Austria is a recognized symbol of European culture, the classical style of the Old World and the European mentality. For centuries, this country has been a model of living standards, a high degree of development of a wide variety of arts, architecture and science. Its closest neighbors looked to Austria, and the country itself often played an important role in world politics.

But what do we know about Austria and the people who live there? How are they different from the Germans living in Germany and speaking the same language with them? How should a tourist behave around Austrians so as not to be considered ignorant or worse? Let's try to figure it out.

Flag of Austria

Mentality and behavioral characteristics

• 90% of Austrians communicate in German, which is official in the country. However, mention should also be made of Slovenian, Croatian and Hungarian, which are official in Carinthia and Burgenland. Austrian youth are actively studying French and English languages.
• Opinion polls say that the majority of Austrians prefer to spend their leisure time playing sports and other activities. active rest.
• Austria is a very hardworking country. The unemployment rate here is at a record low. Most of the population works 9 hours a day and is additionally delayed at work.
• Austrians are jealous of healthy eating. Only 20% of Austrian women have problems with excess weight. This is the lowest rate in all of Europe.

Austrian Parliament building

• In Austria it is customary to go to shared saunas, without distinction by gender. Men, women and children can use the same sauna, but it is recommended to remove swimwear inside so as not to cause surprised looks from others.
• Parents in Austria put their children on skis at a very young age - sign up for local ski schools has been going on since the age of 4, and by the age of 7 children are actively participating in competitions international class.
• Important: Advanced social views do not prevent Austrians from remaining very pious people. Christmas is celebrated here on a special scale, and for the first few days after Christmas Eve, not a single store is open in the entire country.
• After 20:00 Only tourists remain on the streets of Austrian cities. Locals They prefer to spend evenings in the company of friends, with family, or at home.
• Women in Austria don't like to use cosmetics, believing that it negatively affects the skin of the face. In addition, dressing too brightly for an Austrian woman is considered a vulgar tone, which cannot be said about men - the range of men's clothing stores here is much wider than women's.
• Austrians don't like neighbors from Germany. The long-standing confrontation is caused by political competition, as well as the attitude of the “burghers” towards Austria - they consider it a beautiful appendage of Greater Germany.
• But what we have in common with the “great” Germans is love of bread. Lines at bakeries can line up early in the morning. At the same time, it is customary to eat bread “in its pure form”, in no case mixing it with soup or other dishes.
• Austrians' love for theaters and museums visible by the number of empty seats in the auditoriums - there are very few of them. Many residents of Austria buy annual tickets to their favorite theater, so it is extremely difficult for tourists to find seats in the stalls.

The Austrian city of Braunau am Inn is the birthplace of Adolf Hitler

• In Austria they honor the memory of Mozart, undeservedly forgotten during his lifetime. Portraits of the great composer can be bought literally everywhere, and the name Wolfgang is still very popular among newborn children.
• Another souvenir appeared here after the famous reservation of US President Bush Jr. Immediately after the incident, the witty Austrians issued a souvenir sign with the inscription in several languages: “There are no kangaroos here!”
• Unlike the rest of Europe, which prefers bicycles, Austrians love to ride scooters, including to work. There are models for children, adults, men and women. The love for this particular type of transport is explained simply - a scooter takes up much less space in the apartment.
• The practicality of the Austrians is reflected in waste separation. Paper, food waste and plastic are thrown into different containers here.
• Austrian students love learn Russian language. Today it is one of the three most popular languages ​​for learning foreign languages, after English and French.
• In addition to beer and strong schnapps, Austrians love to drink Spitzer- a local invention representing a cocktail of red wine and soda. In winter, every Austrian cafe or bar offers visitors to warm up with mulled wine.
• Austrians do not like tea because it is expensive. High import duties made the popular drink something of a luxury. Much cheaper in Austria coffee, which is used here in huge quantities.
• Punctuality- this is not about the Austrians. Being late even for a business meeting is not considered something terrible here, and latecomers often laugh it off with the phrase: “We’re not in Germany!”

The official currency of Austria is the euro

Other facts

• Austria is one of the leading countries in the use of energy-saving technologies. At this stage, more than 65% of the country's electricity is produced from renewable sources. Moreover, this figure is planned to increase.
• Austria is one of the richest and most developed countries on the planet.
• Vienna is home to 25% of Austria's population.
• The Austrian city of Braunau am Inn is notable for being the birthplace of Adolf Hitler. The events of one of the parts of Volume I of War and Peace unfold here.
• Austria is the only EU member state that has not joined NATO.
• The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the whole world.
• The official currency of Austria is the euro.
• Vienna is home to the world's first zoo, Tiergarten Schönbrunn. It appeared in the Austrian capital back in 1752.

