Austria is a small country in the very center of Europe. The population is 8.46 million people. The capital is Vienna. The form of government is a federation, a parliamentary republic.

Many beautiful corners attract crowds of tourists every year. Those who want to visit this country will definitely need a detailed map of Austria. It will help you navigate the roads and get to the area of ​​interest as quickly as possible.

Austria on the world map: geography, nature and climate

Austria is a relatively small mountainous country - the record holder in the number of neighbors. Austria on the world map is adjacent to the dwarf state of Liechtenstein and Switzerland in the west, Germany and the Czech Republic in the north, Slovakia and Hungary in the east, Slovenia and Italy in the south.

75% of the territory of Austria is occupied Eastern Alps. Their broad ridges stretch to the east, where they diverge like an open fan. These are young mountains of folded or blocky-folded origin. The highest point in Austria Mount Grossglockner(higher than 3.7 km). Now it is owned by the Austrian Alpine Community. At its foot lies the largest glacier in the country - Pasterze stretching for nine kilometers. You can see it in all its glory from the Grossglockner Alpine Road. A map of Austria in Russian will help you with this. This intricately meandering serpentine has about 36 turns.

Business card of the country - Vienna Woods. On one side are the Danube valley and picturesque vineyards, and on the other side are the hot sulfur springs of the Baden resort. The forest itself occupies 1250 km2. These are oak and beech groves, which are under the protection of UNESCO.

Of great interest is Middle Danubian Plain. This tectonic lowland is rich in fertile soils. The territory of Austria is rich in river valleys. Major water arteries Danube, Rhine, Inn. In the summer, tourists love to relax on the lakes. Due to the glacial origin, they are all quite deep, with icy water.

Climatic conditions are characterized by vertical zonality. The lowlands are distinguished by a moderately warm climate. The average July temperature is kept within + 18 degrees, and in January it rarely drops below zero. These figures are typical for Vienna.

In the highlands, frosts, heavy blizzards and snowfalls are considered normal. In summer, the thermometers rarely rise above + 36˚C. The first night frosts are observed in October. In January and February, the temperature drops to -8 - - 10 ˚C. Ski resorts are characterized by mild -2˚C and heavy snowfalls.

The flora of Austria is represented by both mixed and broad-leaved forests. In the south of the country, the proximity of the Mediterranean is clearly felt. Here you can find subtropical plant species. An important place in the flora of this country is occupied by shrubs and herbs. There are no trees in the so-called alpine belt. But here you can admire such a miracle of nature as edelweiss.

The Austrian Alps have a large population of wild animals. However, they do not always compete with humans. Some species have survived only thanks to reserves. In them you can get acquainted with such rare species as roe deer, wild boars, red deer. Chamois, ibex and purple herons live in the highlands. Mountain rivers and lakes are rich in different types of fish.

Austria map with cities. Administrative division of the country

The map of Austria with cities in Russian is divided into 9 federal states. Each of them has its own legislative body. It is called the Landtag. These territories are governed by land councilors and governors.

The largest cities in Austria:

• Vein. The main city of Austria, lying at the very foot of the Alps on the Danube coast. Slovakia and Hungary are only 60 kilometers from Vienna. There are many sunny days here. Winters are mild, but sometimes frosts can become quite prickly (up to -18˚C). But summer falls extremely hot - up to + 38˚C.
• Salzburg. The capital of the federal land of the same name. It is located 145 km east of Munich, 300 km west of Vienna. from Salzburg to the German border is only 5 kilometers. It is located on the coast of the Salzach River, at the foot of the Alpine Mountains. The average temperatures in July are from +24 to + 32˚C, in January - -3 - - 5˚C.
• Hallstatt. The population is 923 people. The area is 60 km². It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the alpine area near the Hallstatt lake. There are over 3,000 year old salt mines and the world's oldest pipeline that has been delivering dissolved salt to Ebensee for over four hundred years.

Having visited the country at any time of the year, you will want to return to this amazing state more than once.

The Republic of Austria is one of the Central European countries with a rich history and long cultural traditions.

