os·TREE·uh - /ɔˈstɹiʌ/
Once a Bavarian prefecture (district ruled by a prefect,) Austria's native name, Österreich, from Old German Ostarrîchi, means Eastern Realm. First found recorded in 996AD, when the Danube of Austria was in fact the easternmost boarder of Bavaria.
Ironically the name's come full circle: first recorded in the 12th c, Austria's a Latinisation of the local Österreich/ Ostarrîchi which was in turn a local Bavarianisation of the Medieval Latin regional name, Marchia Orientalis = Eastern Mark/ March.*
*A Mark or Marsh simply means borderland as opposed to the heartland of a place.
Why It's Worth a Visit -
Known for hills alive with THE SOUND OF MUSIC and picturesque villages with bakeries on every corner, (Austria calls itself the capitol of cakes,) the country has something for everyone; a lively music, arts & culture scene, including Royal Balls! and more scenic Alpine hikes than the Von Trapps can shake their dozen walking sticks at.
Schönbrunn Palace
@ a glance essentials:
Language:
German
Nearly all Locals can speak excellent English
Country's Visitation Limit:
90 Days
Water safety
Safe to Drink - Among the Cleanest in the World
Emergency #
112 / Police: 133 Ambulance:144
.
How to Say - Hello:
Hallo, Guten Tag
Thank You:
Danke
Hot Tip:
Double check your tickets and hotel reservations - a shocking number of people (not to mention mail) accidentally end up Down Under in Australia, instead of Austria!
Today's Republic of Austria is quite young, having only formed in 1955 after a decade long Allied occupation post WWII, but the region has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period (around 400 BC.) The first peoples were Celts, annexed by the Romans in 1st century BC, followed by a migration of Germanic tribes. Towards the end of the first millennium AD the region unified as a March of the Holy Roman Empire, becoming a Duchy, then Archduchy of the Hapsburg monarchy with Vienna serving as the administrative capitol of the Empire.
a bit of background...
................The classic travel picture postcard originates from Austria. Cards were commonly set internally through the Austrian post as a quick telegram-like communication short-hand in the 19th century & the first picture postcard souvenir was an image of Vienna.
FUN FACT:
It broke off to form it's own empire at the cusp of the Holy Roman's dissolution, but after losses in war was forced to conjoin into the Austria-Hungary Empire (of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand fame) in the 19th century. It's defeat in WWI lead to the Republic of German-Austria which Hitler later annexed. Today it consists of a sovereign federation of nine states which has declared perpetual neutrality.
Austria has given us music giants like Mozart, Strauss & Hayden, intellectual giants like Freud, (and some political giants we'd rather return to sender like, Hitler.) It's also the birth place of the Waltz, adapted from an Austrian peasant folk dance, Viennese coffee, surprisingly, the croissant (originally sold in France along with other Austrian pastries as Viennoiseries) and it's flag, based on the coat-of-arms of the Babenberg dynasty, is one of the oldest in the world dating back to at least 1230 and thought to have been used as a national flag since the 15th century.
Must Try Local Cuisine:
Wienerschnitzel (Vienna Schnitzel*) ▪️ Almdudler - a carbonated herbal & fruit lemonade w/ a hint of caramel
Strudel - pastry w/ sweet filling ▪️ Klöße Dumplings ▪️ Sachertorte chocolate cake w/ apricot jam
Tyrolean Gröstl - potatoes, onion, meat & fried egg served from the pan ▪️ Holunderblütensaft - elderberry drink
Käsekrainer - a sausage stuffed with emmental cheese ▪️ Einspänner - espresso, whipped cream & chocolate shavings
Kaiserschmarrn - torn pancake dish with rum-soaked raisins & powdered sugar
*To be considered true Wienerschnitzel it must be made with veal thighs, served with a lemon wedge, boiled potatoes & parsley, french fries or Austrian potato salad.
I haven't yet had the opportunity to visit
Austria
(but it's on the list!) - So I don't have any personal . recommendations, but you can start with the most popular spots . below, and I'll be updated with my favorites, hopefully soon!
(If you get there first send me your best finds!)
The Alps
♦️ Vienna - with Baroque & Rococo palaces like the Hofburg, Schönbrunn & Belvedere
🔸 Salzburg - with the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter from the 7th century AD
♦️ The Alps - one of the largest & highest mountain ranges of Europe, stretching across 8
countries: Monaco, France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria & Slovenia
(≈ 1,200 km)
🔸 Medieval Gratz & Innsbruck - famous for it's skiing
♦️ The Melk Benedictine Abbey - c. 1089, (though todays Baroque abbey c. 1702 & 1736)
🔸 Music: Vienna Opera House, Vienna Philharmonic & Vienna Boys Choir
Most Known For:
🌀 Almatrieb - Annual Cattle Procession (August/ September) - where cattle, having summered in the Alps are
celebrate for their productiveness by parading back to town adorned in flower garlands, ribbons & cowbells
(to ward off demons) accompanied by fairs, music and dancing
🌀 Samsonumzug/ Samson Parades (June - August) in Salzburgerland, Samson figures 5-7 m tall, symbolizing
strength (based on Biblical Samson) have been paraded through villages with marching bands & civil guards in
period uniforms since at least 1690
🌀 Krampus/ Perchten (end of December) - where the ominous half-goat, half-demon, Krampus (a creepy companion
of Santa Claus) roams the streets to punish misbehaving folk, while the well-behaved receive their treats from
Santa (It is customary to offer the Krampus a schnapps to get on his good side)
🌀 Narzissenfest/ Daffodil Festival (Spring) – locals dress up in traditional costumes and gather hundreds of
thousands of white daffodils by hand for floats paraded on Lake Altausseersee
Cool Local Festivals:
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