If you’ve been looking for a beautiful holiday destination, Austria may be the spot for you. This German-speaking country in Central Europe is well-known for its spectacular Alps vistas, charming mountain communities, and diverse and delicious gastronomy.
Are you ready to be enchanted by Austria? Here are five intriguing facts that intrigue you and help you plan your trip.
The Alps Cover Over Half of Austria’s Land Area
The great tracts of mountains characterize Austria’s general landscape, with the Alps accounting for around 62% of its total area. The alpine area has 34 peaks over 2,000 meters and 13 summits above 3,000 meters. Großglockner is their tallest peak, reaching roughly 3,798 meters and a prominence of 2,423 meters.
Because of the high altitude terrain, Austria also has Krimml Falls. They are located in Salzburg and extend down 380 meters, making them Europe’s highest and most beautiful waterfalls.
It Has the World’s Biggest Ice Cave, the Eisriesenwelt
Eisriesenwelt, German meaning “World of the Ice Giants,” is the world’s biggest ice cave, measuring 42 kilometers long. Anton Posselt was the first to explore the cave in 1879, going up to 200 meters deep and published his results in a tiny mountaineering magazine. More than 30 years later, in 1912, Alexander von Mörk led many trips to thoroughly explore the cave, drawing national interest as visitors began to throng there.
Prior to its discovery, only locals were aware of the cave’s existence, and they refused to enter because they believed it was a gateway to Hell.
Austria Is a Recognized Leader in Sustainable Development
Austria is one of the most ecologically conscious countries in Europe. They recycle 63% of their garbage, and the majority of their power comes from renewable sources. The country promotes sustainable agriculture by minimizing pesticide use and improving organic agricultural practices.
Additionally, the Austrian government has designated roughly half of its wooded regions as protected reserves. Their environmental policies advocate for the limited use of forest resources in order to preserve biodiversity and the potential to heal.
The Country Has No Coastlines
Austria, like many other central European nations, is totally cut off from beaches. Austria has a border with eight other countries: Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Germany.
The Austrian Flag Is Among the World’s Oldest Original National Flags
The Austrian flag is one of the oldest original national flags currently in use. The red and white stripes, derived from the Babenberg Dynasty coat of arms, have served as an Austrian emblem since 976 AD.
According to mythology, Duke Leopold V of Austria designed the flag during a fierce fight during the Siege of Acre. His white surcoat became stained with blood, but when he removed his belt, he saw a stunning white stipe between two fields of scarlet. Duke Leopold V was so captivated with the painting that he used it as his flag.
It Is Home to the Oldest Zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Tiergarten Schönbrun, aka the Schönbrunn Animal Garden, is the world’s oldest zoo. Adrian van Stekhoven built it as an imperial menagerie in 1752, with just 13 animal enclosures at the time.
Over time, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn was filled with more and more species returned from trips to Africa and the Americas, with the entrance of giraffes having a particularly strong influence on Viennese culture. The Tiergarten Schönbrunn houses around 700 distinct species, including some endangered animals, and is one of the few zoos that contain giant pandas.
The Emerald Unguentarium, One of the World’s Largest Emerald, Is Displayed in the Imperial Treasury in Vienna
The Emerald Unguentarium, on exhibit in Vienna at the Habsburg Palace within the Hofburg’s imperial treasury, weighs around 2860 carats and is regarded as the world’s biggest emerald. In 1641, Emperor Ferdinand III commissioned a 3,000 carat Colombian Emerald to be hollowed down and fashioned.
Several Notable Composers Are Interred in the Vienna Central Cemetery, One of the World’s Largest Internment Grounds
Vienna’s Central Cemetery is the best-known in the country and one of the world’s largest interment sites. Unlike other sites, the Central Cemetery was designed from the outset to be large due to worries about fast population increase in the city. The cemetery was opened to the public in 1874, although it faced strong opposition due to its size and distance from Vienna’s real core.
To address the cemetery’s early unpopularity, the city built a “grave of honor” or Ehrengräber. The Ehrengräber serves as a tourist attraction by housing the bodies of notable public personalities such as Ludwig Van Beethoven, Antonio Salieri, Franz Schubert, and Johann Strauss II.
Vienna Is Considered the “Capital of Classical Music”
One of the most fascinating things about Austria is its long history of classical music. Its capital, Vienna, is regarded as one of Europe’s most prominent classical music hubs. The Habsburgs’ sponsorship attracted numerous 18th and 19th century composers, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Johann Strauss II.
Austrian classical music is still valued today, with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra being one of the world’s best since its foundation in 1842.
Austria Was Home to Numerous Notable Individuals, from Composers to Nobel Laureates and Hollywood Actors
Many historical luminaries and modern personalities claim Austria to be their home.
- As previously said, many of today’s classical composers, including Mozart, Liszt, Bruckner, and Strauss, originated or rose to prominence in Austria.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger, the retired Hollywood actor and former governor of California, grew up in Austria.
- The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, resided in Austria before fleeing to evade Nazi persecution.
- Austria has produced numerous Nobel Peace Prize recipients, including author and pacifist Bertha von Suttner, the first woman to receive the award in 1905. Other Austrians have received honors in physiology, medicine, physics, and chemistry.