Austria on the world map

Geographical position
Austria is located in the east of the Alps, in the Danube river valley. Her neighbors:
from the north - the Czech Republic;
from the east - Slovakia and Hungary;
from the south - Slovenia and Italy;
from the west - Liechtenstein, Germany and Switzerland.
The capital of Austria is the city of Vienna, whose history begins in the 1st century AD. The construction of Vienna was started by Roman legionnaires.
Mountains cover most of the country. The highest point is Mount Groslockner, with a height of 3797 m, on which the largest glacier in Europe is located.

Administrative-territorial division
The Republic of Austria is divided into 9 federal states: Lower Austria, Burgenland, Salzburg, Carinthia, Styria, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Upper Austria and Vienna. The lands are divided into districts, and the districts are divided into communities.
In addition to Vienna, the largest cities are Salzburg, Graz, Linz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt. Each of these cities has its own rich history.

Climate of Austria
Depending on the relief in Austria, there are different climatic conditions. The eastern and northeastern regions located in the lowland have a temperate warm climate. The summer is sunny and dry, the average temperature is +20°C, the winter is mild, the temperature is not lower than -3°C.
Precipitation is frequent in the mountainous regions, the climate is humid with frequent westerly winds. In the lowlands of the Alps it is moderately warm, in the highlands it is moderately cold.

Austria map in Russian

Sights of Austria
The ancient history of Austria has created many cultural monuments.
Tourists are primarily attracted by Vienna, which has preserved the unique architecture of the ancient city. After the end of World War II, the capital was practically recreated.
The famous "Vienna Woods" includes a park, hotels, resorts, thermal springs.
Medieval castles and palaces have been preserved in Austria, among them the palaces of Artstetten (XVI century), Riegersburg (Baroque era) and Schallaburg, built during the Renaissance.
The country is known for its first-class ski resorts. All conditions for winter sports have been created. Trails stretching for many kilometers are located at an altitude of up to 3200 m. There are snowboard parks, flat trails, and trekking trails.
Baden resort is famous for its SPA-centers. There is also a garden of exotic plants. The largest casino in Europe operates in Baden.
In Austria there is a steppe lake Neusiedlersee, the only one in Europe. A national park is organized here, where many rare species of birds and animals live. Photo materials used from Wikimedia © Foto, Wikimedia Commons

General information

Geographical position.

Austria is an inland state located in the southern part of Central Europe. Square. The territory of Austria occupies 83,859 sq. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Austria is Vienna. The largest cities: Graz (260 thousand people), Linz (210 thousand people), Salzburg (150 thousand people), Innsbruck (120 thousand people).

Austria is divided into 9 federal states: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna. Federal lands, in turn, are divided into districts, which consist of communities, urban and rural.

Political system

Austria-republic. The head of state is the president. The head of the federal government is the Chancellor. Parliament consists of two chambers: the Federal Council and the National Assembly.

Relief. Most of the territory is occupied by the Eastern Alps (the highest point is Mount Grossglockner, 3,797 m) and their foothills. With its famous alpine slopes and meadows, Austria faces the Danube, along the course of which there is a low plain.

Geological structure and minerals. On the territory of Austria there are deposits of iron ore, oil, aluminum, lead, copper, coal and brown coal.

Climate. In Austria, a variety of landscape, climatic, plant forms and types coexist. In general, the country is characterized by a mild Central European climate influenced by the Atlantic. In the foothills of the Carpathians, in the Vienna Valley, in the northern regions of Burgenland, a continental climate already reigns. The Pannonian (from the Latin Rapposha, the name of the Roman province on the territory of modern Austria) climate is characterized by an average July temperature of about + 19 ° C, an average annual rainfall of 800 mm. The latter figure increases significantly for the western regions. The climate of Austria is characterized by a rather noticeable temperature difference, which is explained by the conditions of the mountainous terrain.

The Austrian landscape has absorbed both high and medium mountains, as well as hills and valleys. 63 percent of the country lies in the Eastern Alps. Almost 900 mountain peaks reach heights of more than 3,000 m. At an altitude exceeding 2,700 m, snow lies all year round. 600 sq. km of glaciers contain 30 billion cubic meters of crystal clear water. The highlands are so intensively heated by the sun that in autumn and winter there is no less heat than in alpine meadows. The only difference is the flax, the wind blowing regularly down the slopes from the mountains, especially strong in spring and autumn.

