Facts about Austria

Austria is a federal republic, the country is also referred to as ‘Lander’ in German. The main official language spoken in Austria is German. However, one of the less known facts about Austria is that there is a plethora of other languages spoken in Austria such as: Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian Turkish, Czech, Hungarian, Slovene, Turkish, Slovak, Romani among many others. This means that moving to Austria need not be onerous and laborious as it is home to a variety of communities and ethnic groups.

There are 9 states in Austria, namely: Styria, Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Tyrol, Carinthia, Vorarlberg, Salzburg, and Burgenland. The beautiful city of Vienna is Austria’s capital and one of the major cities in the country. An important fact about Austria is that it is one of the twenty-seven member states in the European Union. Austria joined the European Union in 1995. Effectively this means that travelling and moving to Austria from another European country will be unrestricted. This is a great advantage because it means that Europeans can cross the Austrian border with less turmoil and difficulty. Furthermore, you can update yourself with interesting facts about Austria and learn about this beautiful nation as we proceed further.

• The currency used in Austria is the Euro, it is one of the most powerful currencies in the world.  Essentially there are over 15 countries in the Euro-zone (countries using Euro) therefore moving to Austria from another European country will involve less hassle as it is part of the Euro-zone. Another great advantage of Austria’s Euro adoption is that it prevents the commotion and inconvenience of having to change currencies.
• The populace in Austria is estimated at over 8 million; Austria is a growing economy, the country is saturated with a large number of international companies which is a major attraction for people to move to country and vibrant bustling states like Vienna.
• An essential fact about Austria is that it is awash with tons of scenic locations; each state in Austria has its own distinctive vibe and attraction for instance if you enjoy mountain climbing and exploration, you can visit the mountainous area of the Eastern Alps situated in parts of Vorarlberg.
• Also if you fancy immersing yourself in the great outdoors, Austria is famous for its glaciers,  diverse snowfields, snowcapped peaks with Grossglockner being the highest and vast areas of land covered by forests and woodland. Therefore you can never be short of activities and impressive natural landmarks to fall in love with.
• The Danube river is a vast expanse of water, so if you are a water-lover or you like to get your feet wet, you are in for a real treat. The river flows through Vienna and into neighbouring countries like Romania, Hungary, Germany and Serbia before finally ending its journey at the Black Sea. Water-lovers can take relaxing boat trips, or fast-paced cruises on the Danube River while taking in the breath-taking scenic views.
• The amiable and energetic actor: Arnold Schwarzenegger is of Austrian descent, the former actor now politician in the state of California, West Coast America originally hails from Styria- one of the popular states in Austria.
• The president of Austria is Heinz Fischer, the Hofburg Imperial Palace is a beautiful edifice that houses the offices of the president and it is located in the capital city of Vienna.
• The national day in Austria is the 26th of October, the day is a public holiday widely celebrated by both locals and foreigners in Austria alike, the day is a significant day as it officially recognised Austria as a sovereign and independent state.
• There is a strong partnership(twinning agreement) between the cities of Graz in the state (Styria) in Austria and Coventry in the United Kingdom. The twinning agreement was commissioned to foster and promote cultural and commercial relationships between two existing towns or cities.
• Not to skimp out on more fun facts about Austria, here’s another awesome one! When it comes to classical music and composers, it realy is a big deal in Austria. Heard of these names? Franz Liszt? How about Mozart? You couldn’t have missed that one before. Yes. Austria had bred some musical greats like these amazing composers who have no doubt left some kind of mark out there in the world. If you have a thing for orchestras, then you should try to be present at one in Austria.
• When it comes to facts about Austria culture, you’d feel good to hear of this little detail that is immersed deeply within their culture. Austrians acknowledge this sense of attitude which goes as Gemütlichkeit. Basically, this depicts their collective sense of friendliness and warmth towards each other.

To find out more about moving house to Austria and it’s all aspects, from customs and officialdom, through housing to social life; you can click through to our page about moving to Austria.