AUSTRIA, noun. State in Central Europe in the Danube river basin

Modern explanatory dictionary

AUSTRIA, Republic of Austria (Republik Osterreich), state in the Center. Europe, bass. Danube. 83.8 thousand km2. The population is 7.9 million people (1993), 98% are Austrians. Urban population 64.5% (1991). Official language- Deutsch. Most believers are Catholics. Austria is a federation of 9 lands, including Vienna, the capital of Austria. The head of state is the president. The legislature is a bicameral parliament (National Council and Federal Council). Most of the territory is occupied by the East. Alps (highest point - Mount Grossglockner, 3797 m) and their foothills; low plain along the Danube. St. 2/5 of the territory - mountain forests; above - meadows. The climate is temperate, continental, humid in the west; average January temperatures from -1 to -4 °C, July 15-18 °C. Precipitation is 500-900 mm per year, in the mountains up to 2000 mm. Rivers bass. Danube, oz. Neusiedler See, Constance. Reserves: Neusiedlersee-Sewinkel, Karwendelbirge and others. In the 6th-7th centuries. Austrian territory was settled by Germanic and partly Slavic tribes. Since 1156 Austria has been a duchy (since 1453 an archduchy). In 1282 the Habsburgs established themselves in Austria. From the 16th century Austria became the political center formed in the midst of an offensive Ottoman Empire to the South East. Europe of the multinational monarchy of the Habsburgs (in the 16-18 centuries the Czech Republic, Silesia, Hungary, part of the Polish, Western Ukrainian, South Slavic, Italian and other lands entered). In con. 18 - beg. 19th centuries Austria (since 1804 - the Austrian Empire) participated in the wars with France, in the creation of the Holy Alliance in 1815. Austria waged a struggle with Prussia for hegemony in Germany, which ended in Austria's defeat in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. In 1867 the Austrian Empire was transformed into a dual monarchy, Austria-Hungary. The Social Democratic Party of Austria was formed in 1888. In the 1st World War, Austria-Hungary participated in an alliance with Germany. Austria-Hungary in con. 1918 collapsed, on its ruins the states were created - Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia; parts of the territory became part of Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania, Italy. On November 12, 1918, Austria was proclaimed a republic. The Saint-Germain Peace Treaty of 1919 defined its modern borders. In March 1938 fascist German troops occupied Austria; proclaimed its accession to Germany (Anschluss). In the spring of 1945 Austria was liberated from Nazi domination. It was temporarily occupied by the troops of the USSR, USA, Great Britain and France; the end of the occupation was put by the State Treaty on the Restoration of an Independent and Democratic Austria (1955). In October 1955, the Austrian parliament passed a law on the permanent neutrality of Austria. In 1945-66, the coalition governments of the Austrian People's Party (APN; founded in 1945 on the basis of the Christian Social Party created in the 1980s) and the Socialist Party of Austria (SPA) were in power, in 1966-1970 - the government of the ANP , in 1970-83 - the government of the SPA, in 1983-86 - the government of the SPA and the Austrian Freedom Party (founded in 1955), since January 1987 - the government of the SPA and the ANP. Austria is one of the most economically developed countries in Europe. St. 20% of industrial output is created in the public sector (metallurgical, mining, energy). The role of German capital is great. Share in GDP (1991,%): industry, including construction, 36.3, agriculture and forestry 2.8. Mining iron ore, magnesite, brown coal, oil, graphite, lead-zinc and tungsten ores. Electricity generation 51.1 billion kWh (1992), incl. 2/3 at the hydroelectric power station. The most developed are: mechanical engineering (transport, agricultural, electrical industry), ferrous metallurgy (4.3 million tons of steel, 3.7 million tons of rolled products in 1990), aluminum production, chemical, pulp and paper, woodworking, textile, leather and footwear, clothing industry. Agriculture intense and highly marketable; dominated by large landowners. The leading industry is dairy farming. Livestock (1991, million) of cattle 2.6, pigs 3.7. Poultry farming. They grow wheat, barley, sugar beets, fodder crops. Fruit growing and viticulture. Length (1992, thousand km) of railways 6.7, motorways 125. Main river ports: Linz, Vienna. Exports: machinery and equipment, textile and clothing products, paper, timber, footwear, food, electricity. Main foreign trade partners: Germany and other EEC countries. Foreign tourism (approx. 15 million hours per year). The monetary unit is the Austrian schilling.

