Tourist Travel Information about Austria
Austria (Österreich) is a landlocked alpine country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east and Slovenia and Italy to the south. Austria, along with neighbouring Switzerland, is the winter sports capital of Europe. However, it is just as popular in the summer for its old charm and the magnificent scenery of the Alps. Austria has 32,383 square miles (83,871 square km) of area. It is slightly smaller than Maine and completely landlocked. The terrain is highly mountainous, lying within the Alps; only 32% of the country is below 500 m (1,640 ft), and its highest point is 3,798 m (12,461 ft)
Austria entered the European Monetary Union in 1999, and the euro currency replaced the schilling in 2002. Austria is also famous for its education system, with many students from all over the European Union studying in Austrian universities. Austria is one of the most popular summer and winter holiday destinations in Europe and has the tourist industry to match it.