The average maximum January temperature in Vienna is approximately +1 °С, the average April temperature is +15 °С, in July it is up to +25 °С, and in October it is about + 14 °С.

In Salzburg and Innsbruck, the temperature is about the same as in the capital, with the exception of winter, when these Alpine cities are somewhat cooler.

Inland waters. In Austria, the rivers of the Danube basin flow, on the territory of the country there are lakes: Neusiedler See, Constance.

Soils and vegetation. Austria is classified as a country rich in forests. The Austrian flora is characterized by an oak-beech forest in the valleys, and at an altitude of more than 500 m - a beech-spruce mixed forest. Above the mark of 1200 m, the “kingdom of spruce” begins.

Animal world . The fauna of Austria is typical of Central Europe. Roe deer, hare, deer, pheasant, partridge, fox, marten, badger, squirrel are found here. The surroundings of Lake Neusiedl are unique protected nesting sites for birds of various species. In the highlands of the Eastern Alps, the composition of the fauna is typically alpine: marmot colonies are often found, and sometimes a mountain goat can be found. There are nature reserves in Austria: Neusiedler-Sewinkel, Karwendelbirge, etc.

Population and language

According to the latest estimates, the population of Austria is about 8 million inhabitants, an average of 94 people per 1 sq. km. km. The vast majority of native Austrians are Germans. Most of the non-Austrians live in Vienna and in the southeast of the country.

Immigration to Austria began at the end of the 19th century, when industry began to develop rapidly here. The events of recent decades have led to the influx of new and new waves of immigrants from the East. In May 1993, about 600,000 immigrants were legally residing in Austria. They were mostly Yugoslavs who fled the war (about 65 thousand). Other foreigners come from Turkey, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Non-Germans among the indigenous population are Croats, Slovaks, Hungarians, Slovenes and Czechs. Together, they make up about 300 thousand people.

The official language is German, whose Austrian dialect is very different from classical German. The dialect of Vorarlberg, which is close to the Alemannic dialect of the Swiss, is especially different from others. In Tyrol, in the highlands, due to geographical conditions and historical reasons, almost every village can boast of its own dialect.

Religion

It is well known that religion plays an important role in the life of the Austrians. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution of the Republic of Austria. However, there are some age restrictions. So, until a child reaches the age of 10, his religious sympathies are determined by his parents, from 10 to 12 years old, according to the law, his opinion should be taken into account by adult family members, and from the age of 12 no one has the right to impose religious views on a child.

A national survey showed that 78% of the population consider themselves Catholics, 5% - Protestants, 9% do not prefer any of these denominations. Most Protestants live in Burgenland and in Carinthia. 5% belong to other religious directions (for example, Muslims).

Brief historical outline

The history of Austria is largely determined by its geographical location. The country is located at the intersection of three cultural areas: Romanesque, Germanic and Slavic.

A thousand years before our era, Illyrian tribes settled on the territory of modern Austria. Judging by the found and studied archaeological sites, the Illyrians had a developed culture.

On the territory of modern Carinthia, in a later period, the Celtic state of Noricum was formed. Even later, the right bank of the Danube becomes a province of the Roman Empire, and then not only a political border passes through the territory of modern Austria, but also a border between the Christian (Roman) and pagan (German) worlds.

In the era of the great migration of peoples, the foundations were laid for the future national-territorial structure of the Austrian lands.

From the 4th century n. e. in the foothills of the Alps, an important point of intersection and unification of multilingual peoples is formed.

The Germans conquer the northern Roman provinces in the 5th century. Their wave runs into a wave of Slavs migrating in the same direction. In the 500-700s, the power of the dukes of the Bavarian brand was established here. Later, Charlemagne conquers these lands from the Avars tribe (decisive battles took place near Vienna). Finally, with the appearance of the Hungarians, moving from behind the Urals, and their consolidation to the east of the German lands, the migrations of large ethnic groups cease.

From the 10th century, during the reign of the Babenbergs, the Austrian borders were significantly expanded to the south and east, and the residence of the Babenbergs - Vienna - became the capital of a prosperous country, later - an empire. The Babenbergs created the foundation of an independent Austrian state. By the time of their reign (about 996) is the first mention of the name of the state - "Ozshgpsy", that is, "eastern country, empire."