What do most people associate Austria with? For connoisseurs of antiquity - these are the majestic royal residences and St. Stephen's Cathedral, for music lovers - the Vienna Opera and Strauss waltzes, for athletes - the Mayrhofen ski resort.

What do most people associate Austria with? For connoisseurs of antiquity - these are the majestic royal residences and St. Stephen's Cathedral, for music lovers - the Vienna Opera and Strauss waltzes, for gourmets - mulled wine, Sacher cake and Viennese sausages, for athletes - the Mayrhofen ski resort. But all of the above will agree that this is one of the most prosperous and stable European countries, and this is a good reason to think about how comfortable and calm your business can be there.

With all the variety of forms of enterprises in Austria, the most convenient and popular is Gmbh - a limited liability company. It is easy to open such a company, it does not require a personal visit of the client, only the presence of the director. The founder can even be a legal entity, so the nominee service is of a very original nature here - the role of the nominal value can be assigned to an Austrian company. Everything happens by concluding an offer agreement between the true owner and such a resident enterprise, which can be unilaterally terminated, which provides the beneficiary with full control over the assets.

When opening a company, the authorized capital should start from 35,000 euros, and at least half of this amount (in non-cash or cash form) should be accumulated on the account.

Let's take a look at some of Austria's tax conditions. The corporate income tax rate here is 25%, while the minimum amount is 1,750 euros. Enterprises that make up a joint financial structure can form a group for tax proposals - it will be the object of taxation. It should be noted that the investments received by the company are not subject to income tax, which is very beneficial for foreign investors.

The general VAT rate in Austria is 20%, while there is also a preferential 10% rate applied to such activities as the hotel business, passenger transportation, book sales, the creation of objects of artistic value, and charity. But the insurance and financial business, medical practice, work with commercial real estate are not subject to VAT at all. This tax does not threaten persons whose income is below 30,000 euros inclusive.

If you plan to start your own business and work in Austria, remember that individuals are exempt from incorporation tax, as well as from taxes on wages for a year after registering an enterprise, but such bonuses apply only to businesses created from scratch precisely on Austrian territory.

In general, taxes are high here, but you have to pay for the prestige of the jurisdiction, the advantages of a stable society, and a reliable banking system. Recall that Austria has more than 80 international treaties in its arsenal, one of which was signed with Ukraine.

Companies with Austrian registration have a high status and will be an undoubted plus in your reputation and your trump card in front of partners. Registration of an enterprise in the homeland of the Habsburgs may be of interest, first of all, when building holdings, working with Germany, banking, as well as in the case of large investments

If Austria is of interest to you not only in terms of tourism and you have any questions about doing business in this beautiful European country, write to us - we will hold a personal seminar or consultation for you. Learn more about the profitable points of our planet with the experts of the ICG-seminar company.

Austria has a temperate, transitional to continental climate, but since 70% of the country is occupied by the Alps, temperature fluctuations are inevitable. As an example: the Austrian winter in the plains is ridiculous for Russians -2 ° C and more noticeable -14 ° C in mountainous regions. Forecasters divide Austria into three zones: eastern, alpine and a region with a transitional Atlantic climate. The east of the country is characterized by dry, hot summers and harsh winters with little rainfall. The Alpine region is famous for prolonged rains and snowstorms. As for the rest of the regions, the weather is controlled by the Atlantic and continental air masses.

Winter in Austria is actually the high season and the busiest time of the year, thanks to snowboarding, skiing and tubing fans who storm the Alps with the first snow. For those who prefer mountain extreme and invigorating frosts warm relaxation, it is more expedient to meet New Year at thermal resorts, of which there are about 40. Tourists who did not have time to save up for a ski pass and a subscription to expensive spa complexes will have to warm their palms with a mug of fiery gluwine (aka mulled wine) at the Christmas markets of Vienna, Linz and.

At the end of April, the last adherents of "skiing" leave Austria, passing the baton to fans of museum excursions and ecotourism. This fact does not affect prices in any way, so if you are planning an acquaintance with the May landscapes of Tyrol or a bike tour in Styria, reconcile yourself to the fact that global savings will not work. When traveling along the alpine trails in spring, do not be too lazy to grab warm clothes as well - it blows seriously on the slopes.

