THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT AUSTRIA

LEGEND HAS IT THAT IN 1191 DUKE LEOPOLD V

GOT BLOOD SPLATTERED ON HIS TUNIC

DURING BATTLE. WHEN HE REMOVED HIS

SASH A WHITE BAND WAS REVEALED

VIENNA'S SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE (BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN)

GOT ITS NAME FROM THE SPRING THAT PROVIDED THE

PALACE WITH WATER. APPARENTLY IT TASTED SO FRESH

THAT EMPERORS HAD IT DELIVERED TO THEIR TABLE.

IN 1552 A HAPSBURG PRINCE BROUGHT AN ELEPHANT

FROM SPAIN BACK TO VIENNA BUT IT DIED IN THE

COLD CLIMATE SHORTLY THEREAFTER

WHEN ARTIST EDWIN LIPBURGER GOT INTO A DISPUTE

WITH AUTHORITIES OVER BUILDING PERMITS FOR HIS

SPHERICAL HOUSE, HE DECIDED TO DECLARE

INDEPENDENCE FROM AUSTRIA

HIS NEW COUNTRY WAS CALLED THE REPUBLIC OF

KUGELMUGEL (BALL HILL). AUTHORITIES, HOWEVER,

MOVED HIS HOUSE TO PRATER PARK IN DOWNTOWN

VIENNA AND SURROUNDED IT WITH BARBED WIRE

WHEN EDWIN REFUSED TO PAY TAXES TO AUSTRIA,

ONLY A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON SAVED HIM FROM JAIL.

TODAY, KUGELMUGEL STILL STANDS AS A TOURIST

ATTRACTION

MOST OF AUSTRIA IS MOUNTAINOUS AND COVERED

BY THE ALPS AND ABOUT 1/4 OF THE POPULATION

LIVE IN VIENNA, THE CAPITAL

AMONG ITS MOUNTAINS IS THE GROßGLOCKNER,

EUROPE'S SECOND MOST PROMINENT MOUNTAIN

(3,798M, WITH A PROMINENCE OF 2,423M)