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Background: Even today Vienna itself is still like a medieval bastion, isolated from the outside world, xenophobic and cut off. Anachronism abound, from antique decorations in otherwise ultra-modern buildings to forgotten catacombs beneath bank vaults and subway tunnels. Honest--to-goodness castles and imperial palaces still exist in Vienna and stand side by side with ancient cathedrals, modern shopping malls and sky scrapping office buildings. Moss and vines cling to the older buildings or those at the outskirts of the city. Walls bear breaches, cracks or other signs of disrepair. Ars moriendi punctuate works of art. A sense of dread and fear looms visibly in the face of every passerby and sweet melancholy hangs in the air.
It is a city forever moving, changing pace, changing form; where everything is possible, where your strength will be tested, either in imposing your will, or in surviving that of others, for behind the blemishes of the city, Vienna has become a fierce battleground – a melting pot where east and west collide.
Background includes information about the setting Vienna, Austria of the present times and current situation in the city.
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History: A gateway to Eastern Europe, Vienna was the scene of epic battles between Christians and Muslims, as Ottoman Turks besieged the city. A musical capital, Vienna was home to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Sigmund Freund and Gustav Klimt made Vienna the birthplace of "modernity" around 1900. Grandiose Vienna was the showpiece of the all-conquering Habsburg dynasty. Monumental edifices line the city centre, world-class museums burst with treasures, white stallions strut their way down mirrored halls and renowned orchestras and angelic choirboys perform in lavish concert halls. Located in eastern Austria along the Danube, Vienna is Austria's political, financial and administrative capital. Today's Vienna is a city full of tradition and rich in architectural, artistic and musical heritage.
History provides information about Vienna and Austria's history from the pre-Celtic settlements of about 20,000 BC over Roman Times, and Babenbergs and Habsburg era to the modern times of the early and mid- twentieth century.
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Geography: Austria is uneasily located at the heart of Europe, flanked by Italy and Germany on the one side and by Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia on the other. It is a natural bridge between prosperous Brussels and impoverished Tirana, between a towering Germany and a cowering Serbia, between the Balkans and the central Europe. In its former incarnation as the Habsburg and capital of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria ruled all these regions.
Articles:
- Austria: Geographic information about the country.
- Vienna: Geographic information about the city and its environs.
- Game Maps: in-game maps.
Special Places
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Crime, Civil and Law (CCL) encompasses information about:
- Crime: includes criminal background of the city and its various areas, street gangs (from ethnic gangs to Skinheads and Hooligans), criminal organizations (Viennese, Italian, Turkish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese Mafia)
- Civil: ranges from city administration, court system and civil servants over international organizations (OSCE, PAN-European Network, ESA Office for Space Affairs, PUMA – Program Environmental Management, International Atomic Energy Agency and United Nations) to hospital and university.
- Law: provides with information about local law enforcement agencies (Bundespolizei – Beat Cope, Kriminalpolizei – Criminal Investigations Unit, Federal Police and Intelligence Service – Staatspolizei), criminal and legal procedures and comprehensive list of Austrian laws and regulations.
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Culture: Austrian Culture differs from that of Germany, though they have similar roots among Celtic tribes and the latter settlers of the region, including the Franks, Langobards and Bavarians. The Austrian people, however, have also been influenced by their neighbors: Italy, Hungary and Bohemia.
Articles:
- German Language: information about the German language and local dialects.
- Etiquette: formalities, old fashioned manners and common etiquette
- Vienna and Death: an eternal love and special relationship
- Traditions: local customs and special holidays and celebrations
- Religion: Religion in Austria and Vienna.
- Food and Drink: local cuisine, coffee and coffee house culture, viticulture (wine culture and 'Heurige' taverns, beer and breweries.
- Fashion: how people dress.
- Music: Vienna as musical capital and local charts
- Terminology: special terms and vocabulary
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Practical Information: Austria's neutrality, its EU membership, banking secrecy, business tradition, affluence, multilingualism and plurality of cultures make it the natural hub for multinationals eying the territories of the former Soviet bloc. The times where Vienna was a city only for the 30-somethings are over. Today, it's nature has once more changed.
Articles:
- Nightlife: whether in the bourgeois center or the more suburban districts, Vienna's scene booms.
- Climate: geographical influences and the weather year around.
- Politics: Austrian political parties and common sentiments.
- Media: Newspapers, radio and television landscape.
- Demographics: Demographical information of Austria and Vienna.
- Economy: businesses, currency (Euro), and shopping in Vienna.
- Education: Austria's educational system, from Kindergarten to University.
- Public Transportation: public transportation in Vienna.
- Road Traffic: Road traffic in Austria and Vienna.
- Travel: Getting into Austria and Vienna.
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