In summer in Austria, the air warms up to +25 °C in the shade. Periodically there are downpours, which disappear by August. Summer is also an ideal time for relaxing on lake beaches, crazy rafting, eating national dishes at gastronomic festivals and tours of medieval cities. Shopaholics who did not have time to buy trendy outfits during the Christmas sales are advised to save money until the summer - grandiose sales in Austrian malls start in July.

September in the homeland of Mozart and Commissar Rex is still a “walking” time: the air is warmed up to +17 ... +20 ° С, the weather is clear, and there is little rain. In the autumn, travelers head to Austria to indulge in leisurely hiking, take funny selfies at rural harvest festivals, and dine in provincial heurigers serving young wine and the Austrian variation of apple cider, the bridge. Fans of a livelier party should go to Vienna, to the local Oktoberfest, which, although not as rampant here as in neighboring Germany, is more organized.

Cities of Austria

All cities in Austria

Country history

The history of Austria dates back to the 4th century BC. e., when the Celtic tribes settled on the Danube territories and founded the kingdom of Norik here. Local leaders quickly made friends with Rome, which contributed to the Romanization of Celtic culture, language and architecture. In the 2nd century, the Sarmatians, Ost- and Visigoths became interested in Norik, so the inhabitants of the kingdom did not have time to repel the attacks of their invaders. As an example: for a little over a hundred years, the territories of modern Austria managed to visit Rugiland, part of the state of Odoacer and even the provinces of the Ostrogothic state and the Avar Khaganate.

In 805, the Austrian lands became part of the Frankish Empire, receiving the status of an Eastern Mark, subordinate to Bavaria. For over four hundred years this public education the Babenberg family ruled, with the extinction of which the Eastern Mark passed to the Czech king. In 1282, the first representative of the Habsburg dynasty, Rudolf II, reigned on the Austrian throne. By that time, Austria had managed to get out of the control of the Czech Republic and was already called a duchy.

The most successful period in the life of the country can be called the New Age, when Austria increased its military power, repulsed the encroachments of the Turks, and at the same time expanded its own possessions. For example, in 1699 the territories of Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia and Slovenia were ceded to the country. Further - more: in 1804, Austria declared itself an empire, and in 1867 acquired the status of a dual monarchy, called Austria-Hungary. The 20th century turned out to be not as successful for the descendants of the Celts as the previous eras: the First World War, which undermined the economy, affected World War, revolution and forced necessity part with the Hungarian, Croatian and Transylvanian territories.

In 1938, Hitler pulled off his famous Anschluss, as a result of which Austria became part of the Third Reich, and religious and nationalist persecution began for its population. It was possible to restore the once great empire in rights only after the end of the Second World War, and then only formally: until the middle of the last century, Austria remained divided into occupation zones. The declaration of independence of the state was signed in 1955 along with the declaration of neutrality. By the way, the Austrian authorities observe the last obligation very selectively and even amended the Constitution, allowing them to cooperate with the Bundeswehr.

mentality and language

A pronounced feature of the national character of the Austrians is their loyalty to traditions and the desire for status. If a local resident had an aristocratic ancestor at least in the tenth generation, he will notify everyone about it. In the "country of strudels and schnitzels" they are very cautious about innovations, as well as the recognition of various rights and freedoms. As a result: there are far fewer informals on the streets of Vienna than in the capitals of other European countries. At the same time, in everyday communication, the Austrians are quite open and friendly, so when traveling through the Alps and making contact with the locals, you can count on not only sparse instructions, but also heart-to-heart conversations.

Despite the fact that the Austrians and Germans speak dialects of the same language and continue to be neighbors, there is no smell of friendship between nations. It is not known whether this is a reaction to the Anschluss of 1938, or whether the proud people have harbored a grudge since the time of the Frankish Empire, but the fact remains: the Germans in Austria are treated so-so and even compose insulting jokes about Goethe's descendants. The Germans also do not lag behind their caustic neighbors, accusing the latter of having “appropriated” Mozart for themselves, but skillfully disowned the Fuhrer, who was born in Upper Austria.

As for communication, even if you speak Hochdeutsche (literary German) perfectly, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve complete mutual understanding in Austria. And all because they communicate here in Wienerish, which, although formally considered a dialect of German, in reality is very different from it. To make it clearer: say hello to an Austrian with the standard "Guten Tag!" will not work - here they prefer the greetings "Gruess Goth!" and "Servus!". AT major cities and tourist places, the Austro-Russian phrasebook is most likely not useful - the entire able-bodied population speaks English there. But if you are going to deviate from the mainstream routes, it is better to grab a dictionary.