Penguins at the Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo

• The world's first official hotel opened in Austria. We are talking about Haslauer, this happened in 803. The establishment is still ready to receive guests arriving in Austria.
• Vienna has the largest cemetery in Europe. It is called the Zentralfriedhof, and now there are about 3 million graves on it, including the tombs of such famous people as Beethoven, Brahms, Strauss, etc.
• Many famous composers of classical music come from Austria - Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Strauss, Bruckner, etc. The country does not forget about its heritage; many annual classical music festivals are held here.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, an actor whose name everyone knows, and also a two-time former governor of California, was born in the Austrian village of Thal, which is located near the city of Graz.
• The world is also indebted to Austria and the founder of the German luxury sports car company Porsche, Ferdinand Porsche.
• More than half of the country's area is occupied by the Austrian Alps - almost 62%.
• Austrians are staunch Catholics. Among the followers of this faith are 74.5% Austrians. An interesting fact is that since 1991, the number of atheists in the country has increased by 5%, amounting to 12%.
• The name Austria comes from the German Osterreich, which means “Eastern Empire”. The term originated during the Holy Roman Empire.

Krimml Waterfall

• Austria is home to the highest waterfall in Europe - Krimml. Its waters fall from a height of 380 meters.
• The favorite sport among Austrians is football.
• Austria's defense costs are negligible - only 0.9% of GDP, or $1.5 billion. Among European countries this is one of the lowest indicators.
• On the streets of Vienna and others major cities Austria has sobering machines. It is enough to insert a coin there and the alcoholic intoxication will disappear.
• Austria is the birthplace of the Viennese Waltz and the first Ferris wheel.

How are Austrians different from Germans? How do Austrians live and what do they strive for? How do they see us - Russian-speaking tourists and residents of Austria? In this series of articles, we set off together on an exciting journey in search of the peculiarities of the national character of the Austrians.

Eternal rivals

It is no secret that German citizens were often “one step ahead” of the Austrians. 30 years ago, neighbors from Salzburg could only dream of the average income of Munich residents, and the first Volkswagens - “cars for the people” - became a familiar standard, first for German, and only after some time for Austrian families. This also includes the enviable summer trip to Rimini. While German families enjoyed their holidays at bella Italia, Austrians spent their holidays at home due to lack of funds for anything else. The Austrians also have complexes about the small size of their country, which was once an immense empire. As former French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau put it not very flatteringly: “What was left became part of Austria.”

Tourists comparing Austria and Germany note another feature characteristic of the Austrians. Her German neighbors call her “Schlamperei” - a certain tendency towards disorder and sloppiness. But any sloppiness is seen in comparison, and the Austrian Schlamperei is especially striking against the backdrop of the super-neat Germans.

Sense of humor

The Austrian sense of humor is characterized by a certain sarcasm and self-criticism.

A question I am often asked: Will Austrians understand the humor of Russians or Ukrainians, will they laugh heartily for the company during work seminars, which our compatriots often conduct very cheerfully? Most likely they won't understand. Participants in the seminar will receive the condescending smile of the Austrian, and cases when you feel truly on the same wavelength will most likely remain an exception.

Marriage and children

Austrians are in no hurry to tie the knot, and the usual age for marriage and first child has gradually moved beyond thirty. But even having children is not a reason for an official “yes, I want.” In Austria, unmarried couples living together are called “Lebensgefährten” – life partners. Don’t be surprised if three young offspring are waiting for such “life partners” at home, calling their parents not “mom” and “dad”, but by their first names - for example, “Claudia” and “Karl”.

Culture

The majestic Vienna and Salzburg, the city of Mozart, are rightfully considered the centers of high Austrian culture. And even if Mozart himself left Salzburg at a young age and chose to live and create in Vienna, the residents of Salzburg to this day assign the name “Mozart” to everything that can arouse the interest of city visitors and become a source of profit. So in Salzburg you can find Mozart Square, Mozart Bridge, the house where Mozart was born, the house where the Mozart family lived, Mozart cafe, Mozart cake, Mozart coffee, Mozarteum (conservatory in Salzburg), Mozart week (during which concerts dedicated to musical genius), the year of Mozart and even... Mozart balls (Mozartkugeln) - candies filled with marzipan.

If we talk about Austria's contribution to world culture, we should mention Vienna, the city of composers. It was here that Hayden, Bruckner, Male, Schubert, Schoenberg, Strauss, as well as Brahms and Beethoven lived and created their musical heritage.

