

you get the unobstructed view of Austria’s highest

mountain, the Grossglockner. The Grossglockner

Alpine Road is a toll road, but the fabulous high

alpine scenery more than makes up for the

expenses. The road is normally open from the

beginning of May to the end of October.

Hallstatt

It is a small village in the Salzkammergut region,

famous for its salt production. The village has a long-

standing history of wealth and prestige. The wealth

accumulated from the salt industry transformed it

into a glamorous baroque village. Visit Hörnerwerk

cavern’s subterranean salt lake and see the

prehistoric man preserved in salt. Truly one of the

most unique places in Austria, you must experience Hallstatt.

Schönbrunn Palace

one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna.

Comparable in grandeur to Versailles, this 1,441

room palace was built between 1696 and 1712 at the

request of Emperor Leopold I and turned into the

imperial summer palace by Maria Theresa. The

Palace Park offers a lot of attractions, such as the

Privy Garden, the oldest zoo in the world, a maze

and labyrinth, and a marble summerhouse situated

on top of a 60 meter high hill.

Festivals and CelebrationsBregenz Festival

Bregenz is different. An opera festival with two

stages: a traditional opera house, home to less

known operas, and an open-air lakeside stage,

where productions are held in the most spectacular

fashion.

Salzburg Festival

First held in 1920, the Salzburg Festival is one

of the cultural highlights of the year. Alongside the

regular residency of the Vienna Philharmonic,

musicians and ensembles of the highest caliber fill

the beautiful Alpine city with music and drama.

Music festival Grafenegg

A classical music festival in a romantic setting.

Grafenegg offers the historical backdrop for musical

masterpieces from past centuries.

Famous Food in AustriaWiener Schnitzel

Veal cutlet breaded and fried, served with salad

and pommes frites or potato salad.

TafelspitzPrime beef from the rump boiled and garnished

with horseradish and apple sauce, chive sauce,

served with home-fried or roast potatoes.

Kaiserschmarren (Emperor's Trifle)

A kind of desert omelette (or fluffy pancake) torn

with two forks, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

ProductsRed Bull,

The world’s preeminent energy drink distributor

and sponsor of all things fast and adrenalin pumping

comes from Red Bull. The company has its

headquarters in a very scenic part of the Austria; in

the small village of Fuschl am.

Austrian Coffee

One of the benefits of coming out of the wars

and eventual defeat of the Ottoman Empire at the

Battle of Vienna was the coffee brought into the area

by the Ottoman armies. The Viennese in turn have

turned coffee into an art form and are now well

known for their Vienna Coffee and “kafés” (Coffee

Houses).

Swarovski Crystals

Near Innsbruck in Tyrol is the town of Watten

and headquarters of Swarovski Crystal, the

manufacturer of some of the finest crystal ware in

the world. The founder moved manufacturing to

Watten Austria to take advantage of the hydro-

electric power required by his newly patented crystal

cutting and polishing machine.

( German term for Thank you for listening )