St. Anton am Arlberg as seen from the Galzig slopes. Credit

Maria Alm. Photograph © by Norbert Maier

More photographs of Austria from Panoramio

More information about Austria from Wikipedia

The World Factbook - Austria

Austria Travel Books

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordering Germany and the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The capital city is Vienna.

The country consists of nine federal states and is one of six European countries that have declared permanent neutrality, plus is one of the few countries that included the concept of permanent neutrality in their constitution.

Austria provides many opions for travellers who enjoy the great outdoors. The magnificent mountains, forests, rivers and lakes, offer a broad choice of locations. Austria is ideal for hiking holidays and there are many trails through picturesque landscapes.

A winter sports paradise Austria offers experiences to both the novice and experienced enthusuasts. Ski resorts, downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing are not confined only to the winter season. Eight winter sports areas exist in which the winter sports season lasts for a full twelve months.

Winter sports and summer sightseeing make Austria a year-round destination. Winter sports are available in most areas from mid-December to late March, while in the summer, the high season (July to August), prices are higher and crowds are larger. In June, spring is in the air and Alpine flowers drape the mountainsides with colour.