Wien

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Wien

Wien (also known as Vienna in English) is the federal capital, largest city, and one of nine states of Austria. Wien is Austria's most populous city, with about 1.9 million inhabitants, and its cultural, economic, and political center. It is the 6th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union.

History

The history of Wien 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.

Culture

Wien 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. Wien has been a synonym for music for centuries and was home to Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Johann Strauss, among others. It has a vibrant cultural scene, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's best. The Vienna State Opera is a state institution that supports Austria's premier cultural institutions.

Economy

Wien is one of the wealthiest regions in the European Union: Its gross regional product of EUR 47,200 per capita constituted 25.7% of Austria's GDP in 2013. It amounts to 159% of the EU average. The city improved its position from 2012 on the ranking of the most economically powerful cities reaching number nine on the listing in 2015.

Education

Wien hosts many major universities, colleges and libraries, such as the University of Vienna, the Vienna University of Technology, the Vienna University of Economics and Business, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna. These universities offer a wide range of courses for undergraduate, graduate and professional studies. Wien has a long tradition of higher education with its universities playing a crucial role in the city's intellectual life and its economy.

Transport

Wien has a large public transportation network. The Vienna S-Bahn, the Vienna U-Bahn and the Vienna Tramway are the backbone of the public transport system in Wien. The city also has an extensive network of buses.

See also

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