Modern Austria is the German-speaking part of the Austrian (later Austro-Hungarian) Empire ruled by the Habsburg family from 1526 to 1918.
The oldest zoological garden in the world is the Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Vienna, founded in 1752.
The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flag in the world. It dates from 1191, when Duke Leopold V fought in the Battle of Acre during the Third Crusade.
62% of Austria's total land area is covered by the Austrian Alps.
Europe's second highest peak in order of prominence, Großglockner (3,798m, with a prominence of 2,423m) is located in Austria.
Austria has 13 peaks above 3000m, and 34 above 2000m.
The Krimml Falls (Krimmler Wasserfalle), in the state of Salzburg, are Europe's tallest waterfalls, with a height of 380 meters.
About one fourth of the population of Austria lives in the capital, Vienna.
Austria is the only continental EU country that is not a member of NATO.
About half of Austrian men are overweight (50.8%, the highest rate in the EU), but only 8.6% of them are obese (4th lowest in the EU-27). In contrast only 20.3% of Austrian women are overweight (lowest rate in the 27 member states), including an equal 8.6% obese (also the lowest rate EU wide).
Culture, History & People
Founded in 803 as Stiftskeller St. Peter, Haslauer is the world's oldest inn/restaurant still in operation, and the oldest company in Europe.
Austria has given the world many famous classical music composers, including Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, J. Strauss, Mahler, and Bruckner.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Hollywood actor and current governor of California, grew up as an Austrian citizen.
Th father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, was Austrian.
The founder of the German sports car company 'Porsche' was the Austrian Ferdinand Porsche. He also designed the Volkswagen (the "people's car").
Many prominent members of the Rothschild family of bankers and investors were Austrian citizens.
The sewing machine was invented in 1818 by Josef Madersperger, an Austrian.
Vienna's Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof) has over 2.5 million tombs (more than the city's live population), including those of Beethoven, Brahms, Gluck, Schubert, Schoenberg and Strauss.
The world's largest emerald (2860 carat) is displayed in the Imperial Treasury of the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) in Vienna.
Schönbrunn Palace, the summer palace of the Habsburgs, has no less than 1440 rooms.
Business & Economy
Austria has the second lowest unemployment level for men in the EU (4% in 2004).
Among Europeans, Austrian people work the longest, with an average of 45h per week.
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