Many countries have various outstanding natural and cultural sites that differ in their special characteristics. For example, it can be a beautiful unusual lake or a rare architectural building. Such objects, due to their uniqueness, are important for all mankind, including for future generations. One of the states possessing such valuable objects is Austria.
UNESCO and world objects
Unusual and rare objects of the environment and cultural values of civilization, inherited from previous generations and in need of preservation for posterity, are very important as the spiritual and material wealth of all mankind.
Issues related to the inscription on the World Heritage List and the preservation of certain objects are handled by the UNESCO international organization.
Most of the monuments are concentrated in Europe, which indicates a significant contribution of European countries to the development of world culture. The richest in outstanding objects are Italy, France and Germany. Also, many valuable monuments of world significance arose thanks to ancient Asian civilizations. A huge number of cultural and natural sites are located in South America and Africa.
Numerous charming corners of nature, specially modified by man, become valuable in cultural and artistic terms. Such natural sites, transformed by people, are called cultural landscapes. For example, this is Peterhof and Pavlovsk near St. Petersburg, as well as the imperial residence Schönbrunn - a world heritage site in Austria. The natural and cultural heritage of the world is always at risk of complete or partial destruction. A large number of valuable objects were destroyed or partially destroyed during world wars and revolutions. Natural disasters (fires, earthquakes, floods and hurricanes) and environmental degradation pose a significant danger, also through the fault of people.
Austria
Austria is a relatively small federal state in the heart of Europe, a parliamentary republic. The population is approximately 8.5 million. The state includes 9 federal lands with an impressive share of autonomous self-government. The nationality of the main population is Austrian Germans.
Architecture and urban development of the Austrian lands developed under the weighty influence of the Roman Catholic Church. In addition, in the formation of these values of civilization, the country and its capital, Vienna, played a significant role as the political and cultural center of vast lands.
Austria World Heritage List
To the World Heritage Sites in Austria to date, the UNESCO organization has ranked 9 monuments. The first to this list were the Historic Center of Salzburg (1996), as well as the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens in Vienna. In 1997, the Hallstatt-Dachstein Cultural Landscape came here, and the following year, the Semmering Railway. This was followed by the Historic Center of Graz and the Eggenberg Castle (1999, supplemented in 2010), the Cultural Landscapes of Wachau (2000) and Fert - Neusiedlersee (2001).
In addition, the Historic Center of Vienna (2001) and the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings near the Alps (2011) were added here. There is also a preliminary list of Austrian candidate sites. To date, it consists of 13 items.
City Salzburg
Austria's world heritage is very rich in beautiful architectural buildings, a large number of which are located, for example, in Salzburg. This city is located at the foot of the Alps, relatively close to Vienna. The stunning beauty of Salzburg arose as a result of a wonderful combination of nature and art: magnificent historical monuments are naturally located surrounded by its mountainous territories. The city owes its origin to the construction of a monastery in the 7th century A.D. Salzburg also gained its popularity thanks to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the greatest virtuoso musician. For a long time the city was the spiritual capital of the country, having in its arsenal, in addition to art, many beautiful churches.
A hike in the historic center of Salzburg will leave a lot of impressions. Here is the medieval fortress of Hohensalzburg, a symbol of the city. An interesting old screw organ, called the Salzburg Bull, is interesting because it woke residents for many years in the morning.
Mozart was baptized in a monumental Cathedral with luxurious interior decoration. It is impossible to deprive attention of the Collegienkirche university church, so beloved by the great composer. It was erected in the XVII century by Johann Berhard Fischer von Erpach in the Baroque style in honor of the Virgin Mary. Now it houses a unique church museum. The same architect built a large Franciscan church.
The central square of the city of Residenzplatz has not changed much since the 18th century. Around the square are the new and old bishop’s residences and the Zattler Museum, and the center has an old fountain. A huge variety of architectural styles is concentrated here. The city captivates with its cozy streets and courtyards, the splendor of architectural buildings, squares and beautiful fountains.
Schönbrunn
The grand Schönbrunn Palace as the summer residence of the ruling monarchs was built at the end of the 17th century by Johann von Erlach. Initially, there was a house at the mill on this site, later there was a hunting estate destroyed by the Turks. Throughout the history of its existence, the Palace was rebuilt and rebuilt several times. In the mid-18th century, the palace became the epicenter of the country's socio-political events. Schönbrunn was the residence of the rulers of the Habsburg dynasty from the 18th century until 1918, when the monarchy was abolished and the Austrian Republic arose.
This monumental structure is remarkable for a large number of wonderful pieces of fine art; it has more than one thousand rooms. Baroque Schönbrunn and its park are included in the World Heritage of Austria. The magnificent ancient palace park with an outlandish labyrinth, an abundance of beautiful flower plantings, alleys, sculptures and fountains amaze guests with its splendor. There is also a triumphal arch with a delightful overview of the city and specially created Roman ruins. Noteworthy is the world's oldest zoological garden, which contains more than four thousand animals. Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens are a magnificent Baroque ensemble and a wonderful piece of a comprehensive art object.
Steel highway of the country
The Semmering Railway, over 40 km long, was built in the highlands in the middle of the 19th century. It is an outstanding embodiment of engineering and the very first railway in the world in the highlands. In the twentieth century, the railway was included in the World Heritage of Austria.
Construction in difficult conditions was carried out by 20 thousand people under the leadership of Karl Ritter von Geg. That is why locomotives of a fundamentally new device were built, as well as many different bridges. The path is still used today due to the excellent condition of tunnels and other structures. The road stretched along the most beautiful mountainous terrain, where an Austrian resort, famous for its beautiful ski slopes and clean air, arose.
Capital of Austria
Vienna is Austria's main city, the cradle of delightful music and talented composers. This cultural, economic and political center of the country, and once the whole of Europe, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with an incredibly luxurious cultural and architectural heritage.
The historical center of Vienna has existed for many centuries and is replete with chic architectural ensembles, including beautiful baroque palaces and parks. The old town is relatively small and is surrounded by Ringstrasse at the end of the 19th century, which still has grand buildings, monuments and parks, many museums and the Museum Quarter.
This part of the city belongs to the World Heritage of Austria. Its main attractions also include centuries-old cathedrals, monuments and social buildings. The heart of Vienna, Stefanplatz Square is famous for the 12th-century St. Stephen's Cathedral and other interesting things.
The amazing Hofburg is also famous - the imperial residence with 19 palaces, built at different times, and with twenty other buildings. It contains the rarest and most valuable relics. There are various museums, the National Library, magnificent imperial apartments, as well as a chapel, where in our time the choir of boys sings, first founded in the 15th century.