The city came to prominence in 500BC as a Celtic settlement on the River Danube, although archaeologists suggest there were human settlements here as far back at the Palaeolithic age. The Romans arrived in 15BC and called the area Vindobona, setting up defences against the marauding Germanic tribes from the north. The Romans retreated in the 5th century AD and the city became home to various warring tribes.

In 803 Charlemagne arrived, followed by the Magyars. The latter were finally ousted by King Otto the Great in 995 and, 20 years later, the region came under the control of the powerful Babenbergs from Bavaria. The Babenberg era spanned almost three centuries, during which time construction was begun on Stephansdom in what is now the 1st District.

At the end of the 13th century, power passed briefly to the Bohemian King Otakar II, before being claimed by a new family, the Habsburgs. They were to rule Austria (with occasional breaks) from 1273 until 1918. The Habsburg empire was vast, and from 1556 its ruler was known as the Holy Roman Emperor of German Nations. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the imperial army repelled repeated invasions by the Ottomans. In 1805 and 1809, Napoleon invaded Vienna. After his defeat, the Congress of Vienna (1815) was held to decide the future of post-Napoleonic Europe and redefine boundaries.

The Austro-Hungarian era (1867–1918) was an attempt by the Habsburgs to regain the old days of Empire. Vienna experienced rapid population growth and recaptured its global reputation as a glittering centre of artistic, social and political brilliance, but the advent of the First World War spelled the end for the Habsburgs and of the decadence that had defined 1890s Vienna. During the Cold War, Vienna returned to political prominence as a meeting point between East and West.

POLITICS

The imposing Parliament building, with its classical statues, appears to be a relic from the days of the Habsburgs, but the political scene in Austria is a world away from the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Since the rise of Hitler, Austrians have been very careful not to rock the political boat. However, every so often tremors of the earlier regime are felt as a far-right politician is elected to office somewhere in the country.

In 1995, Austria entered the EU—and quickly clashed with its new buddy in 1999, after the deeply right-wing Freedom Party (FPÖ) won enough seats to form a coalition government with the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). The then leader of the FPÖ Joerg Haider, the son of a former Nazi official, holds extreme views on immigration and has been know to praise Hitler’s policies. European and American diplomats refused to meet him. He was sidestepped out of the cabinet, although not out of politics.

The current prime minister is Wolfgang Schüssel, whose ÖVP party formed the coalition with Haider’s FPÖ. Schüssel does not share Haider’s political views.

In general, Vienna remains politically left-wing, while the more rural areas of Austria tend towards the right.

RELIGION

As a Catholic country, Austria was at the heart of the Counter-Reformation (16th and 17th centuries) to withstand Protestantism. In 1867, religious freedom was declared a constitutional right. In 1999, 73% of the Austrian population registered as Roman Catholics, 12% as having no religion, 5% as Protestant and the rest as Orthodox Christians, Jews, Muslims or Buddhists. Before the Second World War, Vienna had a thriving Jewish community. There are just over 7,000 Jews in Vienna today—compared to a pre-war community of 200,000.

ECONOMY

Austria’s economic situation has been affected by the growth of the EU. The last few years have shown a less rapid rise in the nation’s finances. However, it remains the fourth-richest country within the EU (2004 figure), with less than 5% of the adult population registered unemployed. The standard of living is high, particularly in Vienna.

POPULATION

Vienna has always attracted immigrants. Today the largest influx is from the area that was formerly Yugoslavia (approx 80,000), with Turks in second place (almost 50,000). In a city of over 1.5 million, almost a quarter of the population weren’t born in Austria. In 2005, almost 18% of Vienna’s population did not hold Austrian citizenship. In 1999, EU figures showed that 3.9% of the population was living below the poverty line.