Austria, or Österreich in German, is a small but beautiful country in the heart of Europe.  Its origins can be traced all the way back to the 9th Century AD when the region was first documented as “Ostarrichi.”  For most of its history, Austria was a monarchy.  But at the end of the First World War, the monarchy was dissolved, and Austria became a Republic.  It has remained a Republic since 1938, with the exception of the years 1938-1945, when the country was annexed by Nazi Germany, and 1945-1955 when it was under Allied occupation.  Austria regained its status as an independent nation on October 26, 1955 with the signing of the Austrian State Treaty.  Since then, it has been parliamentary representative democracy.

Today, Austria has a population of about 8.2 million people.  1.6 million people live in the capital, Vienna.  The country is divided into 9 Bundesländer, or Provinces:  Vienna, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol and Vorarlberg. 

The national religion is Roman Catholicism and the official language is German, but there are a significant number of minorities, with a multitude of religions and languages.  Since Hapsburg times, Vienna has been a melting pot for people from Austria’s eastern neighbors (many areas of which were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) and even today, many Austrian dishes, customs and even last names have their roots in Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, or the Czech and Slovak Republics.

Austria is well-known as the home of Mozart--Vienna is arguably the capital of classical music; current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is from Graz, the capital of Styria.  Siegmund Freud, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Karl Popper, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Robert Musil, Franz Kafka, and Friedrich Hayek are just some of the famous Austrians who impacted the world in their respective fields.
But the thing Austria is probably most known for are its breathtaking mountains.  The Austrian Alps are a veritable paradise for skiers in the winter and for mountain climbers and hikers in the summer.  Kitzbühl in Tyrol is one of the most exclusive skiing towns in Europe, where the glitterati meet during the cold months to ski and hobnob during après-ski parties.

Austria is also a great place to visit for people who are interested in history and the arts.  The Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele), which takes place every year in August, is one of the most renowned cultural events in the world, with top theatre, opera and classical music performances featuring international stars of their respective fields.  Vienna has excellent theaters (e.g. Burgtheater) and operas (e.g. Staatsoper) and classical music venues, such as the Konzerthaus.  It has world-class art and science museums, featuring exciting international temporary exhibitions as well as famous permanent exhibits. 
For a little country nestled into the center of Europe, Austria has much to offer and is definitely worth exploring.