Austria, Federal republic in Central Europe with nine states and high mountain ranges.
Austria is a federal republic in Central Europe composed of nine states, with alpine mountains covering most of its terrain. The territory extends across 32,386 square miles (83,879 square kilometers), with the Eastern Alps occupying more than sixty percent of the landmass, while the Danube River flows through the northern lowlands and alpine valleys characterize the southern and western areas.
Following the collapse of the Habsburg Empire in 1918, the First Republic formed from German-speaking territories. Annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 ended with Allied occupation after 1945, while the State Treaty of 1955 restored sovereignty and established permanent neutrality that remains in force today.
German serves as the primary language of administration and daily life, while Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian enjoy constitutional protection as minority languages in designated regions where they maintain official status in schools and local government.
Rail and highway systems connect Vienna, Graz, Linz, and Salzburg through mountain passes and valley corridors throughout the year. International airports serve the capital and other population centers, while public transport networks reach remote alpine areas even in winter months.
Eight nations border the territory, positioning it as a crossroads between Western, Eastern, and Southern Europe. This central location has shaped trade routes, political relationships, and cultural exchanges between different European regions for centuries, influencing development patterns throughout the continent.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
