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Contemporary Vienna is a vibrant city with a population of about 1.6 million. It's certainly not the biggest city in the world, but as in so many countries, the capital has a bittersweet relationship with the rest of the land, prompting many wry remarks over the beer tables. Salzburgers tend to think that they are more authentic, noting that every other Viennese is called 'Nowak' (a Slavic name). This is a legacy of the Habsburg empire, when Vienna assimilated thousands of foreigners into the fold. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Viennese are not overly troubled by inferiority complexes.

Though formally dissolved in 1918, the empire still sets the tone in Vienna's exuberant architecture. Unlike many European cities, Vienna has managed to come through the centuries relatively intact, and it endures as a tremendous treasure trove for art lovers. The museums are exceptional, the churches magnificent and the respect for heritage paramount.

That said, Vienna has seen some major changes over the last decade. For fifty years, Vienna was a somewhat sleepy outpost on the outskirts of the economic West. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, Vienna became a Central European city again. A second boost came in 1995 when Austria joined the EU.

Vienna is formally divided into 23 districts. As in Paris, these all have their historic names, and numbers are most often used to differentiate between them. Most Viennese are brought up in the Roman Catholic tradition, although in a recent poll, a quarter of the inhabitants professed no religious affiliation. There are sizable Orthodox, Muslim and Protestant communities. The Jewish population, once so dynamic, was all but extinguished during the Second World War, and many Jews who had emigrated during the 1930's did not come back.

Today, Vienna is the seat of many international institutions, including several key posts of the UN. An increasingly cosmopolitan atmosphere has emerged, and current mayor Michael Haupl is striving to bring back the artistic climate that once brought the city renown. The Museumsquartier, one of the world's largest cultural complexes, opened to great fanfare in 2001, and continues to go from strength to strength.

Population: 8.2 million Capital: Vienna Major language: German Major religion: Christianity Life expectancy: 76 years (men), 82 years (women) Monetary unit: 1 Euro = 100 cents Main exports: Machinery and transport equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals Average annual income: US $32,700 Internet domain: .at International dialling code: +43

About Vienna

The origins of the word Osterreich (eastern empire, or eastern realm), stretch back over a thousand years to the era when the Austrian lands were joined to the Holy Roman Empire. In AD 966, a document marked the existence of the Ostarrichi domains.

Austrian power on the world stage reached its zenith under the Habsburg dynasty, who reigned from 1298 to 1918. The Habsburgs really got into their stride in the sixteenth century, and the defeat of the Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683 saved Austria from disaster.

Austria remained a major player on the world stage, with the Habsburgs piecing together a vast swathe of Central Europe. Vienna provided the location for the famed Congress of 1814-15, when the kings, dukes and princes of Europe tried to undo the changes that Napoleon had created. However, in the age of rising nationalism, the Habsburgs struggled to keep their Empire under control - concessions to the Hungarians, Poles and fellow nations were introduced.

After losing the First World War, Austria was divided up amidst the clamour for independence of the nation states. The Austrians voted to be joined to Germany, but the Allies declined, wary of a swift return to power. The 20's and 30's were a trying era, and Austria was ultimately absorbed into Hitler's German Reich in 1938. Hence followed one of the blackest periods in Austria's history.

After the Second World War, Austria was temporarily administered by the Allies, with Vienna itself divided into French, Russian, English and American zones. However, fortune turned in Austria's favour and the country was not subjected to long-term Soviet, or indeed any other other form of foreign rule. In 1955, the Allies agreed for a withdrawal and the Republic of Austria was declared.

Today, Austria is one of the wealthiest countries in the European Union, with a high standard of living. It is a land-locked country, bordered - following the arm of the clock - by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany. Austria's landscapes endure as amongst the country's leading attractions, and the Austrian stretch of the Alps remains a favourite with skiers. Politically, the country has been a democracy since 1955, but it has not all been plane-sailing. Waldheim's late 80's presidency sparked controversy, whilst the Far Right caused a rumpus in 1999 when they gained 27.2 per cent of the vote. In 2006, the socialists returned to power, with the Far Right vote shrinking to 15%. However, as a democracy, Austria's post-war Human Rights record remains impeccable.

Comments

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karl schiele
United Kingdom

vienna is a beautiful place, l would reconmend for married couples to go and also visit tyrol-tirol austria is beautiful

Reply Nov 3rd, 2012
South Africa

did not like it.. when there for a months holiday and couldnt wait to get home

Reply May 2nd, 2012
brecia
United States

i love this beautioful place and i would really love to see this place

Reply Jan 5th, 2012
United Kingdom

sounds nice

Reply May 6th, 2011
karl schiele
United Kingdom

Vienna is beautiful place l am proud to say that Egon Schiele is a relation. My great grand mother is herta balzer- schiele is also from Vienna

Reply Aug 21st, 2010
someone u dont know (lauren)
United States

and i am hoping i will enjoy this project and wonderful city and country

Reply May 25th, 2010
someone u dont know
United States

i am doing a report on austria so i really need to learn stuff on it!! I read some of ur reviews and hoping i will learn a ton about austria and vienna

Reply May 25th, 2010
Kaisa
Estonia

I loveeee Vienna!!!! Beautiful city, nice people, good atmosphere..

Reply Apr 4th, 2010
Gary Boyse
United States

A great city. I would like to live in Vienna for a couple of years, but not in winter.

Reply Feb 1st, 2010
Camobubba
United States

I really like Vienna and it sounds really fun

Reply Oct 28th, 2009
Ravinder Sahni
India

What type of weather will it be by end of Jan'09 I am visiting Vienna for a week.

Reply Jan 17th, 2009
Bartoha
Poland

These days, September 2008, we have 325 anniversary of the battle of Vienna 1683, when Europe was saved from Ottoman invaders. Commemoration of this battle will take place 12-14 September in Krakow (Poland), former capital of Poland, which contributed mostly to that victory by sending 30 000 soldiers (including couple thousands of Polish hussars) and commanding the coalition forces (Polish king Jan III Sobieski was the commander of coalition forces). Little more about the battle, taken from www.wien-vienna.com websites: The Battle of Vienna took place on September 12, 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months. The battle broke the advance of the Ottoman Empire into Europe, and marked the political hegemony of the Habsburg dynasty in central Europe. The large-scale battle was won by Polish-Austrian-German forces led by King of Poland John III Sobieski against the Ottoman Empire army commanded by Grand Vizier Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha. More about Polish husaria: http://www.jasinski.co.uk/wojna/comp/comp06.htm

Reply Sep 8th, 2008
ghazi taan
Lebanon

hi ,is there open salad returants in vienna.thank u

Reply Nov 19th, 2007