Money

Austria is a member of the Eurozone, so monetary transactions in the country are carried out in euros (EUR). Despite the fact that there is no shortage of bank branches and exchange offices that convert foreign currency, it is better to come immediately with cash, since the commission for such operations is tangible. Keep in mind that Austrian banks have a five-day working week. In addition, they are open on all days except Thursday, strictly until 15:00.

It is easy to cash out funds from an account in Austria - there are enough round-the-clock ATMs that accept Russian MasterCard and Visa cards, as well as Maestro and American Express in every relatively large settlement. They will take the "plastic" cash desks of shops, restaurants and gas stations, if we are talking about tourist locations or famous winter resorts. But in remote guesthouses and provincial heurigers, guests will be asked to pay with banknotes.

Attractions and entertainment in Austria

In Austria, it is difficult to single out top tourist places and regions, because in this regard, each city or resort pulls the blanket over itself. But such a feature can be an excellent reason to return to the country again, and then again and again! And so on until it is possible to collect and organize the impressions from all the objects that the descendants of Austrian composers and margraves are so proud of.

Architecture

The architectural heritage of Austria is a bit of Gothic, a little more pompous palace baroque and Viennese Art Nouveau tinged with romantic Biedermeier. Teleport to the past great empire Objects of temple architecture will also help: Vienna's Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), Salzburg Cathedral, the ascetic-Gothic Maria am Gestade, St. Egidius' Cathedral, as well as dozens of modest but original provincial churches. If you like old legends, mystical atmosphere and monumentality in all its manifestations, take a look at the Austrian castles and fortresses, of which there are more than two dozen. For example, in Hochosterwitz hovering between heaven and earth, in the severely impregnable Hohensalzburg or in the postcard Kreuzenstein, in which Dominic Sena filmed his disastrous "Time of the Witches" with Nicolas Cage.

If the rough scope of medieval architecture leaves conflicting impressions, you can switch to the masterpieces of the imperial era: the Hofburg, Schönbrunn and Belvedere palaces (Vienna), the Innsbruck residence of the Habsburg Hofburg (not to be confused with the Viennese palace of the same name), Eggenberg Castle, which embodied in its exterior the concept of time and movement stars, as well as the Salzburg Mirabell Palace, whose story began with the scandalous relationship between Bishop Rathenau and a young merchant's wife. Modern Austrian architects also do not waste time, racing to design something unimaginable, asymmetric and cosmic-scale like a Museum contemporary art in Vienna (better known as MUMOK), BTV's bank building or the steel company's office in Linz. Moreover, almost all Viennese high-rise buildings built at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries are a complete challenge to the laws of physics and gravity.

Museums

In Austria, every museum is a luxurious palace ensemble, a house of a famous composer or a futuristic creation of modern designers. The undisputed leaders in this niche, both in terms of attendance and in terms of the wealth of funds, are the Hofburg, which contains the entire imperial history of the country, the Albertina, with its million collection of paintings and graphic paintings, and the Belvedere, filled with the works of the Impressionists and medieval sculptors. You can admire Brueghel, Cranach the Elder and Rembrandt, unknown to the general public, in the Ferdinandeum (), and it is better to take pictures against the backdrop of the first airplanes and sports cars in the demonstration pavilion with free entrance "Angar-7" ().

To see everything at once, and not move from district to district, welcome to the Museum Quarter of the Austrian capital, which brings together several art galleries and exhibition halls. If you are drawn to non-standard and magical expositions - you are in the "Crystal Worlds". The museum was founded by the manufacturer of Swarovski crystals and is located in the city of Wattens, inside a picturesque hill with a giant's head. The most controversial institutions include the Innsbruck Museum of Bells and the Anatomical Museum, as well as the Viennese Tower of the Lunatics, tours of which will provide controversial, but unforgettable impressions.

