Vienna
- Geographical Location: 16 ˚ 22 ΄ 27˝ east of Greenwich, 48 ˚ 12 ΄ 32 ˝ northern latitude, 171 meters above sea level, at the easternmost extension of the Alps spanning both sides of the Danube
- Area: 415 sqkm
- Climate: humid continental climate. The city has warm summers with average high temperatures of 22 - 26°C normaly not exceeding 30° C. Winters are relatively cold with average temperatures at about freezing point, not falling below – 5° C and snowfall occurring mainly from December through March.
- Population: 1,7 Mio (in 2007), 16% of people in Vienna have nationalities other than Austrian, the biggest number comes from the former Yugoslavia, further from Turkey, Poland, Germany and other countries.
- Language: German
- Main Religous Beliefs: 49 % Roman-Catholic, 26 % without religious denomination as well as other religions
- City subdivisions: 23 districts
- Currency: EURO
Vienna – “Something Old & Something New”
With its successful blend of imperial tradition and contemporary creativity, the Austrian capital has established itself as a major player in the global tourism market. In 2008, 4.6 million visitors spent 10.2 million nights in Vienna, largely attracted by the city’s rich musical life and art treasures.
Vienna is not only the capital of Austria, but also one of its nine federal states. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is considered the center of the city by its inhabitants. With woods, grassland, parks and gardens accounting for almost half its area, Vienna is the city in Europe with the highest ratio of green space. “Urban green” such as Stadtpark (with the most frequently photographed motif in the city, the golden Johann Strauss monument) is joined by the woods and grassland of Prater, the extensive Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, sections of the Vienna Woods, vineyards, farmland and the wetlands of the legendary Danube River.
From Roman Camp to Capital of the Republic
Vienna’s history goes back to the first century A.D., when the Romans founded the military camp Vindobona. The city of Vienna was first mentioned in documents in 1137. Around 1155 the Dukes of Babenberg chose it as their residence, and from 1282 it was where the Habsburgs reigned from for more than six centuries. Today’s cityscape is dominated by the Baroque, which for the main part originated during the reign of Empress Maria Theresia. Emperor Franz Joseph I also put his imprint on the city when he leveled the city walls in 1857 and oversaw the completion of the splendid Ring Boulevard. He died during World War I after reigning for 68 years. In 1918 Vienna became the capital of the Republic of Austria. Following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, Vienna was designated a “Reichsgau” (an administrative district of the Third Reich). In 1945, it was again proclaimed capital of the Republic of Austria. In 1967, the city became one of three United Nations headquarters alongside New York and Geneva, and in 1995 joined the ranks as a capital city of the European Union.
Imperial Romance and World-Class Art
Architecture dating from imperial times has left an indelible mark on the city. Magnificent edifices, predominantly in baroque, historicism (“Ringstrasse”) and art nouveau styles, and the city’s grand scale cause you to forget that this is the capital of the small Republic of Austria with only eight million inhabitants. In Vienna, you re-live the romance of a long-lost empire.
Yet it is not only the city’s imperial architecture that renders it a city of beauty. Vienna also boasts world-renowned museums, art collections and works of art. The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) houses the world’s largest collection of paintings by Bruegel, while numerous works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele are exhibited at the Belvedere and the Leopold Museum in the MuseumsQuartier.
MuseumsQuartier, a cultural attraction of international standing located in the city center close to famous museums, opened in 2001. Covering 45,000 square meters it is an architecturally fascinating combination of baroque (the former Imperial Stables) and future-oriented design by architects Ortner&Ortner. With 60,000 square meters of usable floor space on eight different levels, it is one of the ten largest cultural complexes in the world, offering a unique mix of uses. Key attractions include: the Leopold Museum (mentioned above) with the world’s largest collection of Schieles and works by renowned modern Austrian artists such as Klimt, Kokoschka and Gerst; the Museum of Modern Art, Architkturzentrum Wien, and Kunsthalle Wien. Two festival halls are used for high-profile events such as the Vienna Festival, the International Dance Weeks and even for pop concerts.