Ranks and titles

From time immemorial, connections or, as the Austrians themselves like to put it, Vitamin B (vitamin “Dating”) have been a decisive factor in climbing the career ladder. Knowing someone “useful and important” will still be an undoubted advantage in a number of life situations. Probably, this circumstance explains the Austrians’ love for titles and academic degrees. In Austria (unlike Germany) it is customary to name the academic degree of the person you are addressing. It is also important to note that titles are often automatically assigned to the spouses of professors and doctors. Thus, the addresses “Mrs. Professor Schmidt” or “Mrs. Dr. Müller” are not always a sign of special intellectual abilities or scientific achievements of the “Mrs.,” but indicate the fact that she is married to Mr. Doctor or Professor (which can also be considered as a kind of achievement).

What struck you about communicating with the Austrians? What did you like about the mentality and what didn’t? Leave your comments!

Everything is very simple. The double-headed eagle was the coat of arms of the Austrian Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (see article). The modern official symbol of Austria has only one head. Austrians still remember a time when their country extended far to the east and included Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Bosnia. They treat the old coat of arms with nostalgia and awe.

Economy: how do Austrians live and how do they earn money?

The economy of the Republic of Austria is very developed. In terms of GDP per capita (this figure shows how much useful the average resident of the country does), Austria is in 11th place (IMF list at the end of 2013).

Russia is in 48th place on this list, while the Alpine country has neither oil nor gas, and there are no fossil resources in large quantities at all. Austrians primarily rely on labor productivity, thoughtful spending and a reasonable approach to business.

Tourism brings a lot of income to the treasury, although it is not the main source of income for the country.

First of all, ski tourism is popular here. Austria has seven year-round winter sports resorts and countless winter resorts.

And the Germans would not be Germans if they had not developed the tourism industry in other directions. Vienna is one of cultural capitals Europe, attracting millions of travelers a year (see article). The country has many castles, palaces and natural attractions; sightseeing tours are very popular here.

Do not forget that the Austrians, like most residents Western Europe, love personal space very much. Transport in Austria is usually free, but if there are more people, try to maintain a distance from other people. This is how it is done here.

Austria - small country in the heart of Europe with a rich and fascinating history. The culture of Austria, multifaceted and vibrant, deserves special attention. This is not surprising, because it was formed under the influence of completely different original traditions - at different times the Romans, Germans, Franks and even Slavs lived and ruled on its lands.

Austrian culture: architecture, music, literature

Austrian culture is quite interesting. The country is famous for its architectural monuments, literary works, musical masterpieces, which are a significant contribution of the Austrians to world culture.

Austria managed to create its own unique style, combining its own cultural heritage and traditions of peoples neighboring countries– Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and Poland.

Museums and architecture

There are over 400 different museums in Austria. By visiting them, you will be able to get closer to the amazing history of the country, as well as better understand the values ​​and ideals of modern Austrians.

Those interested in Austrian history can visit the Imperial Apartments, the Empress Sissi Museum and the Silver Chamber in the Hofburg in Vienna. For 600 years, the Hofburg was the main residence of the imperial family and, in fact, the heart of the Habsburg Empire. By visiting here, you can learn about the palace traditions and daily life of the inhabitants of the Hofburg in the 19th century.

Connoisseurs of Baroque architecture are guaranteed vivid emotions from visiting the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna. Among its many exhibits are masterpieces by such masters as Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck and others. The famous Badminton Cabinet is also located here, one of the most expensive pieces of furniture in the world.

In general, Austria is famous for its palaces, cathedrals and castles, many of which were built during the reign of the Habsburgs. Among the most famous Austrian castles are Liechtenstein Castle, Hohensalzburg and Hohenwerfen, among the palaces are Schönbrunn and Belvedere.

Music

The country is also well known for the work of musicians and composers. It should be noted that Austrian music was significantly influenced by the song traditions of the Hungarians, Italians and Slavic peoples. Vienna and Salzburg are rightfully considered the musical centers of Austria. It is in these cities that numerous international music congresses and festivals usually take place. In addition, the International Society for Contemporary Music is located in Vienna.

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Composers made a great contribution to the development of musical culture, who in the 18th – 19th centuries. gathered in Vienna under the patronage of the Habsburgs. This allowed the city to become the capital of European classical music.

Great composers were born on Austrian soil: Franz Schubert, Arnold Schoenberg, Joseph and Michael Haydn, Johann Strauss Sr. and Johann Strauss Jr., Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Ludwig van Beethoven taught and created his immortal works in Vienna.