Full immersion in the horrors of World War II promises the museum complex Mauthausen in the vicinity of Linz. Entrance to the former death factory has been free for everyone for many years. The Austrians have not forgotten about Mozart either, so if you want, go to Vienna to see what apartments the greatest composer of all time rented at the peak of his fame. Or settle in and visit the yellow mansion where Wolfgang Amadeus took his first steps. Continuing the musical theme, you can look into the house-museum of Johann Strauss - an apartment on the Praterstrasse in Vienna, where the musician wrote the immortal waltz "On the Beautiful Blue Danube".

Nature

The first place in the top five natural must-sees in Austria unconditionally belongs to the Hohe Tauern park. Snow-capped mountain peaks and ice fields through which wild chamois run, charming mini-waterfalls and emerald lawns with relict ferns - all this is just a small fraction of the riches of one of the oldest reserves in Europe. In the Donau-Auen National Park, the handsome Danube rules romantic views, in whose floodplain meadows deer graze, and beavers build their amusing constructions in the backwaters. To get rare shots of black storks, try to get into the Tayatal protected area, located on the border with the Czech Republic. Well, for romantic selfies against the backdrop of limestone mountains and nimble rivers, the landscapes of Gezoise, the youngest park in the country, founded in 2002, are ideal.

Fans of relaxed meditations by the water surface should not ignore the Austrian lakes, of which there are more than a thousand in Mozart's homeland. Try, for example, to settle in Carinthia, on the banks of the turquoise Wörthersee, Langsee and Klopeinersee. Or rush to the salt mines and quiet blue lakes of the Salzkammergut, where visitors are treated to fresh catch from local fishermen. In a small but industrial Vorarlberg, it already smells like neighboring Switzerland - the region is located next to Lake Constance. And of course, do not miss the main natural phenomenon of the Alps - the green Grunersee lake, which floods the neighboring park in the summer season, and exposes part of its bottom in the winter.

All sights of Austria

Ski holidays

The fact that in Austria a fantastic "skiing" is known even to tourists who are far from sports. One of the most pleasant features of the alpine slopes is their diversity, so it is convenient to ride here both for beginners who have just started snowboarding, and for extreme people conquering black slopes. Technical equipment is a separate issue. Austrians who do not welcome squandering are investing in the Alps in full, so even a small village can show up with a dozen modern lifts and a sufficient number of snow cannons to keep the snow on the slopes until the end of April.

It makes no sense to list all the ski locations in Austria, especially since there is a trend towards enlargement - neighboring resorts are combined into common ski areas, where you can have fun with a single ski pass. The favorite place of the Austrian and foreign beau monde is the Ski Arlberg region, which ranks fifth in the list of the largest ski resorts of our time. It includes the villages of Zürs, St. Anton, Lech, Oberlech and Stuben, the routes of which are interconnected by 87 lifts. By the way, Arlberg is so far the only place in Austria where you can try your hand at heli-skiing.

The biggest track for night skiing should be looked for in Wilder-Kaiser-Brixental - the largest ski area in Tyrol. Here, in the Tyrolean Alps, other resort associations such as the Zillertal Arena, Sölden, Kirchberg and Mayrhoffen-Hippach are located. Skiers and snowboarders looking for trails in the surroundings are better off getting hold of a ski pass to the slopes of Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn. The area is famous for its ski schools and a wide range of winter activities, including horse sledding.

A good half of travelers go to the ski resorts of Austria not so much for sporting achievements, but because of après-ski, which is amazing in its thoughtfulness. Moreover, hanging out in local bars and clubs means not only drinking and dancing frenzy, but also interesting meetings. If you know the "fish" places, there is every chance to get a selfie with a world celebrity - the stars like to relax after "riding" in the cold no less than mere mortals. So, if you came to Mozart's homeland in order to light up in the company of media people, move closer to resorts such as Schladming (Styria), St. Anton, Mayrhofen and Ischgl (). By the way, about Ischgl: the location is located on the border with Switzerland, therefore, the owners of a ski pass operating on its territory are allowed to “cross the border” and drive along the slopes of the Swiss resort of Samnaun.

