Church At Au Near Lofer. picturescolourlibrary.com Stock Connection USA/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: scusphotos068700
Honestly, I can’t think of Austria without mentally singing “The hiiiills are alive, with the sound of music…” So just picture me singing that as you read this. Home of the Strudel, Mozart (practically), and The Sound of Music, Austria is a land rich with history and beauty.
Located right in the middle of Europe, Austria home to just under 9 million people. Austria was built by the Hapsburg dynasty in the days of the Holy Roman Empire, but in 1804 the Hapsburgs turned it into its own country called Austria-Hungary, where it played a dominant role in the affairs of Europe. However, the Hapsburg empire collapsed at the end of WWI, and in an attempt to form more ties with Germany, they renamed themselves the Republic of German-Austria. This ended when Nazi Germany annexed Austria; at the end of WWII they officially became the Republic of Austria.
Austria runs a republic where the president is elected for a six year term and is voted in by direct popular vote. Interesting to note is that the legal voting age is 16.
Vienna is the capital of Austria, and so holds a lot of attractions. Some things a traveler can do is visit the Schonbrunn Palace and gardens, the oldest existing zoo in the world, Beethoven’s grave, or any number of the art museums.
Europe is always a beautiful place to visit, but Austria is at the top of my list because of its beautiful architecture complementing the scenic landscapes. Take a look through these gorgeous pictures, then follow us back to Newscom.com for even more.
Goats fighting in Austrian mountains. imago stock&people/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: imagostock466926
Dec 20, 2007 – Admont, Steiermark, Austria – View of Admont, Steiermark, Austria. Thomas Aichinger/ZUMA Press/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericastwo556754
Abandoned house on a green hill. imago stock&people/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: imagostock463139
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) at night. Vienna. Austria. Steve Outram Stock Connection Worldwide/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: scphotos093286
Jul 23, 2006 – Nationalpark kalkalpen, Obersterreich, Austria – Crossing the waterfall with the bike. Thomas Aichinger/ZUMA Press/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericasseven964968
Mountain range with full moon at nightfall, blue tone. Austrian Tyrol region.Dan Barba Stock Connection Worldwide/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: scphotos052754
Jan 29, 2006 – Kalkalpen, Oberosterreich, Austria – Canyoning in winter, Kalkalpen National Park, Austria.Thomas Aichinger/ZUMA Press/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericasseven973088
Underwater shot of an Austrian pond. imago stock&people/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: imagostock466918
bathing boys. Thomas Aichinger/ZUMA Press/Newscom. License it from Newscom.com: zumaamericasseven964970
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Tags: architecture, austria, beautiful, hapsburgs, landscapes, sound of music
[...] Originally posted here: Around the Wold: Austria [...]