Religion and Weather in Austria

Religion

Like most European countries, Austria does not have a strict separation between state and church. Since the counter-reformation, it has been considered a country strongly influenced by Catholicism. Austrian attitudes towards religion derive from the Habsburg experience, when Austria's emperors and the Catholic Church acted in complete unison. This new volume in the Contemporary Austrian Studies series reevaluates this age-old tradition.

Religion in Austria focuses on relationships between political parties and religious faiths. Individual chapters analyze the impact of religion on contemporary Austria. They explore the post-World War II decline perhaps even the demise—of political Catholicism in the Second Republic; the political pluralism, which the still-dominant Catholic Church had to become accustomed to; and the principle of religious tolerance all major political parties have learned to accept. Contributors discuss the different formal (legal) links between the privileged denominations (the Catholic Church and other Christian churches, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism) and the state, especially in the areas of education and public finance.

Particular emphasis is given to the two traditional Christian churches—the Roman Catholic and the Protestant (Lutherans and Reformists)—as well as to the fastest growing new denominations, Islam and Judaism. Since a growing number of Austrians declare themselves to be officially not affiliated with any of the denominations in this age of secularism, the phenomenon of the Konfessionslosen (persons without religious affiliation) is also examined.

I had to put this picture that I found because it is so TRUE: " GOD IS TOO BIG TO FIT INTO ONE RELIGION".


Weather 

Austria has a temperate climate with four seasons, although regions with higher altitude vary. In general, Austria has dry, hot summers with temperatures reaching up to 95 degrees, and moderately cold winters. The alpine regions see high precipitation with considerable amounts of snow during mid-December through mid-March.


The biggest crowds gather in cities June through August and at ski resorts January through February. Salzburg pretty much shuts down due to crowds during the Salzburg Festival in July and August.

Shops are closed on Sundays year-round and on major holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and New Year's. Hotels and venues don't close on a regular basis. Most museums in Vienna are closed on Mondays.

The cheapest time to go is during February through mid-May and late September through mid-December when airfares are lower. Airfares tend to be highest from June through mid-September, as well as over the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Accommodations prices increase a bit during these times, too, but not as significantly as airfare.