Spas and thermal resorts in Austria

There are a large number of mineral and thermal springs in Austria, and where there are healing springs, there are spa complexes. Often, you can take a steam bath in radon and carbon dioxide baths without leaving the ski resorts, such as, for example, in Bad Kleinkirchheim (Carinthia) or the Aqua-Dom balneocomplex in Sölden. In Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Burgenland, people not only bathe in mineral water, but also take it orally as part of a treatment course for gout, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus and other ailments. A whole cascade of thermal springs is located near the city of Bad Blumau (Styria), famous for its wellness center "Rogner Bad Blumau", built according to the sketches of the "fabulous architect" Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

The most southern of the mineral-thermal resorts in Austria is Warmbad-Villach. It is located in Styria, offering, in addition to hot pools and healing water, the proximity of ski slopes, as well as several music and theater festivals. Another Styrian commune where you can indulge in spa treatments is Bad Radkersburg. The pools here are moderately warm (about +25 °C), but they are super-carbonated, so interesting sensations during the bathing process are provided. Austrian resorts have also taken care of young travelers - many aqua complexes have special small areas for children and water slides.

How to save money in Austria

It is possible and necessary to save money in the "land of waltzes, music and skiing", especially since each region and city issues discount cards for travelers. In Vienna, for example, there are as many as three of them - Vienna Pass, Wien-Karte and Flexi Pass. In, having a Salzburg Card in hand, you can ride cable cars and river boats for free, as well as get significant discounts on the excursion program. Most cards valid in the federal state of Salzburg can generally be obtained free of charge - discount coupons are issued to their guests by hotels in Zell, Flachau, Lungau and other popular places.

Summer lures tourists with guest tickets promising global savings when visiting museums and swimming pools. For an inexpensive acquaintance with Styria, about 9 tourist cards have been issued, covering natural and cultural attractions, the Salzkammergut, Murtal, Schladming-Dachstein and a number of other interesting locations. Lower and Upper Austria, Burgenland, Carinthia, Vorarlberg also offer tempting discounts on a variety of entertainment and gastronomic pleasures, from a free glass of wine in partner restaurants to visits to thermal complexes for a nominal fee.

Important: it is better to look for cards that provide financial benefits for getting to know the culture and nature of Austria in hotels, as well as tourist centers that support this program.

Where to stay

The most economical type of Austrian housing is boarding houses, in which the entire range of services, from cleaning to breakfast, is provided by the owner and his family members. The average cost of living in such places is 60-80 EUR. In hotels of the type bed & breakfast, located along busy roads, it will not work out cheaper than 100-120 EUR. As for the Austrian "fives", the discrepancy between the degree of stardom and the level of service and comfort of the premises is still noticeable even in the most status establishments.

Explorers of the rural hinterland can add a touch of pastoral flair to their vacation and retreat to alpine farms. The obvious advantages of such holidays are organic products straight from the garden, educational agricultural programs for children, the opportunity to contact with pets and join the culture of winemaking. Village joys cost from 15 to 35 EUR per person per day, so if you are ready to spend money on such downshifting, take a look at the urlaubambauernhof.at portal, which contains all the prettiest estates that accept guests from the stone jungle.

Within the boundaries of ski resorts, you can claim both standard hotel rooms and cozy chalets. Moreover, both there and there the costs will be fantastic: the amount of 500 EUR for a wooden cottage is positioned as a mega discount. Settling in a similar "dacha" near thermal springs costs about one and a half to two times cheaper, but also far from budgetary, so the bulk of those who arrived "on the waters" prefer guesthouses.

An option from the “when you don’t know what else to spend money on” category is apartments in historical buildings, for example, in Leopoldskron (), Raffelsberger (Wachau), Knappenstöckl (Halbturn) castles. Fans of non-standard design solutions can also come off in full: peasant barns, tree huts, ennobled Eskimo igloos are not so difficult to find. If the vacation budget began to melt faster than planned, it makes sense to go to hostels. True, you will have to spend the night in a dormitory, but for a modest 15-18 EUR, it is easier to put up with inconvenience.

It is recommended to book rooms in Austrian boarding houses and hotels in advance and with an eye to the season. In Tyrol, it's winter, when legions of visiting skiers come up to the icy slopes. In glamorous and historical Vienna and - a summer conducive to excursions and hiking. Keep in mind that in the "rush" months, accommodation prices skyrocket, and the number of vacancies is reduced to a critical limit, so if you dream of being in a slightly more budgetary Austria, get together in the Alps in June-August, and in the "musical heart of Europe - in late autumn.

Austrian cuisine

If you think that Austrian cuisine is based solely on schnitzels and strudel, then you are not far from the truth - flat cutlets and sweet rolls are really respected here. On the other hand, local cafes are full of less advertised dishes that instantly replenish calories spent on skiing and surprise taste buds. Among them are tafelspitz, regional variations of goulash, soups with pancake noodles, roast beef with onions, mushrooms and bacon, fried chicken, potato and meat grestl and other unpretentious but solid yummy.