The influence of the Babenbergs constantly increased and expanded, including through prudent marriages with politically and religiously strong European families. After during the XI century. Vienna and most of modern Lower Austria were under their control, the same happens with Styria and Upper Austria (1192).

The period of intensive development of trade for Austria began in the middle of the XII century. In 1156 Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa elevated the status of an Austrian territory to a duchy. Since that time, the image of an eagle has been used as a national symbol.

The political and economic strengthening of Austria was accompanied by the flourishing of spiritual life: missionary routes of Christian monks passed through its territory, leaving behind centers of a new, Christian culture - monasteries. Theologians, philosophers, historians, writers worked within the walls of the monasteries.

The Austrian lands served as a transshipment base for the crusaders during their campaigns to the East to Christian shrines. In the vicinity of the monasteries, secular culture is also developing: the famous Minnesinger (literal translation from German - “singer of love”) Walter von der Vogelweide lived and worked at the Vienna Court, and the Nibelungenlied (the most significant epic work in German) found here , on the banks of the Danube, its final form.

In 1246, Duke Frederick II Babenberg died in a battle with the Hungarians on the Austro-Hungarian border, leaving no heir. This allows the Czech king Otgokar II to intervene in the affairs of his neighbors and take control of vast, by European standards, territories (the entire space from the Sudetenland along the northern borders of the modern Czech Republic to the Adriatic Sea).

Ottokar II overestimated his abilities when he refused to take an oath of allegiance to the new Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf of Habsburg. It cost him his life: King Ottokar died in a battle with a powerful enemy in the town of Markfeld in 1278.

In 1282, Rudolph grants two sons Austria and Styria as fiefs. This was the beginning of one of the most powerful dynasties that ever ruled in Western Europe. The Habsburgs retained power in these lands until the 20th century.

In the initial period of their rule, the Habsburgs experienced considerable difficulties in relations with their neighbors (including several defeats in wars with the Swiss), but they managed to consolidate their internal forces and resources: Carinthia and Carniola were annexed in 1355. These provinces were followed by Tyrol (1363) .

Rudolph IV (Founder), Duke of Austria in 1358-1365, wishing to unite all the lands under one flag, introduced the image of five eagles, in imitation of the symbolism of the Roman emperors. He achieved an increase in his status to that of an archducal. During the reign of Rudolph, the foundation stone of the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna (today the image of the cathedral is one of the symbols of the capital), the University of Vienna is established.

In 1453, Frederick III succeeds in legally obtaining the status of archduke, and he is elected emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. He also convinces Pope Paul II of the advisability of raising Vienna - in 1469 the city becomes a bishopric. Friedrich's ambitions sometimes barely fit within a reasonable framework. So, the abbreviation AEYU11 became his motto, which, as a rule, is deciphered as follows: "Aus1na Ez11trega1og Ogy Ituesso" (translated from Latin: "Austria is the emperor of the whole world"). In an effort to realize his plans, Frederick began a war with King Mattius Corvinus of Hungary. This led to the occupation of Vienna by the latter in 1485-1490. The reason for the failure, according to eyewitnesses, was primarily that Frederick could not or did not want to attract the Archbishop of Salzburg to his side, and he took the side of Frederick's opponent. Salzburg was in that era an influential church principality.

The name of Frederick III is associated with the continuation of the tradition of arranged marriages - the successful political course of the Austrian ruling families (Babenbergs and Habsburgs), which allowed them to extend their influence to many European countries. In 1477, the son of Frederick, Maximilian, married Mary of Burgundy, seeks control over Burgundy and the Netherlands.

Maximilian's eldest son, Philip, marries a Spanish infanta in 1496, and Charles, Philip's son, achieves even more: he becomes in 1516 Carlos I, King of Spain, and then Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (1519 ).

Charles passed over all Austrian territories to his younger brother Ferdinand in 1521, who also inherited Bohemia and Hungary through his marriage to Princess Anne after her brother, King Louis II, died in battle with the Turks in 1526. In 1556, Charles abdicated the imperial throne and title, and Ferdinand was crowned in his place. The huge territorial inheritance of Charles passed to his only son, Philip II.

