1. Austria-Hungary,
also known as Austro-Hungarian Empire, was a constitutional union of the Empire of Austria and the Kingdom of Hungary. When it collapsed, as a result of defeat in World War I, Austria was reduced to a small republic. Austria’s formal name is Republik Österreich (Austrian Republic), which literally means “Eastern Realm”.
2. Austria is the only nation of the European Union that is not a member of NATO.
Justlike Berlin, Vienna was also divided into four zones at the end of World War II. France, Britain, Russia and the United States took control over certain sections. Only the first district remained free, as an international zone. After the end of the occupation in 1955, Austria maintained a neutral stance and decided neither to become a member of NATO nor of the Soviet Bloc.
3. Vienna’s Schönbrunn Tiergarden
is the world’s oldest zoo. It was founded in 1752 by emperor Franz Stephan as an animal menagerie.
4. Vienna is the only world
capital to produce its own wine. Ein Achtel , is the most common serving size amongst wine drinkers and I think one of the first word that someone learn when he first come in Vienna. In English it means an eighth of a liter.
5. Before starting to drink,
Austrians toast by clinking glasses while looking to the other person in the eyes. It is supposed to be extremely rude not making eye contact and brings upon the co-drinkers seven years of bad sex. “Proooost”, means cheers in German. Take note and always drag the ‘o’.
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger,
the global film star and lead actor of movies like “Terminator”, “Predator” and “Junior”, is Austrian, born in a small village near Graz called Thal. He was the governor of California from 2003 to 2010.
7. On another note, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
was considered to be a child prodigy and at the age of 6, he performed for the Empress Maria Theresa at Schönbrunn Palace. He is the composer of some of the most classical masterworks in musical history.
8. The Imperial Treasury (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer)
at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna hosts an impressive and valuable collection of rare treasures. The largest emerald of the world, which is of 2860 caret, is displayed there.
9. The original snow globe was invented by accident in Vienna, in 1900.
Erwin Perzy’s intention was to make his own light bulb but instead of that he created the beautiful snow globe, representing the world in miniature. The Basilica of Mariazell was his first model and until now Perzy’s first workshopcreates made-to-order snow globes, including one recently made for Obama family.
10. The Central Cemetery of Vienna (Zentralfrieldhof)
is Europe’s second largest cemetery. Oddly enough, it holds a dead population of almost double the city’s living population. When a Viennese says “Er hat den 71er genommen”, he refers to the tram line 71 that leads to the cemetery, as a euphemism for death. Here rest important names such as Strauss, Beethoven or Brahms.
+1. Vienna is considered to be a ‘city of music’.
Every year, over 300 Balls take place in this city. The most important of them, the Charity Life Ball, is one of the largest charity events in the world and attracts celebrities around the globe.
