Austria is a country located in Central Europe. However, this is not an ordinary country, as the territory of Austria is divided into nine federations. Each of them has its own capital and its own parliament. About the federal lands of Austria and their capitals, the internal structure and unusual facts will be discussed in this article.
Name and flag
The name of the country - Austria - comes from the ancient German Ostarreich, which means "eastern state". For the first time in the document, the name of the state - Austria - is mentioned in 996. An interesting fact is that the country's flag is one of the oldest state symbols in the world.
According to legend, in 1191, during the battle of the Third Crusade, the white shirt of the Austrian Duke Leopold V was completely covered in blood, however, when he took off his wide belt, a pure white stripe remained from him. This is how the colors of the flag appeared, under which the lands of Austria are united.
Political structure
This state isfederal and includes nine states of Austria. The constitution was adopted in 1920, and after World War II, in 1945, it was reintroduced. The head of state is the president, who is elected for a six-year term.
The Federal Government is the main executive body headed by the Federal Chancellor. He is appointed directly by the President and reports and is responsible to the Federation Assembly.
The Austrian parliament has two chambers, the national and federal councils. Geographically, it is located in the capital of the country - Vienna. Parliament can be dissolved by the president himself by a special decree or by the lower house when expressing a vote of no confidence.
The federal council consists of 62 deputies who are elected in the federal states of Austria, the so-called Landtags (land parliaments). Depending on the population, each of the lands can be represented by from 3 to 12 deputies. The National Council consists of 183 deputies, who are elected according to a list, proportional system.
Burgenland and Tyrol
Burgenland is a province located in the east of the country. This land of Austria borders on Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia. Its capital is the city of Eisenstadt. The famous Austrian composer Joseph Haydn was born in it, his house-museum has been preserved here, as well as the mausoleum where he is buried.
The capital of Bergenland has a large number of attractions that attract tourists from all over the world. Palaces and houses in the Baroque and Gothic styles amaze with their beauty. Also, unique cathedrals that were built in the 13-18 centuries have survived to this day.
Tirol is also a federal province located in the west of Austria. The lands of this part of the country border on Switzerland, Italy and Germany. The capital of Tyrol is the famous Innsbruck, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964. Innsbruck is full of attractions. The palace of Emperor Maximilian I, his church, as well as a unique house with a golden roof have been preserved here.
Its roof tiles are made of copper and covered with gold, which makes the roof look golden. In addition, the city has many ancient castles and towers. Innsbruck is rightfully popular with tourists. Here you can plunge into the ancient history of the city, as well as relax in the ski resort and get acquainted with the amazing nature of Tyrol.
Upper and Lower Austria
Continuing to consider the lands of Austria and their capitals, we should talk about Upper Austria. It is the northernmost province of the country. It has borders with Germany and the Czech Republic. The capital is the city of Linz. This is a modern industrial settlement, but ancient objects have also been preserved here. There are two cathedrals here, which amaze not only with their architecture, but also with their interior decoration.
In Linz, two ancient castles have been preserved that bring tourists back to the Middle Ages. In addition, the city has an Electronic Art Center, which is also popular with residents and guests of the capital.
Lower Austria is located in the northeast of the country. The capital of this federal province is Sankt Pölten. This city is filled with ancient buildings and monuments. Almost the entire historical part of the city center is a pedestrian zone, in this regard, it is very comfortable to get acquainted with the culture and sights. There are a huge number of cathedrals and palaces that amaze with their beauty. Tens of thousands of tourists visit these places every year.
Salzburgerland and Carinthia
The federal state of Austria, Salzburgerland, is located in the very center of the country. It should be noted that in 1997 the capital of this province - Salzburg - was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This suggests that the city has an incredible number of cultural and historical sites. Its main attraction is the cathedral, built in 1628. In addition to it, the city has many ancient palaces and architectural monuments. This city also attracts music lovers, because it was here that Mozart was born. The house where he grew up is now a museum.
Carinthia is the southernmost federal state of Austria. Its capital is the city of Klagenfurt. In addition to ancient sights, this province has unique lakes, as well as the famous Alpine mountains. Every year you can see thousands of tourists who relax in these magnificent places.
Styria, Vorarlberg and Vienna
The federal state of Styria borders on Slovenia. The capital of this province is Graz. It's vintagea city with a rich history and beautiful architecture, it, like Salzburg, is a World Heritage Site.
Vorarlberg is the westernmost Austrian province. Its capital - the city of Bregenz - borders on Switzerland and Germany. A huge number of ancient palaces and castles have been preserved here. The proximity of the city to Lake Constance and the mountains attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.
Vienna is the capital of Austria, which is an extraordinary city that combines ancient architecture and cultural heritage with modern technology and urban style. This is the pearl of Austria, with many palaces and museums. The Vienna Opera is known all over the world and attracts connoisseurs of classical music here. Vienna is the place to visit to get to know this beautiful country.
