Vienna

Vienna is the capital city and one of the nine states of Austria. It is the most populous city in Austria, with a population of about 1.9 million, and its cultural, economic, and political center. It is the 7th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union.

History

Vienna's history dates back to the first post-Christian century when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. Today's cityscape is characterized by the abundance of Baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Franz Joseph who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture round the Ringstraße.

Geography

Vienna is located in northeastern Austria, at the easternmost extension of the Alps in the Vienna Basin. The earliest settlement, at the location of today's Inner City, was south of the meandering Danube while the city now spans both sides of the river.

Culture

Vienna is known for its high quality of life. In a 2005 study of 127 world cities, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked the city first (in a tie with Vancouver, Canada) for the world's most livable cities. Vienna has been the number one destination for international congresses and conventions. It attracts over 6.8 million tourists a year.

Economy

The city is the seat of many major international organizations, including OPEC and the OSCE. Vienna is also important economically as it is home to the headquarters of many multinational companies and is considered the gateway to Eastern Europe.

Education

Vienna is Austria's main center of education and home to many universities, professional colleges and gymnasiums (high schools).

Transport

Vienna has a large public transportation network. The Vienna S-Bahn with the central junction at Wien Mitte covers large parts of the region. Vienna also has a large tram network, the Vienna Tramway.

See also

• History of Vienna
• Culture of Vienna
• Economy of Vienna
• Education in Vienna
• Transport in Vienna