Austria

Austria is rich in culture. Many countries can claim the same thing. However, Austria holds a unique place in the annals of European history, which makes it easy to state the obvious. At the end of the Second World War, Austria had been under the governorship of the Allies at which time their constitution was restored. Furthermore, what makes Austria different is that it is one of 13 countries to declare that they are permanently neutral. Austria’s parliament made the Declaration of Neutrality in 1955. Since that time, Austria’s form of government has transformed to a “parliamentary representative democracy” in which it has nine states. Austria became a member of the European Union in 1995. As of 1999, Austria adopted the Euro as their primary currency. Its capital, Vienna, is also its largest city. As a landlocked nation in central Europe, it is bordered by Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. It is easy to see why Austria could be a starting point to visit other cities in Europe. Austria’s population of 8.2 million people enjoys an alpine climate because of its mountainous terrain. On other days, the weather remains constant, not too hot, and not too cold. Anytime is a good time to visit Austria. If you enjoy outdoor winter sports, the best time to go is during the months between December and March. If you enjoy hiking, swimming in the lake, bike riding or even mountain bike riding, the warm weather between April and October is best. During the summer months, most festivals are celebrated, choirs, classical music, and many other activities. Cities in this European country provide the visitor with many things to do. Vienna provides a link between past and present Austria with museums, palaces, and squares; Innsbruck is nestled high above the Inn River with the Alps providing a breathtaking backdrop for the weary traveler. These are just two of the main cities that lure people to this famous country, certainly something to consider when planning your next vacation.