On April 24, 2004 – 150 years after the marriage of Empress Elisabeth (1837–1898) and Emperor Franz Joseph I – the Sisi Museum opened at Hofburg palace. The exhibits on show include a number of Elisabeth’s personal belongings including a replica of the dress she wore on the eve of her wedding, her morning coat, and the monarch’s parasol, fans and gloves. A walk-in reconstruction of the luxury state railway carriage used by the travel-mad empress can also be viewed.
City of Music – Traditional & Modern
Vienna has traditionally accorded the arts great respect, and over the centuries has never ceased to foster creativity and attract artists from other countries. Vienna boasts 50 theaters, including four opera houses and several stage musical theaters, 100 museums, and renowned drama, music and dance festivals. All this makes Vienna one of Europe's leading cultural centers.
Vienna, as a city of music, enjoys a paramount reputation around the world. No other city has been home to so many composers of international renown. Some, such as Schubert, Strauss, Schoenberg and Berg were born there, others, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms and Mahler chose to live there. It boasts one of the world’s finest orchestras – the Vienna Philharmonic – as well as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and several other orchestras and ensembles of note. The Vienna State Opera is one of the world’s leading opera houses, and is joined by three more in the city (Theater an der Wien, Volksoper, Kammeroper). The Vienna Boys’ Choir enchants music lovers the world over. In addition to classical music, Vienna has also made its mark as a city of musicals, and recent successes in electronic music show that the avant-garde is also taken seriously in Vienna. Yet a further attraction is the Mozarthaus Vienna which was opened on January 27, 2006 – Mozart’s 250th birthday – in his former residence at Domgasse.
Lifestyle: Imperial Nostalgia & Contemporary Trends
The juxtaposition of what is traditional – coffeehouses and wine taverns with typical Viennese congeniality – and what is modern – events such as the Life Ball and the Festival of Electronic Music – conveys a lifestyle that appeals to the modern tourist. A choice between relaxation and serenity, or action and stimulation, that can be made depending on your mood.
The Naschmarkt, Vienna’s multinational fruit and vegetable market which also features a flea market every Saturday – has witnessed the emergence of an extraordinarily diverse gastronomic scene in its vicinity over the past years. Mariahilfer Strasse, a street linking the historic center with Vienna’s most popular sightseeing attraction, Schönbrunn Palace, has been transformed into an attractive shopping thoroughfare since the completion of the U3 underground line. During the summer, Viennese and tourists alike throng not only to Prater park with the famous Giant Ferris Wheel, but also to the Copa Cagrana on Danube Island – which boasts Europe’s largest open-air party in June. Beach atmosphere can also be soaked up at the numerous riverside bathing areas along the Danube Canal where summer sun is accompanied by cool drinks. And the wine tavern districts on the gentle hillsides of the Vienna Woods extend an invitation to seriously “study” Vienna and its wines.
Tourist Information & the Vienna Card
The Vienna Tourist Board is happy to be of service to Vienna’s many visitors. City maps with a list of museums, hotel guides, a monthly calendar of events, gastronomy tips and other information in many languages are all available free of charge by calling +43 (0)1 24 555 or mailing info@vienna.info. Hotel enquiries and reservations are also taken. The website www.vienna.info features an extensive database of events and many useful hints for your stay in Vienna.
The Vienna Card costing EUR 18.50 is a 72-hour rover ticket granting not only unlimited travel on Vienna’s public transportation system, but also a number of discounts. It is available at Vienna hotels, the Tourist Information Office, travel agencies and public transportation sales counters. Holders of the Vienna Card can take advantage of over 210 price reductions and special deals, from discounted museum admission to shopping offers. The central Tourist Information Office of the Vienna Tourist Board is located just behind the Vienna State Opera at Albertinaplatz (corner of Maysedergasse, 1010 Wien). In addition to general information and assistance in obtaining hotel accommodations, this information center also arranges entrance tickets, guided city tours and provides bureau de change services, daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Foreign Direct Investment
For details about qualified direct investment opportunities please visit our pages Invest in Austria
