Did you know... it's Austrian National Day tomorrow, or Nationalfeiertag - a day celebrated throughout Austria and by Austrians worldwide to commemorate Austria's 1955 Declaration of Neutrality. It's also a good excuse for those of us outside Austria to remember to enjoy some of the many wonderful things from this country!
Here are some ideas to immerse yourself in Austrian culture:
Visit Austria, virtually! 🌍🖥️ Get inspired and sample some of the cultural, geographical and culinary joys available here or with these videos and playlists from Holidays in Austria. You can also get to know different Austrian customs and traditions here and find out in which ways they are linked to environmental and social sustainability.
Explore Austrian Art and Culture 🖼️✨ : Discover Austrian masterpieces from the comfort of your home with Google Arts & Culture. For a more immersive experience, check out the virtual tours and videos from top Austrian institutions, like Vienna's Belvedere Museum.
Learn some Austrian German 🗣️🇦🇹 : Austrian German has unique expressions and vocabulary that set it apart from Hochdeutsch (Standard German). Read this fun account from a former UK ambassador on Austrian dialects, or check out the Easy German video to pick up some phrases. There are also some links below to lots of teaching and learning materials c/o Austrian Embassy's London's Austrian Cultural Forum (distributed at the EU's European Day of Languages London Event this year).
Listen to some Austrian Music 🎶🎻 : Austria’s musical legacy spans from the classical works of Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, and Schubert, through traditional Alpine horn music, to the electronic beats of Kruder & Dorfmeister, Dorian Concept and electro pop-star Sofie Royer.
Indulge in Austrian cuisine! 🥂🍰 Try cooking up some classic dishes like Wiener Schnitzel, Apfelstrudel, or Sachertorte. Check out Taste Atlas for the top 100 Austrian dishes, topped by a favourite at our holiday clubs when we 'visit' the Alpine regions is "Kaiserschmarrn" (shredded pancakes!). Practise the art of 'Kaffee und Kuchen' in a coffee house somewhere. You could also seek out Austrian beer, wine, or even a restaurant serving up delicious Austrian cuisine such as Fishers in London.
Watch Austrian films and series 🎬📺 : Enjoy classics like The Third Man (ITVX, Prime, and Apple TV) or The Sound of Music or try Austrian TV series like Freud (Netflix) or Kafka (on Channel 4’s Walter Presents) to immerse you in Austrian culture and history.
Read Austrian books 📚🇦🇹 : Whether translated into English - including the 2024 comic biography "Completely Kafka" by Nicolas Mahler, or in the original language, there is lots of great literature written by Austria authors to entertain you.
Go hiking! 🥾🏞️ It’s also Austria’s National Hiking Day, so take a walk or hike and spend the day outdoors, ideally up on hills to feel as close as possible to being in the Alps!
And if you're in London... 📍🇬🇧 Visit the Austrian Cultural Forum which hosts regular events, exhibitions and film screenings., celebrating Austrian heritage.
Which of these Austrian-flavoured activities are you most inspired to try or do you do already? Any to add? Let us know!
(Courtesy of Austrian Embassy's London's austrian cultural forum).
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