Culture of Austria :: Europe Travel

Web europe-chronicle.com

Culture of Austria

Culture of Austria

Austria is home to an enormous confluence of cultural riches from architecture to classical music, philosophy and literature. Its hills are alive with the sound of music and its tables are overflowing with Wiener Schnitzel, Strudel and fine wine.

Its cultural stereotypes persist, especially in alpine areas and Austrians take cultural refinement very seriously - just don’t mention Arnold Schwarzenegger.

There’s plenty of beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art in Austria’s churches. Biedermeier, which is more well-known as a furniture style, also had its day in the gallery - and Biedermeier artist Moritz Michael Daffinger even found his way onto the AS20 note. The most famous Austrian painters were probably Gustav Klimt (Art Nouveau ) and Oskar Kokoschka (Viennese expressionism), but the most outrageous publicity was reserved for Viennese Actionism. This offshoot of abstract expressionism emerged in the late 1950s and sought access to the subconscious through the frenzy of direct art - read pouring paint over canvas and slashing it with knives; using blood and excrement as ‘paint’ and human bodies as ‘brushes’; psychological endurance tests, self-mutilation and other nice Sunday school activities.

Traditional Austrian food is stodgy, hearty fare of the meat-and-dumpling variety. Wiener Schnitzel is Vienna’s best known culinary concoction and it has spread to every two-bit eating house from New York City to Alice Springs. It’s a fried cutlet, usually veal, covered in a coating of egg and breadcrumbs and, when cooked properly, has actually been known to be edible. Austrians are fond of eating bits of beasts that other nations ignore. Beuschel may be translated on menus as ‘calf’s lights’ but it’s really thin slices of calf’s lungs and heart. It’s quite tasty. Really. Austria’s excellent pastries and cakes are effective at transferring bulk from your money belt to your waistline. The most famous Austrian dessert is the strudel, a baked dough filled with a variety of fruits and a sprinkling of raisins and cinnamon. You’ll need to wash down this calorie hit with a cold glass of Austrian beer or a swig of fine Austrian wine.

Composers throughout Europe were drawn to the country in the 18th and 19th centuries by the generous patronage of the Habsburgs. During this period Vienna became to classical music what Seattle is to grunge. In fact many of the Habsburgs were themselves gifted musicians and would, history allowing, have made a funky quartet consisting of Leopold I (composer), Charles VI (violin), Maria Theresa (double bass) and Joseph II (harpsichord and cello). Back in the real world, at various times Beethoven, Brahms, Gluck, Hayden, Mahler, Mozart, Schubert, Schönberg and the Strausses all had their heads in the clouds and their bums on piano stools in Vienna. Today, institutions such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the angelic Vienna Boys’ Choir, the Staatsoper (State Opera), the Musikverein and the Konzerthaus are unrivalled.


Related Travel Information

Hallstatt : Austria
Hallstatt : Austria Hallstatt, Upper Austria is a village in the Salzkammergut, a region in Austria. It is located near the...

Bad Ischl : Austria
Bad Ischl : Austria Bad Ischl is a town in Austria. It lies in the southern part of the state of...

Culture of Luxembourg
Culture of Luxembourg The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of the small European nation of Luxembourg....


Travel Chronicle: Europe Destination Guide

Tartu County : Estonia
Tartu County : Estonia Tartu County : Estonia Tartu County (Estonian: Tartumaa), is a county or maakond in the country of Estonia. It...

People of Holland
The great majority of inhabitants of The Netherlands are Dutch. They are mainly descended from Franks, Frisians, and Saxons. Most...

Jihlava : Czech Republic
Jihlava : Czech Republic Jihlava listen (German Iglau) is a city in the Czech Republic. Jihlava is a centre of the...

Travel Chronicle: Germany Destination Guide

Don't Overeconomize
Don't Overeconomize Those are the numbers. They may not be exact, but they do represent a realistic estimate of what a...

Tourist Offices on the Web
Tourist Offices on the Web Most European countries are scaling back on expensive tourist offices abroad, and putting more and more...

ATM cards
ATM cards One of the most beautiful short train journeys in the world is the Flam railway in Norway, which winds...

Travel Chronicle: First Time in Europe

Cash
Cash Money talks, in no uncertain terms, with no accent, in the local language, everywhere in the world. Always keep at...

Faxes
Faxes Fax machines are a very popular means of communication in Europe, perhaps due to the high cost of normal phone...

Travel Packs
Travel Packs A travel pack is basically soft luggage, with a very simple internal frame, shoulder straps, a waist belt, and...

Travel Chronicle: Europe Destination Guide

Granada
Granada During the period of Muslim domination of Spain, Granada was the finest city on the peninsula. Today it is still...

Craiova : Romania
Craiova : Romania Craiova (formerly known as Krajova) is a Romanian city, the capital of the county of Dolj, situated near...

Birmingham : Britain
Birmingham : Britain Birmingham Travel Guide : Britain Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It...

Browse the Europe Destination Guide

Got Text?
You're reading these text links and so are millions of other every month. Place your Adverts Here. E-Mail Us for Details.
 
Plan your Honeymoon in Alaska, Tahiti, Caribbean , New Zealand, Hawaii, Cooks Island, Fiji
 
Learn wide variety of courses at all levels in English and other languages in Delhi at Inlingua New Delhi
 
Plan your Visit to Agra, Jaipur and Delhi through Travel and Hospitality India
 
 
Customized Search Engine Solutions, Search Engine Rankings, Search Engine Promote, Affordable SEO Services, SEO India
 
Cellos and Violas Manufacturer and Suppliers


 
Europe Travel : Europe Travel Guide , Europe Tourist Journal, Europe, Travel Europe, Europe Guide