For fans of fast carbohydrates, Austria is the promised land at all - confectionery and bakery races supply the population with amazing pastries. And we are talking not only about the immoderately praised Sacher, but also about the delicious Linz Torte, vanilla nockerl, delicate Kaiserschmarrn, spicy shtrizels and rum punchskrapfen. Eating flour delights, washing it down with melange, Einspenner or coffee-orange Maria Theresa, is supposed to be in cozy coffee houses. For example, in Landtmann, where Freud interpreted their strange dreams to the waitresses. Or in Central, where Zweig spotted his second-hand book dealer Mendel, and Trotsky molested the regulars with an offer to play a game of chess.

There are many gourmet restaurants in Austria, but the Heurigers and Schanigartens remain the most colorful catering outlets. The first are small taverns where you can taste the products of private winemakers. The latter are reminiscent of German bier gardens, where tables of visitors are taken out into the open air. True, according to the native gourmets, finding an old-school heuriger is becoming increasingly difficult - the owners of taverns rely on tourists, which entails high price tags, and with them - a decrease in the quality of food and drink. For the right gastronomy, it is better to go to peripheral places where you can still find bushenshanks - family restaurants with wine own production and traditional specialties.

Austria is a country where the morning begins with gatherings over a cup of coffee, so coffee and pastry shops open their doors as early as 7 am. Lunch in city taverns is served from 12:00 to 14:00, so if you expect a good refueling of schnitzels, try to keep within this interval. Or pay tribute to street food - wurstel sausages, ham buns, baked chestnuts and fried potatoes. It is customary to dine in restaurants from 18:00 to 21:30, but if you intend to eat in the center of Vienna, you can stay late - here dinners stretch until 24:00. Night bars accept fun lovers until 01:00-02:00. The menu in tourist places is bilingual, that is, English-Austrian, however, at ski resorts popular with Russians, you can also find its variants on the “great mighty”.

Good to know: in many establishments in Austria, service is included in the bill, while no one will refuse a tip (trinkgeld). The standard amount of remuneration is 5-10% of the account.

Communication and Internet

There are many operators in the Austrian telecom market, but if you need a stable signal, please contact the A1 and T-Mobile offices. Those who are temporarily staying in cities should make friends with virtual operators, which have smaller reception areas, but lower prices, and also slip through hot promotions. It is convenient to purchase SIM cards in branded salons, grocery stores or at the post office, but all of them will be prepaid and require activation (a combination of numbers is entered). In addition, since 2019, all Austrian plates are registered, so be prepared to show your passport to the seller.

In special cases, you can call home or call a taxi from a payphone. You will have to pay for communication with coins and phone cards, which can be found in the same place as the SIM cards themselves. By the way, if you like to save money, try to reschedule conversations for the evening - from 18:00 there is a reduced billing for calls. An internet package is easy to get along with a SIM card for calls. The main thing is to carefully read the conditions listed in the advertising booklet, because some companies have limited not only traffic, but also connection speed. Free Wi-Fi zones are available at train stations, cafes, shopping centers, as well as ski resorts.

shopping

Going to Austria for trendy new clothes is not only wrong, but rather inappropriate, because there are so many more seductive activities here. Gastronomy lovers will be the first to leave, because only convinced vegans can leave here without a package of ruddy waffles, hyperchocolate Sacher, marzipan Mozartkugel, apricot schnapps, icewein, coffee and cheese. However, local farmers have also taken care of supporters of a healthy diet - in any grocery department you will find 100% organic oil produced from giant pumpkins grown in Styria. Alpine salt, herbal tea and honey can also be considered as a reminder of a vacation, especially since such gifts are not very ruinous for a wallet.

Safety

Law-abiding Austrians are very developed, so the maximum that can threaten a traveler is the possibility of losing the contents of their pockets, as well as cosmic fines for behavior and non-payment of tolls. As an example: driving with a hare, as well as racing on toll roads without a vignette and a receipt are punishable by a fine of 100-120 EUR. Smoking in public places is also an expensive pleasure, capable of freeing the bank account of an uninitiated tourist from several thousand euros.

