Austria is a state located in Central Europe. However, this is not an ordinary country, since the territory of Austria is divided into nine federations. Each of them has its own capital and parliament. About the federal states 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 - was mentioned in 996. An interesting fact is that the flag of the country is one of the oldest state symbols in the whole 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, he left a clean white streak. So the flag colors appeared, under which the lands of Austria were united.
Political structure
This state is federal and includes nine lands of Austria. The constitution was adopted in 1920, and after the Second World War, in 1945, was re-introduced. The head of the country is the president, who is elected for a six-year term.
The federal government is the main executive body led by the federal chancellor. He is appointed directly by the president, reports and is responsible to the federation meeting.
The Austrian parliament has two chambers, these are the national and federal councils. Geographically, it is located in the capital of the country - Vienna. Parliament can dissolve the president himself by special decree or 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 (parliaments of the lands). Depending on the population, each of the lands can represent from 3 to 12 deputies. The National Council consists of 183 deputies, who are elected according to the list, proportional system.
Burgenland and tyrol
Burgenland is a province located in the east of the country. This land of Austria borders with Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia. Its capital is the city of Eisenstadt. The famous Austrian composer Joseph Haydn was born in it, his house museum, as well as the mausoleum where he is buried, have been preserved here.
The capital of Bergenland has a large number of attractions that attract tourists from all over the world. Baroque and Gothic palaces and houses are striking in their beauty. Also, unique cathedrals, which were built in the 13-18 centuries, have survived to this day.
Tyrol is also a federal province located in western Austria. The lands of this part of the country are bordered by Switzerland, Italy and Germany. The capital of Tyrol is the famous Innsbruck, which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964. Innsbruck is teeming with attractions. The palace of Emperor Maximilian I, his church, as well as a unique house with a golden roof, are preserved here.
Its tile is made of copper and covered with gilding, which makes the roof seem 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 examine the lands of Austria and their capital, we should talk about Upper Austria. This is the northernmost province of the country. It has a border with Germany and the Czech Republic. The capital is the city of Linz. This is a modern industrial village, however, ancient objects are also preserved here. There are two cathedrals here, which amaze not only with their architecture, but also with the interior decoration.
In Linz, there are two ancient castles that return tourists 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 north-east of the country. The capital of this federal province is St. Pelten. This city is filled with ancient buildings and monuments. Almost the entire historical part of the city center is a pedestrian zone, so it is very comfortable to get acquainted with culture and sights. There are a huge number of cathedrals and palaces that amaze with their beauty. Every year tens of thousands of tourists visit these places.
Salzburgerland and Carinthia
The federal state of Austria Salzburgerland is located in the heart 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 today a museum.
Carinthia is Austria's southernmost federal state. 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. This is an ancient city with a rich history and beautiful architecture. It, like Salzburg, is one of the World Heritage Sites.
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. It is the jewel of Austria, with many palaces and museums. The Vienna Opera is world famous and attracts connoisseurs of classical music. Vienna is a place that is definitely worth a visit to get to know this beautiful country.