Located in the center of Europe, Austria has played an essential role in Europe’s history. For centuries, the Austrian royal family was one of the most powerful in the World. Vienna became one of the most important cities in Europe, the home to many famous musicians, painters, and artistic movements. Discover these and many other things Austria is renowned for!
As a landlocked country, Austria doesn’t have a coast and borders eight other countries, including Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. On the other hand, the Austrian territory is marked by the Alps and the Danube River.
Come with us and discover more about Austria’s culture, history, food, and people in this article about what Austria is Famous for!
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16 things Austria is famous for
#1 The House of Habsburg
The Habsburgs (or Habsburgs) were the royal family of Austria and one of the most influential royal families in Europe. How influential? The house also produced kings of Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia, Portugal, Spain (and their respective colonies), as well as a few principalities in the Netherlands and Italy, and the emperors of Austria, Austria-Hungary, and Mexico.
The Habsburgs continuously occupied the Holy Roman Empire’s throne from 1440 until its dissolution in 1806 (with a brief interruption from 1740 to 1765). The Habsburg house was named after Habsburg Castle, a fortress built in present-day Switzerland in the 1020s. In 1273, they moved the family’s power base to Austria, which they ruled till the end of World War I in 1918.
For nearly five centuries, the Habsburgs were a key player in European politics and one of the two oldest and most powerful dynasties (the other was the Capetian dynasty – France). With the end of WWI, the Habsburgs had to abdicate and later became vehement opponents of National Socialism and Communism, but they never returned to power.
#2 Austrian Alps
The Alps cover about 60% of Austria, creating a mountainous country perfect for hiking in the Summer and skiing in the Winter. In fact, only about 30% of the country lies below 500 meters, and its highest point is 3,797 meters (Grossglockner).
The Alps create the dramatic scenery that the cities of Innsbruck, Salzburg, and the whole province of Tirol are famous for. Even if you don’t like hiking, cycling, or skiing, it’s possible to enjoy the Alps by simply driving on some of the best mountain roads in the world!
#3 The Sound of Music
The Alps take us to “The Sound of Music”, the American film that has made people want to go to Austria since it was released in 1965. Directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, it tells the story of a woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower.
The Sound of Music won 5 Oscars, including Best Film and Best Director, but it’s more than that; it’s easily one of the most popular movies of all time. The film and its settings are so striking that, after more than 50 years, many people immediately associate Austria with the movie, and vice versa.
#4 Classical music
During the 18th and 19th centuries, Austria, and Vienna in particular, was the most important musical center in Europe, attracting many of the now world-famous classical composers to the city. The Habsburgs were major patrons of the arts, particularly classical music. They created an excellent, welcoming environment for creative minds to thrive.
Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss (father and son), Anton Bruckner, and, of course, the most famous of all, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, are all Austrian musicians who thrived in imperial Vienna. Even Beethoven left Germany for Vienna to be tutored by Haydn.
It’s easy to understand why Vienna became the world capital of classical music, and even today it’s one of the city’s main attractions. The world-famous New Year’s concert by the Vienna Philharmonic is one of the most important music events of the year, and people from all over the world go to Vienna to enjoy it.
#5 Waltz
The Waltz is a ballroom and folk dance, usually in triple time, performed in a closed position. In the early days, the Waltz was considered scandalous, but it quickly became very popular, and today it is one of the symbols of Vienna. In 2017, UNESCO added the Viennese waltz to its list of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
There are waltzes written by Chopin, Schubert, and Brahms that aren’t danceable, only for piano or orchestra, but the danceable waltzes of the Strauss dynasty really changed everything.
Dancing the Waltz became the Viennese way of partying, and the best place to experience it is the Viennese balls. The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II is the best-known waltz and a mandatory song in the Viennese balls and the New Year’s concert.
#6 Sigmund Freud
Imperial Austria was a friendly environment not only for musicians but also for other artists and scientists. One of the most famous is Sigmund Freud, the Austrian neurologist who founded psychoanalysis, the clinical method of treating psychopathologies through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst.