Increased caution must also be observed in the Alps. Rockfalls, avalanches and landslides, although predicted by weather forecasters, sometimes take even such a prudent nation as the Austrians by surprise, therefore, when going hiking or snowboarding, always listen to the recommendations of guides and experienced climbers.

Customs and visa information

To overeat with strudel and walk around Schönbrunn, you will have to apply for a Schengen C-type visa. To obtain a coveted pass, a general Schengen package of documents is collected, attaching medical insurance with coverage from 30,000 EUR. There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency, but amounts over 10,000 EUR are required to be declared.

Duty-free import applies to tobacco products (cigarettes - no more than 200 pieces, tobacco - up to 250 g, cigars - 50 pieces), alcohol (drinks with a strength of more than 22% - 1 l, less than 22% - 2 l, wine - 2 l , beer - 3 l) and medicines, if they have a prescription.

We allow the export of cigarettes (up to 1000 pcs.), Perfume (up to 250 ml), as well as wines and liquors in unlimited quantities. True, in the latter case, there is no point in being overly zealous - there are limits on alcohol from the Russian side. Objects of art and rarity at the Austrian customs will be allowed through only if there are certificates indicating that the purchased paintings and figurines are not part of the cultural heritage.

Transport

The most convenient and cheapest mode of transport for moving around Austria is trains. The trains run minute by minute, and you can get anywhere with them. For tourists traveling around the birthplace of Mozart railways, issue special Interrail Passes, which can be purchased upon presentation of an identity card. Fans of nostalgic voyages on retro locomotives will be curious to appreciate the existing narrow-gauge railways of Zillertal, Murtau, Mariazell, Simmering and a dozen other old routes. Often in such tours to the past there are a lot of additional bonuses that vary depending on the region - somewhere passengers are allowed to "steer" a steam locomotive, and somewhere they trump luxurious imperial-style coupes.

Comfortable Flixbus and Eurolines buses travel around the main locations, resorts and between suburbs, where you can really use Wi-Fi and charge your smartphone. In winter, vehicles serving the mountainous regions of Austria also provide free transportation of sports equipment such as snowboards and skis. Taxis are available almost everywhere. Cars are equipped with meters, so drivers have no chance to cheat. In the summer months, it is also interesting to entertain yourself with a boat trip along the Danube (be sure to sail along the breathtaking Schlögen Loop) and lakes - Bodensee, Wolfgangsee, Zellersee and others.

In cities, buses, trams and, in some places, trolleybuses are engaged in transportation. There is a metro only in Vienna, electric trains are in it, and also in, and. Bicycles are also in demand - more than 1,000 km of bicycle paths have been laid in the capital of the state alone. You can rent a two-wheeled friend at hotels, bike shops, and also at CityBike parking lots. Proven places where you can organize an exciting bike trip are Styria (do not miss the country roads leading to wineries and the Mürztal riverbed), Upper Austria (paths trodden by Roman legionnaires), (Mozart Radweg cycle route) and Burgenland.

Rent a Car

To save money, it is recommended to book a car in advance. You can order a vehicle both in official representative offices and from intermediaries. At the same time, the age of the renter must be from 21 years old if a budget model is chosen, and from 25 years old if it is an expensive car. To conclude an agreement with a rental company, present an IDL (International Driving License) and a credit card (sometimes two if a luxury vehicle is rented).

Before signing the documents, study the section "Insurance". Serious offices include insurance against accidents, theft and civil liability to third parties in the price. Traffic rules in Austria are the same as in the rest of Europe. Speed ​​mode in settlements- 50 km / h, beyond them - 100 km / h, on motorways - 130 km / h. As for fines, there is no single tariff - each federal state has its own rates. In general, speeding, using a telephone while driving (with a headset is allowed), and driving under the influence of alcohol are recognized as unreasonably expensive violations.

There are many highways in Austria, the movement on which is possible only after a monetary contribution has been made. A vignette pasted on glass (sold at gas stations) will suffice for most toll roads, but if you are planning to rush through the tunnels of Velbertauern, Gleinalm, Brenner, Katschberg, Tauern and Karawanke, you will need to part with a few more euros. You will also have to pay extra for the use of the Grossglockner, Maltatal, Timmelsjoch and Silvretta high-altitude roads. Some of them are listed as protected sightseeing and excursion routes, driving on which is allowed strictly in the summer months and in daylight.