Since Austrians are mostly Catholic (89 percent), wherever you go you can see beautiful churches, shrines, monasteries and cathedrals that have been built all over the country. In more rural areas, religious festivals, processions and pageants take place throughout the year, and this is when you might see the women dress up in embroidered blouses, lace aprons and full, dirndl skirts. On these special occasions, the men might wear Lederhosen (short, leather pants) with wide suspenders, short jackets without collars or lapels, and green-brimmed hats decorated with feathers or other regional adornments.

Besides being a land of castles and kingdoms, Austria also has huge wilderness areas that have been left undisturbed. The government has set them aside as national parks and nature areas, so no roads, houses or factories may be built in these preserves. Austria has abundant wildlife that is also protected by the government. The graceful fallow deer, the brown bear and shy, wild boars that look like domestic pigs all live in wooded areas, and the ibex, a mountain goat with curved horns, and the chamois live in the alpine mountains. Have you ever heard of a chamois? It is an animal that resembles an antelope.

Austrians' love of fine food, conversation, and relaxation all come together around the coffee-houses and Konditoreien (pastry shops) where many hours are spent reading, socializing, and maybe sipping a Kaisermelange (black coffee with an egg yoke and brandy). There are also vineyards in Austria, many with pleasant gardens with picnic tables and a buffet where people can buy roast meats, raw vegetables, salads, fresh cheeses, breads, rolls and sweets to go with the wine. These occasions are called Heurigen (this year's vintage) and represent a tradition that gives the Austrian people an occasion to enjoy many of the pleasures of life that they treasure.

Loving food as much as they do, it's fortunate that the Austrians also love sports and outdoor activities. In the summer they go hiking, bicycling, mountain climbing, sailing, swimming and canoeing in one of their many lake districts. The winter sports season begins in December and lasts right up until April. As you might guess, skiing is the leading winter sport, but Austrians also love to ice-skate and go tobogganing.