Special attention should be paid to the world-famous Vienna Opera. This is not just one of the most beautiful sights of the city, but also a whole direction in the art of opera. The Vienna Opera ranks first in the world in terms of the number of colorful performances. Once a year, one of the most grandiose events takes place here - the Vienna Ball, where among thousands of guests you can meet famous politicians, musicians, writers and businessmen. The President of Austria is invariably the honorary chairman of the ball.

Literature

At an early stage of its development, Austrian literature was closely connected with the creativity of German-speaking peoples. In the literature of the 17th – 18th centuries. reflected the establishment of absolutism in Austria. The Habsburgs tried to ideologically justify their rule. That is why literary works of that time are characterized by turning to ancient and medieval subjects glorifying the former greatness of empires.

The largest figure in Austrian literature at the beginning of the 20th century was the master of psychological novel and short story Stefan Zweig.

Currently, the works of progressive realist writers - Eva Priester, F. Cain, G. Lebert, G. Zaiko - are very popular.

Religion of the Austrian lands

Religion in Austria is as diverse as the country itself. The main religion is Catholicism. Thus, 73.6% of the country’s residents are parishioners of the Catholic Church, 4.7% consider themselves Protestants.

Approximately 400 thousand residents of Austria are members of Muslim communities, about 180 thousand are parishioners Orthodox Church. Other religions in Austria include Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews.

Freedom of religion is enshrined at the legislative level. In tourist areas of the country, churches and monasteries are usually open every day. But in rural areas, in most cases they open only for services.

If you want to see a cathedral or temple, you will need to pay tourist excursion, as self-guided visits are discouraged. Photography and video shooting is permitted only with the permission of the administration.

Currently, the period of compulsory schooling in Austria is 9 years. Students who reach the age of 14 have the choice of spending a year at a polytechnic school or going to study at the Höhere Technische Lehranstalt (HTL). An alternative to the university is the Fachhochschule, where the education system is more practice-oriented.

Visual arts of Austria

Under the patronage of the imperial house of Habsburg, the entire culture of the country flourished. Artists of the 18th century were not left without attention. During the heyday of the empire, the Baroque dominated. Franz Anton Maulberch and Johann Michael Rottmayer are the most famous representatives of that time. The works of these artists are distinguished by a peculiar careless manner of writing.

At the turn of the 20th century, Austrian fine art gained worldwide fame. Vienna became the center of two important movements - Art Nouveau and Expressionism.

A prominent representative of Art Nouveau was Gustav Klimt. There are many places in Austria where you can see his works. In particular, the Belvedere Gallery.

Significant figures of expressionism are such masters as Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

One of the most famous art museums in Austria is the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Here you can see many masterpieces of world painting, in particular:

• "Madonna of the Green" by Raphael;
• “Fur Coat” and “Self-Portrait” by Rubens;
• “Gypsy Madonna”, “Portrait of a Young Woman in Furs” and “Bravo” by Titian;.
• "Infanta Margarita Teresia" and "Infanta Philip Prosper" by Velazquez.

Features of Austrian cuisine

Austrian chefs not only collected recipes for dishes from different countries and territories (Italy, Bohemia, Hungary, Bavaria), improving and complementing them, but also introducing innovations into traditional national dishes that appeared in Austria.

Each region of the country has its own signature dish. As a rule, they are easy to prepare, but each of them has excellent taste. The main dishes of Austrian cuisine are sweets and pastries (just look at the famous Viennese strudel), soups, fish and various meat dishes, sausages and sausages.

Popular Austrian dishes:

1. Wiener schnitzel is a thin piece of veal, breaded in egg, flour and breadcrumbs and fried in butter until golden brown.
2. Austrian sausages. This dish is very popular and has many variations. Usually sausages are made from pork or beef.
3. Bachchendel is one of the traditional dishes of Austrian cuisine, which is prepared from chicken, coated in breadcrumbs and fried until golden brown.
4. Meat on the bone. This dish is prepared from fresh meat and served with a variety of salads and appetizers.
5. Strudel is a famous apple pie. It is made from thin, tender dough. Raisins, nuts, cottage cheese and cinnamon are delicious additions to the traditional apple filling.
6. Sacher cake. This chocolate cake by Franz Sacher has become one of the most popular in the world. The dessert is a chocolate sponge cake, the layers of which are soaked in apricot jam.

It is impossible not to mention the famous Austrian coffee houses. Austrians love coffee very much. Each coffee shop serves more than 30 varieties of it.

