Country's Full Name: Republic of Austria; Republik sterreich

Brief History: Celts were the original inhabitant of this Central European nation merging into the Roman Empire. After the fall of Roman Empire, in 976 Margravate of Austria established; on 17 September 1156 Duchy of Austria founded. Habsburgs were the ruling dynasty until First World War proclaiming Austria in 1278. On 11 August 1804, the common empire of Austria-Hungary was declared which stretched up to Germany, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria forming a dominant power in World War I. After the end of First World War the empire was broken, with Austria declaring republic on 12 November 1918. The monarchy was finally removed in 1919. Hitler's Nazi forces occupied the country in 1938. After the defeat of German forces in Second World War the Austrian territory was occupied by Russian, French, British and American troops - the four allied powers. On 27 July, 1955 the four powers signed a treaty recognizing Austria as independent republic. Austria is the 'neutral' country today and a permanent member of European Union. Austria is the prosperous industrialized country.

What is the country known for: Austria is rich with its cultural history, music, art, and architecture.
Austria remains the birthplace of Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckners, Gustav Mahler the musical maestros.
Visit for the snow capped peaks, winter sports in the Alps.

Main Industries: Construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Main Trading Partners: Austria has closer trading ties with Germany.
Exports - partners: Germany 30.2%, Italy 9%, US 5.8%, Switzerland 4.7% (2006)
Exports: $158.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs

Imports - partners: Germany 45.5%, Italy 7%, Switzerland 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2006)
Imports: $157.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs

Major Cities: Vienna (capital); Graz 250,099; Linz 188,968; Salzburg 150,000

Location:
Central European land-locked country, Italy and Slovenia are at its south bordering Germany and Czech Republic to its north.
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E

Size:
Area: Total: 83,870 sq km (land: 82,444 sq km/water: 1,426 sq km)
Slightly smaller than Maine

Time Zone:
GMT/UTC 1 hour
Summer DST: CEST; GMT/UTC 2 hours

Type of Government: Austria is a federal republic with a parliamentary representative democracy joining nine federal states. The head of the state is the President who appoints a Chancellor.
The bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 seats; members chosen by state parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according to its population; to serve a five- or six-year term). The lower house or National Council or Nationalrat consists of 183 seats elected by the popular votes to serve four-year term.
Chief of state: President Heinz Fischer
Head of government: Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer

National Holidays:

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
2 Apr - 5 Apr Easter.
1 May National Holiday.
13 May Ascension Day.
24 May Whit Monday.
3 Jun Corpus Christi.
15 Aug Assumption.
26 Oct National Day.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas.

2011
1 Jan New Year's Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
22 Apr - 25 Apr Easter.
1 May National Holiday.
2 Jun Ascension Day.
13 Jun Whit Monday.
23 Jun Corpus Christi.
15 Aug Assumption.
26 Oct National Day.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
8 Dec Immaculate Conception.
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas.

Population:
8,199,783 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 633,375/female 603,459)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,781,291/female 2,749,539)
65 years and over: 17.5% (male 585,747/female 846,372) (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population - 79.21 years; male: 76.32 years,
female: 82.26 years (2007 est.)

Religion: Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12%

Language: German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene,official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official in Burgenland) 5.3% (2001 census)

Local Customs:
When tipping don't leave the tip at the table.
"Glöcklerlauf Procession" is the annual custom of lanterns to shed light during winter, bringing luck and prosperity.

Best time to visit:
July to September remains crowded with everyone joining the holidays. Alpine resorts get a break with fewer crowds during April to Mid-June and November to early December. Skiing can be done year round on the glaciers.

Currency:
Austria is a part of European Union having Euro as the local currency.
1 US Dollar = 0.69026 Euro
1 Euro (EUR) = 1.44873 US Dollar (USD)

1 British Pound = 1.34289 Euro
1 Euro (EUR) = 0.74466 British Pound (GBP)

Customs Regulations:
Travelers 17 years of age and older may carry up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco; 1 liter of distilled liquor; and 2.25 liters of wine or 3 liters of beer duty-free.

Tipping:
Restaurants: Tip 5-10% in cash to the waiter/waitress rounding up the bill.
Hotels: Porters expect Euro 1 per bag. Chambermaid expects the same for every day of stay.
Taxis: 10% gratuity can be paid
Barbers and hairdressers: Euro 1 to the attendant.
Theatres and concert halls: Euro 0.50-1 for the usher, Euro 0.50 to the hat or coat-check attendant.
Gas Station attendant: Euro 1 can be paid for exceptional service.
Railroad and airport porters: Tip Euro 0.50 per bag in addition to the official fee.
Sightseeing-tour guides: Euro 1 or more depends upon the tour and the guide's service.