Freud developed techniques like free association and discovered transference, establishing its central role in the analytic process. He also redefined sexuality to include its infantile forms, which led him to formulate the Oedipus complex.
Freud’s influence on Psychology is tremendous. He’s still the most famous and influential person in the field; even if some (most) of his theories have been proven wrong or inaccurate, he completely revolutionized it.
Freud lived and worked in Vienna for almost his whole life. The flat where he lived and wrote for 47 years is now a museum. He died in 1939 in London after escaping Nazi persecution.
#7 Gustav Klimt
Gustav Klimt is possibly the most famous Austrian painter. Born in the second half of the 19th century, he is the founder and the most prominent member of the Vienna Secession. This movement revolted against academic art in favor of a highly decorative style similar to Art Nouveau. Klimt is well-known for his artworks with the female body, usually marked with eroticism.
Klimt’s work includes not only paintings but also murals, sketches, and other artworks. As we developed his personal style, he became more famous and controversial. His murals for the ceiling of the Great Hall of the University of Vienna were highly criticized, considered pornographic, and rejected.
His most famous paintings came later during his golden phase, many of which included gold leaf. In these paintings, he treats the human figure without shadow. He heightens the lush sensuality of skin by surrounding it with flat, highly ornamental, brilliantly composed areas of decoration. The most famous of these is possibly “The Kiss,” seen in the Belvedere Palace in Vienna.
“The Lady in Gold,” or “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,” was once the most expensive painting ever sold, fetching $135 million in 2005.
#8 Architecture and Famous Landmarks
As you can see on this list, there are many things Austria is famous for, but what impresses most tourists visiting Austria are the landmarks. The imperial architecture is simply spectacular, but the amount and variety of beautiful buildings, squares, and landmarks in Vienna (and other cities) are unforgettable.
Everywhere you look, something is amazing to contemplate, but there are a few famous landmarks in Austria no one should miss:
- The Schonbrunn
- The Spanish riding school
- Belvedere Palace
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral
- The Hofburg Palace
- St Charles’s Church
- Vienna’s Opera House
- Vienna’s City Hall
Have a look at our post about the famous landmarks in Austria.
#9 Triggering WWI
Austria, Austria-Hungary, if we want to be precise, had a crucial role at the beginning of the First World War. It was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian Crown, that ultimately triggered the Great War.
After the assassination, Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum to Serbia, which was partially rejected. Austria then declared war on Serbia, triggering a war declaration between most European states. The Central Powers (Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the Ottoman Empire) would eventually lose the war to the Allied Powers (UK, France, Russia, and the US).
World War I would mobilize more than 70 M military personnel, making it one of the largest in history. It was also one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, with 9 million combat deaths.
#10 Adolf Hitler
Many people don’t know, but Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889. In fact, he lived in Linz and then Vienna for many years before moving to Munich in 1913 at 24. It is believed that most of his antisemitism and pan-Germanism ideas were formed during his time in Vienna.
He served in the German army during WWI, but only revoked his Austrian citizenship in 1925 to avoid extradition to Austria. Only in 1932 did we get German citizenship, long after being the leader of the Nazi party in Germany. In 1933, the Nazi Party won the general elections with 43.9% of the votes.
#11 Wiener Schnitzel
A Schnitzel is a dish made with a slice of meat, usually breaded and fried. The meat is generally tenderized, then breaded before frying. Wiener Schnitzel is a thin, breaded, pan-fried veal cutlet. The meat should be very tender, crispy on the outside, and spread evenly across the plate.
It may be the most famous dish in Austrian cuisine. However, it wasn’t invented in Austria. The origins of this delicious recipe are unknown, with speculations that it may have come from Italy or the Ottoman Empire. Yet, the oldest tales indicate that the Moors already coated meat with breadcrumbs in the Iberian Peninsula.
Whatever the origin is, the Wiener Schnitzel is the national dish of Austria, and eating it is a genuinely Austrian experience!
#12 Sacher-Torte
The Sacher torte is another famous Austrian dish. This chocolate tart was invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 in Vienna. The torte is of dense chocolate cake with two layers of apricot jam between the outer layer of chocolate icing and the sponge base. Traditionally, it’s served with unsweetened whipped cream.
