Austria

Austria is a country that is characterised by land enclosures. Austria is specifically situated in Central Europe, where it is bordered by Hungary and Slovakia to its east and Liechtenstein and Switzerland to its west. On the north of Austria lies Czech Republic and Germany. Down south of Austria, Italy and Slovenia are found.

Austria has a total area of 83,870 square kilometres. The country is formed by nine states, and Vienna, the capital city, is one of them. Austria became part of the European Union in 1995 and has been a UN member since 1955.

History of Austria

Various tribes first ruled the European land, known today as Austria, before the Roman Empire took control. But after the empire was overthrown, the Bavarians and Slavic Avars invaded the land and ruled the area for years. When Charlemagne grabbed power, he ruled the area as a colony and imposed Christianity. After which, other nations also conquered this European land before Austria became one of the seat of power for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. But after the defeat in World War I, Austria was then established as a small republic. For years, Austria status as a country remained unclear due to the occupation by other nations until the the signed State Treaty in 1955 paved the way for its independence.

Austria today

Austria today has truly established its independence, although remnants of its colourful past are still seen through its palaces and other age-old structures. Hapsburg palaces and Stone Age settlements are only some of the pride of this country. What adds more to the delight of its tourists and visitors are highly preserved Roman ruins. For nature lovers, breathtaking sights in Austria include mountain peaks, rushing rivers and cobalt lakes. The slopes, alps and mountain ranges also host popular activities in the area such as hiking, mountain climbing and skiing. Austria is also known for its festivals, which bring revelry to tourists from all over the world and local residents from various Austrian states.

For a list of the top destinations in Austria, here's a rundown:

*Eisriesenwelt Caves
Dubbed as one of the largest ice caves, Eisriesenwelt Caves was discovered in 1879. On your tour inside the ice caves, you'll need a carbide lamp to guide you through the ins and outs. Inside, you'll get to see different ice formations, towers, glaciers and waterfalls.

*Gurk Cathedral

This cathedral stands as one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture. It is also famous for its baroque altar, statues and angel heads. It houses old fresco paintings and a crypt found underneath this structure.

*The Belvedere Palaces

These palaces were built in honour of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The architecture and interior design featured the Rococo style. Belvedere Palaces in Austria now has two museums that houses the collection of Austrian art forms from the middle ages until the present day.

*The Sigmund Freud Museum

Another popular destination in Austria is the Sigmund Freud Museum. The location of the museum is where Sigmund Freud used to work. He also lived with his family here for about 50 years. Since 1971, the museum features different exhibits such as the antique collection of Freud and some of his personal belongings.