For several centuries in a row, one of the main concerns of the Austrian rulers was the security of the southern borders, from which hordes of Turks constantly invaded. In the 20s of the XVI century. the Turks subjugated almost the entire Balkan region, and their eyes were already fixed on Vienna. But Vienna withstood the siege, fortunately short because of the early onset of winter.

In 1571, Maximilian II granted his subjects the right to freedom of religion, as a result of which most of the Austrians converted to Protestantism.

In 1576, the eldest son of Maximilian, Rudolf II, having become emperor, begins the counter-reformation, which leads to the return of most of those who left to the Protestants in the bosom of the Catholic Church, sometimes not without coercion. Religious intolerance was the cause of the Thirty Years' War, which devastated all of Central Europe. In 1645, the army of Protestant Sweden proceeded to the walls of Vienna, but this time the city was not damaged either. Then, bloodless by the war, internal religious strife between Catholics and Evangelical Protestants, Vienna could hardly resist the onslaught of a strong enemy. In this desperate situation, Kaiser Ferdinand III calls on the church for help. The Kaiser himself swears an oath to erect a column in honor of the Virgin Mary if the city is saved from enemy troops. The story of the siege ends with the fact that, without even trying to storm the city, the commander of the Swedish army, Torstenson, orders the withdrawal of troops.

In 1646, the monument promised by the Kaiser was built on the central square of Vienna and adorned it with itself until 1667, when it was dismantled at the direction of Kaiser Leopold I, son of Ferdinand, and transported to the city of Wernstein, where it is located to this day. The place of the original on the square was taken by a bronze copy. In 1648, the Treaty of Westphalia was signed, according to which Austria ceded part of its territories to France.

The Austrian capital was miraculously lucky again when in 1683, engulfed in a terrible plague epidemic, it was ready to capitulate to the troops of the Turks, but the armies of friendly Christian powers, Germany and Poland, arrived in time, and the enemy forces were pushed back first from Vienna, and then and even further - to the south-eastern limits of Europe. The memory of the defeat of the Turkish troops is kept by frescoes and sculptural compositions made in the Baroque style and decorating the buildings of that era in many cities of Austria.

With the death of Charles II, the last of the Habsburgs on the Spanish line, Austria is drawn into the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), which ended with Charles IV, Emperor of Austria, getting only part of the Spanish possessions (in the Netherlands and Italy). Karl brings to the dispute his daughter, Maria Theresa, who, in the absence of male heirs, ascends in 1740 to the Habsburg throne. The support of Britain and the Netherlands largely contributed to the success of Austria and its empress in the struggle for political leadership on the continent - the rich lands of Bavaria are moving to the empire.

During the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) there is a change of political sympathies, and Austria, already with the confrontation of Britain, is trying unsuccessfully to recapture Silesia from Prussia.

The 40-year reign of Empress Maria Theresa is considered the golden era in the history of Austria. It was during this period that the strong power of the center was established, the institution of the civil service was introduced, the economy, the army and the general education system were reformed. Since that time, Austria has been gaining fame as the "country of great musicians."

Maria Theresa left a good memory of herself, showing extraordinary courage during the smallpox epidemic in 1763: the empress, who lost her two children, was taking care of her sick daughter-in-law at the risk of infection.

Maria Theresa's work was continued by her son Joseph II, whose innovations include the edict of religious tolerance, the secularization of church property, and the abolition of serfdom.

Under Emperor Franz, the first national anthem was adopted, composed by Joseph Haydn and performed on February 12, 1797 (according to the plan, the adoption of the anthem was to rally the nation in the face of the impending danger from France and Napoleon). The anthem was based on the Croatian folk melody of Burgenland.

The sunset of the golden age for Austria turned out to be the appearance of Napoleon Bonaparte on the arena of the European theater. His triumph, military successes forced Franz II to renounce first the Austrian, and then the German imperial crown and the title of Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Military spending led to a financial collapse, and it is not known how it would have ended for Austria if not for Russian help.

In 1814-1815 A congress is held in Vienna, according to the decisions of which Austria regains part of what was lost.

