| Location: The Republic of Austria (Oesterreich) is bounded on the north by the Czech Republic; on the northeast by Slovakia; on the east by Hungary; on the south by Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland; and on the west by Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Germany. Austria has an area of 32,378 square miles. Austria is a member of the European Union since January 1996. Population: 8,032,926 (census 2001) Capital: Vienna Austrian regions: Austria is divided into nine federal regions (Bundeslaender): Vienna - Austria's capital pop.: 1,539,848 Burgenland - capital: Eisenstadt, pop.: 11,334 Carinthia - capital: Klagenfurt, pop.: 90,141 Lower Austria - capital St. Pölten, pop.: 49,121 Salzburg - capital: Salzburg, pop.: 142,662 Styria - capital: Graz, pop.: 226,244 Tyrol - capital: Innsbruck, pop.: 113,392 Upper Austria - capital: Linz, pop.: 183,504 Vorarlberg - capital: Bregenz, pop.: 26,752 Festival Seasons: The opera and theatre season in Austria runs from September to June. Major festivals take place in July and August. Climate: At an latitude of 47 degrees North, the climate is moderate and generally agreeable, with warm summers and cold winters. Temperatures depend largely on altitude. Language: German is spoken by 98% of the Austrian population. English is by far the leading second language in the educational system, and is understood widely and spoken fluently by most people working within the tourism industry. Currency: On 1st January 1999, the Euro was introduced and is the only currency used. Visa Requirements: . A valid passport is required to visit Austria; no visas are required for British and Irish citizens for a stay up to three months. For information about living in Austria, visit the UK Embassy in Vienna website.: | ||||||
