Leslie Massey
Austria is a small, landlocked country in south-central Europe, with a rich history and culture. Austrians have a lot to be proud of, from their beautiful landscape to their fascinating history and delicious cuisine. With a high standard of living, progressive social institutions, and a thriving cultural scene, Austria has much to boast about.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| High standard of living | 13th highest nominal GDP per capita |
| Cuisine | Vienna, the capital, is a great place to live |
| Quality of water and air | Vienna is accessible to foreigners |
| Social and economic institutions | Social security and healthcare |
| Neutrality | Member of the European Union since 1995 |
| Geographic position | Founding member of the OECD and Interpol |
| History | The city of Hallstatt has the oldest archaeological evidence of the Celts in Europe |
| The Austrian Alps form the physical backbone of the country | |
| Famous Austrian figures |
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What You'll Learn
Austrians are proud of their cuisine
Austrian cuisine is known for its delicious pastries and cakes, such as the famous Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot jam, traditionally eaten with whipped cream. Other sweet treats include the Linzer Torte, the caramel-flavoured Dobostorte, and the Esterhazy Torte, a delicate layered cake named after Prince Esterházy. The Punschkrapfen is another classic Austrian pastry: a cake filled with cake crumbs, nougat chocolate and apricot jam, soaked in rum.
Austrian food also features a variety of sausages, including the Frankfurter, Käsekrainer, and Burenwurst. The Bosna or Bosner, a spiced bratwurst in a hot dog roll, is an integral part of the menu at Austria's typical fast-food restaurant, the sausage stand (Würstelstand). Lower Austria is known for its local delicacies, including Waldviertel poppies, Marchfeld asparagus and Wachau apricots, which are used in dishes like the Marillenknödel, small dumplings filled with apricots and warm butter-fried breadcrumbs.
Viennese cuisine is based on the cooking traditions of the Habsburg Empire, and the country's game dishes are very common, with many woods across the country for hunting. In autumn, many restaurants offer game on their menus, such as Hirschbraten, roast venison, along with seasonal vegetables and fruits.
With such a variety of delicious dishes and treats, it's no wonder that Austrians are proud of their cuisine.
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Austrians are proud of their quality of water and air
Austrians are proud of the quality of their water and air. Good-quality water is a matter of pride for many Austrians. Wastewater is collected and treated according to the highest standards, and the country has a long-standing commitment to investing in water infrastructure. This includes a focus on areas such as communal wastewater, drinking water supply, and flood protection.
Austria is located in the heart of Europe and the Alps, with access to both mountain-fed freshwater and groundwater sources. This water resource is essential to their drinking water supply, agriculture, and energy supply, as well as other sectors of the economy, such as tourism. The overall quality of surface water and groundwater in Austria is very high, and their lakes are among the best in Europe for bathing water quality.
However, human activity, including pollution and extreme weather events, is affecting the availability and quality of their water. Austria works closely with its neighbouring countries to address these challenges, such as cooperating with Switzerland on flood protection on the Rhine for over 100 years.
Austrians also take pride in the quality of their air. This is due in part to their commitment to environmental protection and the development of sustainable practices.
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Austrians are proud of their sense of belonging
Austria's central location in Europe has embedded it within a variety of political and economic systems, and its sense of neutrality is a significant source of pride for Austrians. The country regained its sovereignty and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955, withdrawing from the Allied troops that had occupied the country since the end of World War II. This neutrality has allowed Austria to develop strong international relationships, as evidenced by its membership in the United Nations, the European Union, and its hosting of organizations such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Austria's landscape and natural environment are also a source of pride for Austrians. The country is characterized by its mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The Alpine landscape offers a complex geologic and topographical pattern, with the highest elevation being the Grossglockner, rising to 12,460 feet.
Additionally, Austrians are proud of their unique culture and history. The country has a rich historical past, from being the core of the Hallstatt culture in the 6th century BC to its more recent history as a neutral country in both World Wars. Austrians also take pride in their cuisine, which is often underrated globally, and their "Wird schon passen" mentality, which involves not overplanning and having a positive, laid-back attitude.
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Austrians are proud of their standard of living
Austria's capital, Vienna, is a great place to live. The city is renowned for its architecture and is located where the Danube emerges from between the mountains into the drier plains. The country's landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg are known for their majestic mountains and magnificent scenery of the high Alps.
Austria has a strong sense of belonging, where even foreigners have every chance to become Austrian and blend in if they so desire. The country is also known for its cuisine, with Central European food being underrated globally. Austrians also pride themselves on having basically free universities, good social security, and healthcare.
Additionally, the Donauinsel in Vienna, an artificial island built within the Danube, is a source of pride for Austrians. It serves the purpose of flood protection and provides 4 km2 of recreational space and over 40 km of coastline right in the city. The project took 16 years to complete and is a testament to the country's commitment to creating green spaces and managing its water resources effectively.
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Austrians are proud of their history
In 788, Charlemagne, King of the Franks, conquered the area, introduced Christianity, and encouraged colonisation. As part of Eastern Francia, the core areas that now encompass Austria were bequeathed to the House of Babenberg. The area was known as the marchia Orientalis and was given to Leopold of Babenberg in 976. The first record showing the name Austria is from 996, where it is written as Ostarrîchi, referring to the territory of the Babenberg March.
In the centuries that followed, Austria was a part of the Holy Roman Empire, with Vienna (Wien) as its seat. The Privilegium Minus elevated Austria to the status of a duchy in 1156, and in 1192, the Babenbergs also acquired the Duchy of Styria. With the death of Frederick II in 1246, the line of the Babenbergs was extinguished, and the country changed hands several times.
After the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph declared war on Serbia, which rapidly escalated into World War I. The empire's defeat and collapse led to the proclamation of the Republic of German-Austria in 1918 and the First Austrian Republic in 1919. During the interwar period, Austria experienced social and economic turbulence, as well as an Austrofascist dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss. In 1938, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany, and it became a sub-national division.
Following its liberation in 1945 and a decade of Allied occupation, Austria regained its sovereignty and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955. This neutrality enabled the country to develop into a stable and socially progressive nation with a flourishing cultural life. Austria has since become a semi-presidential representative democracy with high standards of living and a strong economy. It is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, and various other international organisations.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrians are proud of their country's rich history, from being the core of the Hallstatt culture in the 6th century BC to the establishment of permanent neutrality in 1955.
Austrians take pride in their country's majestic mountains and Alpine scenery. The Austrian Alps form the backbone of the country, offering rugged mountain ranges and magnificent landscapes.
Austrians are proud of their cuisine and their cultural diversity. Vienna, the capital, is renowned for its architecture and is considered a great place to live.
Austrians are proud of their high standard of living, with free universities, good social security, and healthcare. They also take pride in their country's economic achievements, ranking 13th in nominal GDP per capita.
