Austria snapshots, including introduction, travel info, tourist attractions, and photographs.

As a prosperous country with world leading classical music performance, opera houses and theaters, museums and galleries, Austria is a world favorite travel and vacation destination.

Austria is located in Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia. With total land area about 82,738 square kilometers, Austria is slightly smaller than Maine of the United States.

Austria has 8,174,762 (July 2004 estimate) population, including German 88.5%, indigenous minorities 1.5% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Roma), and recent immigrant groups 10% (includes Turks, Bosnians, Serbians, Croatians). German is the official language.

As a prosperous country, Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and the euro monetary system in 1999. Austria with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market.

Vienna, the sparkling capital of the Republic of Austria, is the city of waltzes and classical music. Musical genius Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) and inventor of the symphony Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) lived in Vienna until their death. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91) lived here from 1784 to 1787. Franz Schubert was born in this city. Another genius Johann Strauss (1825-99) lived in Vienna from 1863 to 1870 where he composed his famous "Blue Danube Waltz".

Vienna attracts worldwide visitors every year because of its historical buildings, museums and galleries. The lovely Schoenbrunn Palace and its spectacular gardens, the Hofburg Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Art), and St. Stephen's Cathedral are some historical attractions. Visitors also enjoy classical music, opera and ballet performed in some of the world leading opera houses and theaters. And the famous Vienna Woods and beautiful parks along the Danube are sightseeing destinations in this lovely city.

Just as "Blue Danube" stayed in our heart forever, Austria will continue to be our favorite travel destination.