The era of the reign of Chancellor Clemens von Mitternich, the restoration of the monarchy, the formation of Austria-Hungary in 1867, the establishment of general suffrage are accompanied by a new take-off in the development of culture and art, especially music.

On June 28, 1914, an attempt was made on the life of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo; a month later, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

November 12, 1918 - the date marking the proclamation of Austria as a republic, and with it the end of the centuries-old Habsburg dynasty. Under the peace treaty of September 1919, Austria is forced to recognize the state independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Austria is losing its influence in neighboring Romania and Bulgaria. All this together caused a serious economic crisis that lasted in Austria until the mid-1920s and was accompanied by a shortage of material food resources. Gradually, and thanks to the successful actions of the federal government, the situation stabilized.

Austria entered the Second World War even before it began: on March 11, 1938, the troops of neighboring Germany marched through the streets of Vienna, and an Austrian by birth, who shortly before left the country as a failed, unrecognized artist, Adolf Hitler was met with triumph on the main square of Vienna - Heldenplatz. Seven years will pass before the liberation of Austria by the allied forces. First

on April 11, 1945, Soviet tanks will enter Vienna. At the end of the war, Austria and Vienna, as a special district, were divided into four areas of responsibility. On May 15, 1955, in the Belvedere Palace, a state treaty was signed between the victorious countries and Austria, proclaiming the political neutrality of Austria, and the allied troops were withdrawn from its borders.

The times of the "cold war" brought diplomatic prominence to Austria, its capital, Vienna. Representative offices of the largest international organizations, including the UN, have settled here. The country's economy developed successfully.

Brief economic essay

Austria is one of the most economically developed countries in Europe. Extraction of iron ore, magnesite, brown coal, oil, graphite, lead-zinc and tungsten ores. The most developed are: mechanical engineering (transport, agricultural, electrical industry), ferrous metallurgy, aluminum production, chemical, pulp and paper, woodworking, textile, leather and footwear, and clothing industries. Agriculture is intensive and highly marketable; dominated by large landowners. The leading industry is dairy farming. Poultry farming. They grow wheat, barley, sugar beets, fodder crops. Fruit growing and viticulture.

The monetary unit is the Austrian shilling.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. Of the Romanesque monuments, the purity of the style of the basilica in Gurk and Sekkau and the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna (partially rebuilt).

Gothic monuments have not actually survived. Only some elements of the Gothic past are visible in the Cathedral of St. Stephen (Vienna), in some buildings of Innsbruck (for example, the so-called "Golden Roof").

Austrian art acquired wide international significance in the Baroque era (XVII-XVIII centuries). At this time, magnificent country residences, monasteries, city palaces and churches were erected in Vienna, Salzburg, Melk, Linz, distinguished by their large scope, plastic richness of forms and decor, and at the same time - * cold elegance. The art of sculpture, painting (D. Gran, P. Troger, F. A. Maulberg), carving, furniture, and ceramics (the famous Viennese porcelain from 1718) reached its highest flourishing.

The science. K. Doppler (1803-1853), a physicist who pointed out the existence of an effect later named after him (a change in the wavelength observed when a wave source moves relative to their receiver); L. Boltzmann (1844-1906) - one of the founders of statistical physics and physical kinetics; E. Mach (1838-1916) - physicist, idealist philosopher, one of the founders of empirio-criticism (Machism); G. Mendel (1822-1884) - naturalist, founder of the theory of heredity; K. Landsteiner-(1868-1943) - one of the founders of immunology; VF Hess - physicist who discovered cosmic rays; F. Porsche (1875-1951), Austrian engineer, creator of the electric car; 3. Freud (1856-1939) - the founder of psychoanalysis.

Literature. S. Zweig (1881-1942) - a master of psychological short stories (collections "Amok", "Confusion of feelings", etc.) and portrait (Stendhal, 3. Freud, F. Nietzsche, F. M. Dostoevsky and many others), novelized biography ("Marie Antoinette", "Balzac").

Music. Of all the arts for Austria, Music has always been the most important. Already from the XII century. Vienna was known for its minnesinger troubadours and itinerant musicians.