As for alcoholic beverages, it is worth paying attention to wines that have a delicate fruity taste. Dry white wines are the most popular among Austrians. It is noteworthy that residents drink pure wine only on holidays. The rest of the time, they prefer different cocktails with wine, for example, white wine with blackcurrant juice (Kir) or soda (Gespritzer).

Often true Austrians are considered arrogant people, although in fact they are hospitable and welcoming. Austrians honor their traditions and customs, which can often be called unique.

The traditions of the Austrian house are quite remarkable:

1. When you go to visit, be sure to give the hostess a symbolic gift, for example, sweets for coffee or flowers. When communicating with Austrians, it is not customary to ask questions about salary or ask about family life.
2. Austrians are careful about their home and keep it clean and in perfect order. When entering the house, you will definitely be asked to put on fabric slippers or simply take off your shoes.
3. When visiting, be neat and polite. You should not go beyond the bounds of decency (this also applies to clothing).

Wedding traditions in Austria are no less interesting. Preparing for wedding ceremony can last a whole year, since the Austrians pay great attention to every detail.

Getting married in Austria is mandatory.

The wedding ceremony begins with fireworks, which should wake up the bride. Not a single Austrian wedding is complete without the kidnapping of the bride and her subsequent ransom - this is an ancient and unchanging tradition.

No less interesting is the topic of gifts for newlyweds. A special scheme has been developed for this purpose. The newlyweds make a list of gifts and send it to shopping mall. Then the young people negotiate with the sellers so that gifts are not repeated, and things they don’t need are not bought. After this, guests are sent the address of the store where they can pick up gifts.

Austria is famous for various winter sports: figure skating, alpine skiing, snowboarding and ski jumping. Everyone will find something to their liking here. Swimming, rowing and football are popular activities in the summer. You can also go mountain climbing, surfing or diving. Or you can go hiking for new sensations.

Austria is multifaceted and unique country, striking in architecture and dazzling with the beauty of mountain landscapes.

How and where is the easiest way to obtain citizenship: Video

Official name: Austrian Republic

Capital: Vein

Big cities: Graz, Linz, Salzburg

Official language: German, Slovenian

Predominant religion: Catholicism

Population: 8,375,290 people

Territory: 83,871 km²

Form of government: Parliamentary republic

Currency: Euro

Domain:.at, .eu

Telephone code: +43

Movement: Right-handed

Interesting features of Austria

Football, alpine skiing and hockey are the most popular sports among Austrians.

On the territory of Austria is Semmering - the oldest railway in the world, an object World Heritage UNESCO.

Traditions

One of the most important traditions of the Austrians is love and respect for music. Austria gave the world such outstanding composers as Joseph and Michael Haydn, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss and Gustav Mahler. The capital of Austria, Vienna, has deservedly held the title for several centuries. musical capital world, the main attractions of this city are music museums and theaters.

Tourism in Austria

Austria is a kind of ski mecca, a country with rich traditions winter tourism. If you are planning to visit Austria at another time of the year, you can also pay attention to mountainous areas(for example, the city of Innsbruck), only the main entertainment for you will no longer be alpine skiing, but mountain trekking. And, of course, hurry to see one of the most beautiful cities Europe - Vienna, the capital of music and flowers.

UNESCO monuments

Historic center of Salzburg (Middle Ages),
Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, Vienna (XVIII century),
Cultural landscape of Hallstatt-Dachstein (900-400 BC),
Semmering Railway (1848-1854),
The historical center of Graz and Eggenberg Castle (XIII-XX centuries),
Cultural landscape of Wachau (XII-XX centuries),
Historical center of Vienna (XVII-XX centuries)

Souvenirs

Tyrolean hat, sweets and confectionery, Viennese porcelain, music boxes.

When is the best time to go?

Of course, in the case of Austria, choosing the best time to visit depends only on the purpose of the trip. If you are a fan winter species sports, and especially alpine skiing, welcome to winter. If walking around medieval cities and unity with Alpine nature, Austria awaits you in late spring, summer and autumn. average temperature July in lowland Austria is about + 19 degrees, January - 0.

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How to get there

Airplane. Flights from Moscow to Vienna operate daily; you can choose among flights from Aeroflot, Austrian, Transaero or S7 Airlines. Flight time is 2 hours 40 minutes. There is also a flight from St. Petersburg (2 hours 55 minutes).

Train. Russian railways offer their clients the opportunity to travel from Moscow to Vienna by train, which departs daily at 23:44. The train travel time is 1 day 9 hours.

Automobile. The distance from Moscow to Vienna is about 2,000 km, depending on the route you choose. Transit is possible through Belarus, in some cases.

Visa regime

A Schengen visa is required.

Books about Austria