Explore Austria!
The Alps are only the beginning!
By Elizabeth Bryant, Period 6, Austria
A Statue in SalzburgSalzburg has many beautiful gardens and statues, like this one. | SachertorteSachertorte is a delicious Austrian dessert made with chocolate cake, apricot jam, and chocolate icing. | Austria's ReligionsAustria is 73.6% Roman Catholic, 4.7% Protestant, 4.2% Muslim, 3.5% other, 2% unspecified, and 12% of Austrians have no religion. (as of 2001) |
Sachertorte
Sachertorte is a delicious Austrian dessert made with chocolate cake, apricot jam, and chocolate icing.
Things to Know About Austria
Language
- Guten Morgen = goo-tin more-gin(Good morning)
- Guten Tag = goo-tin tahg(Good day)
- Guten Abend = goo-tin ah-bend (Good evening/afternoon)
- Gute nacht = goo-tih nahkt (Good night)
- Englisch? = aeng-lish (English?)
- W.C. = vae-tsae (Bathroom)
- Wo bin Ich? = vo bin eec (Where am I?)
- Danke. = dahn-kuh (Thank you.)
- Auf Wiedersehen! = owf vee-der-zayn (Goodbye!)
- Wie heiβt du? = vee haisst doo? (What is your name?)
- Danke schön. = dahn-kuh shoon. (You're welcome.)
- Bitte = bih-tuh (Please)
- Ja = yah (Yes)
- Nein = nine (No)

Government
Austrian Men SpeakingThis Austrian is being interviewed. They are speaking German, Austria's official language. | The Parliament BuildingThis is the Parliament Building in Austria, where both houses meet. |
Currency and Exchange Rate
1 EURO = 1.346 US Dollars
Interesting Facts
Spring in the AlpsTake a train into the Alps. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and ski a little. | Vienna KitchenThis is what a Vienna kitchen looks like, but you don't have to have one to make delicious Viennese potato soup! | Window BoxesEven city streets are lined with beautiful plants and decoration! |
An Austrian Recipe for You!
Side Dish
Rich Viennese Potato Soup
Ingredients:
7 cups and 3 tablespoons beef broth or chicken broth
2 cups onion, sliced
2 1/2 cups sliced leeks
1 1/2 teaspoons dried marjoram
8 cups russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
3/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch ground cardamom
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 cup chopped and precooked carrots
1 cup cooked and diced potatoes
Directions:
Place 1 tablespoon oil and 2 tablespoons broth in a large nonstick pot over medium heat. Add the onions, leeks, and marjoram. Sauté for 15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
Add the potatoes and 7 cups broth, reduce heat to low, and cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the heavy cream, ground black pepper, and cardamom. Puree the soup in small batches in a blender or food processor.
Place the mushrooms and the remaining 1 tablespoon broth in a large skillet over medium heat, and sauté until the liquid evaporates and the mushrooms are golden in color. Season with salt and pepper. Add the mushrooms, precooked carrots, and precooked potatoes to the pureed soup. Stir together and serve.
Where to Find Austria
Citations
Information
• "Austria." CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 26 Jan 2013. <http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=14&cn=Austria>.
• "Rich Viennese Potato Soup: Recipe." CultureGrams Online Edition. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 26 Jan 2013. <http://online.culturegrams.com/recipes/citations.php?type=World&id=14&cit_type=text&cit_title=:%20Recipe>.
• The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2009. 26 Jan 2013. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html>.
• "Austria." CultureGrams Kids Edition. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 27 Jan 2013. <http://online.culturegrams.com/kids/kids_country_sub_categories.php?contid=5&wmn=Europe&cid=53&KidsSubCatID=9>.
• "Federal Republic." N.p.: n.p., n.d. Dictionary.com. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/federal+republic?s=t>.
• Money.cnn.com. Cable News Network, 25 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Jan. 2013. <http://money.cnn.com/>.
Pictures
- Statue in Salzburg. Digital image. Flickr. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2013. <http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?w=809956%40N25&m=pool&q=Salzburg>.
- Vienna Kitchen. 2008. Photograph. Collection of CultureGrams. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 27 Jan 2013.
- Spring in the Alps. 2011. Photograph. Collection of CultureGrams. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 27 Jan 2013.
- Graben. 2004. Photograph. Collection of CultureGrams. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 27 Jan 2013.
- Parliament Building. 2008. Photograph. Collection of CultureGrams. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 27 Jan 2013.
- Flowering Windows. 2004. Photograph. Collection of CultureGrams. ProQuest, 2013. Web. 27 Jan 2013.
- Austria's Religions. Digital image. Create A Graph. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2013. <http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx?ID=30465e21a7f0427b8b54cd0519ea24c5>.