During the XVIII-XIX centuries. Vienna, thanks to the patronage of the Habsburg family, was the musical capital of Europe. Moreover, many representatives of the imperial family were themselves passionate musicians. The most diverse forms of classical music first appeared to the world of listeners here, in the Danube lands.

Opera, which originated as a musical genre in Italy at the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, found fertile ground for itself in Vienna, reached the apotheosis of popularity and the highest level of development. Here Christoph Willibald von Gluck (1714-1787) reformed the genre of opera by combining music with some dramatic forms (for example, in "Orpheus and Eurydice" or "Alceste").

The genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), who took Gluck's place in the court orchestra since 1787, raised the opera to a new level of development: The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787) with a libretto in Italian, The Magic flute ”(1791), called the progenitor of the German opera of the 19th century.

Mozart's teacher is Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), the most significant figure in the musical life of Europe in the 18th century. For 38 years Haydn conducted the Esterhazy Orchestra. Then his famous oratorios "Creation" (1798) and "The Seasons" (1801) appeared.

Ludwig van Beethoven, born in Bonn, arrived at the age of 21, already a virtuoso pianist, in Vienna specifically to study with Haydn. In this city, he remained until his death, changing one after another about 80 addresses.

The name of Franz Schubert (1797-1828) is associated with the return to life of the traditions of the ancient German folk song. The most famous is the cycle called "Schubertiad".

For a foreigner not versed in the subtleties of music, the most familiar of all the genres that glorified Austria is the waltz. Born in Vienna at the beginning of the 19th century, the waltz was approved with approval at the Congress of Vienna, which decided the fate of post-Napoleonic Europe. Johann Strauss Sr. (1804-1849) and Joseph Lanner (1801-1843) are considered to be the first composers of waltzes. Johann Strauss Jr. (1825-1899) remains unsurpassed with his Blue Danube and Vienna Woods. The genre of operetta, where the composer shone just as brightly, stood on a par with opera and ballet. The most famous are his operettas Die Fledermaus (1874) and The Gypsy Baron (1885).

Among other musical celebrities of Austria in the 19th century: Anton Bruckner (1824-1896), an outstanding organist and composer of church music; Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Romantic composer; Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), author of a cycle of symphonies and director of the Vienna Imperial Opera from 1897 to 1907; Richard Strause (1864-1949).

In the XX century. The "New School" of music is formed in Vienna. Such musical performing groups as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Boys Choir, and the State Opera are world famous today.

Detailed map of Austria in Russian online. Satellite map of Austria with cities and resorts, roads, streets and houses. Austria on the world map is a European country famous for its cultural heritage, amazingly beautiful architecture of cities, as well as bewitching landscapes that include many lakes with crystal clear water, snow-capped mountain ranges, deep gorges and caves. The capital of Austria is the city of Vienna, the official language is German.

Austria - Wikipedia:

Population of Austria- 8 857 960 people (October 2018)
Capital of Austria- Vienna
The largest cities in Austria- Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, Linz
Austrian dialing code - 43
Internet domains of Austria- .at, .eu

Climatic conditions moderate in Austria. The coldest time in the country is winter, especially the month of January. The average winter temperature in the central regions is +9 ... +10, and in the mountains frosts up to -15 C occur. Summer in Austria, on the contrary, is very dry and hot. In big cities, the air can heat up to +30 C, but the average summer season temperature is +23 ... +25 C.

All Austrian cities full of places of interest and attractions. Old streets, architecture, palace complexes - all this can be seen in Vienna, Graz and other cities. Austria is also famous for its medieval castles.

But especially the country attracts tourists ski resorts. Many places for skiing offer slopes of various difficulty levels for beginners and professionals. In total, there are more than 28 resorts in Austria, the most famous of which are Schladming, Bad Gastein and Flachau. For traveling around Austria, it is better to give preference to early autumn or spring, when the weather is most favorable.

What to see in Austria:

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Hofburg, Vienna City Hall, Schönbrunn, Belvedere, Salzburg Cathedral, Swarovski Museum Innsbruck, Mirabell Palace, Wachau Valley, Melk Benedictine Monastery, Hohe Tauern National Park, Landhaus, Puppet Museum, Park Untersberg, Mozart's Residence, Olympic Museum, Pieber Horse Farm, Castle Orth (Gmunden), Mödling.