Portal:Austria

Wikipedia portals: Culture Geography Health History Mathematics Natural sciences People Philosophy Religion Society Technology    The Austria Portal Austria is one of Europe's leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Czech Republic and Germany, to the south by Slovenia and Italy, to the west by Liechtenstein and Switzerland, and to the east by Hungary and Slovakia. Its capital city is Vienna. The origins of modern Austria date back to the ninth century, when the countryside of upper and lower Austria became increasingly populated. The name of Austria Ostarrîchi is first documented in an official document from 996. Since then this word has developed into the German word Österreich. Austria's political system is that of a federal, parliamentary representative democracy consisting of nine states. It is one of six European countries that have declared permanent neutrality and one of the few countries that includes the concept of everlasting neutrality in their constitution. Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 and joined the European Union in 1995. It also a member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose headquarters is based in Vienna.    Selected article Semmering railway (1900) The Semmering railway, which starts at Gloggnitz and leads over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track. It is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the considerable altitude difference that was mastered during its construction. It is still fully functional as a part of the former Austrian Southern Railway which is now part of the Austrian Federal Railways. The Semmering railway was constructed between 1848 and 1854 by some 20,000 workers under the project's designer and director Carl von Ghega. In 1998 the railway was added to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. Featured Austria articles    Selected picture Clock tower of Graz    Selected biography Empress Zita of Austria, Queen of Hungary (in 1916) Zita of Bourbon-Parma (Zita Maria delle Grazie Adelgonda Micaela Raffaela Gabriella Giuseppina Antonia Luisa Agnese; 9 May 1892 – 14 March 1989) was the wife of Emperor Charles of Austria. As such, she was the last Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary, and Queen of Bohemia. Born as the seventeenth child of the dispossessed Robert I, Duke of Parma, Princess Zita married the then Archduke Charles of Austria in 1911. Charles became heir presumptive to the Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1914 after the assassination of his uncle Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and acceded to the throne in 1916 after the old emperor's death. After the end of World War I in 1918, the Habsburgs were deposed when the new countries of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs were formed. Charles and Zita left for exile in Switzerland, and later Madeira where Charles died in 1922. After her husband's death, Zita and her son Otto served as the symbols of unity for the exiled dynasty. A devout Catholic, she raised a large family after being widowed at the age of 29, and remained faithful to the memory of her husband for the rest of her long life. She died at the age 96 years and was given a large funeral at St. Stephen's Cathedral and laid to rest in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.    Quotes “ Civilization is a work of peaceful co-operation. ” —Ludwig von Mises    Austria news Wikinews Austria portal March 1: New Zealand's Adam Hall and Corey Peters finish run at 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships March 1: Nathalie Carpanedo finishes wild card run at 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships March 1: Australia's Mitchell Gourley finishes up at 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships February 28: Austria wins friendly team competition at end of 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships February 26: France finishes 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships on top of medal ladder February 26: Austria regains medal leadboard after fourth competition day of 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships February 25: France leads medal count after third competition day of 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships February 22: Austria leads medal count after second day of 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships February 20: Spain starts 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships with first and fifth place finishes February 16: 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships preparations underway    Did you know... ... that the first record showing the name "Austria" is from 996 where it is written as Ostarrîchi, referring to the territory of the Babenberg March? ... that Austria currently produces more than half of its electricity by hydropower?    Categories ▼ Austria ► Buildings and structures in Austria ► Communications in Austria ► Austrian culture ► Economy of Austria ► Environment of Austria ► Events in Austria ► Geography of Austria ► Health in Austria ► History of Austria ► Hunting lodges in Austria ► Austrian law ► Austria-related lists ► Military of Austria ► Austrian people ► Politics of Austria ► Science and technology in Austria ► Austrian society ► Austria templates ► Transport in Austria ► Images of Austria ► Austria stubs    Things you can do Here are some tasks you can do: Requests: Pfadfinderkorps Sankt Georg, Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund, Österreichischer Pfadfinderinnenbund, More... Expand: Battle of Santa Lucia, Dorfbeuern, Hans Enn, More... Sort: Oleh Hornykiewicz, Veliki Boč, Luminita Soare, More... Other: Johannes Swoboda (BLP cleanup needed), Austria-Hungary (needs attention in general), More...    Topics Euro gold and silver commemorative coins (Austria)    WikiProjects    Related portals Europe European Union Austria-Hungary Vienna Tyrol What are portals? List of portals Featured portals    Associated Wikimedia What are portals? List of portals Featured portals Shortcut to this page: P:AUT