The original recipe of the Sacher-Torte is kept secret by the Hotel Sacher, the owner of the recipe. The Original Sacher Torte can only be ordered at Hotel Sacher and Cafe Sacher locations or online.
In fact, they send it to many locations worldwide, so even if you cannot visit Austria anytime soon, you can order a Sacher torte just for yourself!
#13 Apfelstrudel
The Apfelstrudel, or apple strudel, is the most popular dessert in Austria, but it’s also very popular in other countries that were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It consists of an oblong pastry shell filled with apples.
The filling is made with grated cooking apples, sugar, cinnamon, and bread crumbs. Many times the filling also includes raisins and nuts. The dough is unleavened, thin, and elastic, similar to phyllo.
We can trace this typical Austrian dessert back to the 17th century, with the earliest written recipe dating to 1696. It’s archived at Vienna City Hall. Many people believe that strudel is related to baklava, which arrived in Austria through Ottoman influence in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
If you want to see how this delicious dessert is made, there is a Strudel show at Cafe Restaurant Residenz on the grounds of Schonbrunn Palace. Be aware that it may be very crowded. On the other hand, if you want to try it, it’s very easy as it’s available in most of Vienna’s cafes, and they are typically very good.
#14 Redbull
Redbull is easily the most famous Austrian brand. It’s considered the world’s most popular energy drink, with over 7 billion cans sold each year. Red Bull is a relatively new company; it was founded in 1987 after Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an existing energy drink called Krating Daeng. The original drink was modified to suit Western palates, and the company was launched as a partnership between Thai and Austrian Owners.
Sold in a tall, slim blue-silver can, Red Bull became extremely popular due to its aggressive marketing campaigns. Under the slogan “Red Bull gives you wings,” Red Bull invests a large share of its revenue in marketing, including memorable TV ads, ownership of F1 teams and football teams, celebrity endorsements, and music. It also sponsors many extreme sports events, such as cliff diving, air races, and stunts like the “Stratos space diving project.”
Red Bull became one of the most recognizable brands in the world and, thus, one of the most famous things in Austria.
#15 Swarovski
Swarovski is another extremely popular and well-known Austrian brand. Swarovski is a glass producer founded in 1895 by Daniel Swarovski in Wattens. In 1892, Swarovski patented an electric cutting machine that allowed them to cut crystals more accurately, consistently, and cheaply than ever before. Before this, crystals would have to be cut by hand. His vision was to make “diamonds” available for everyone.
Today, Swarovski has multiple business areas, including grinding, sawing, drilling, and dressing tools, as well as telescopes and binoculars. Still, the famous one is the Swarovski Crystal Business, which produces Crystal glass, jewelry, and accessories.
Swarovski’s crystals have been a constant presence in pop culture—from Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday” dress to the Oscar stage in 2018 to the million-dollar bra from Victoria’s Secret.
#16 Viennese coffee house culture
The coffee houses in Vienna have a characteristic philosophy. First of all, the coffee houses are stunning, with marble tabletops, Thonet chairs, newspaper tables, and an overall very stylish vibe.
In addition, the coffee house creates a relaxing atmosphere, a place where you can enjoy a coffee and read your newspaper—you are welcome to spend hours there. In the past, writers and artists gathered in the coffeehouse to write and debate ideas. The coffee houses were an essential cultural experience.
The importance of coffee house culture in Vienna dates back to the 17th century. Vienna’s first coffeehouse opened in 1685. Other cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, like Prague, Budapest, and Krakow, followed the trend of Vienna’s coffeehouses and opened several throughout their cities.
For all these reasons, the “Viennese Coffee House Culture” has been listed by UNESCO as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage” since 2011. It is said that in the Viennese coffeehouses, “time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.”
Besides the Coffee houses, the Viennese coffee or Einspänner is also famous. The coffee is served in a tall glass, with whipped cream dusted with icing sugar and cocoa powder. You can find this iconic coffee in every Vienna coffeehouse.
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