Austrian flag: facts, history and meaning
Austria is a true pearl of Central Europe, a fantastic corner and a breathtaking area conveniently hidden near snow-capped peaks and mountain hills, crystal-clear lakes and reservoirs, vast alpine fields and meadows and rapid river courses. In ancient times, the most important trade routes ran through Austria. The Austrian lands were crossed by ancient peoples and tribes in search of the best pastures and hunting grounds. Such a concentration of peoples in the past meant that in 2010 the title of best country in the fashionable Travel Awards went to Austria.
The colors of the Austrian national flag are among the oldest in Europe. In our article you will find all the important facts about the appearance of the Austrian flag, the coat of arms and the federal flag.
National flag of Austria
The appearance of the flag is laid down in Section 3 of the Coat of Arms Act f the Republic of Austria. It consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width, of which the middle one is white and the two outer stripes are red. There is no prescribed size ratio. However, a ratio of 3:2 (width to height) is recommended. Every citizen of the Republic of Austria is free to use the flag.
The coat of arms of the Republic of Austria
The Austrian coat of arms shows a black eagle with a golden mural crown and three battlements. The crown symbolizes the republic, its citizens and the ruling democracy. In its talons, the eagle holds a sickle, the symbol of the peasant class, and a hammer, for the working class. They are regarded as a further development of the heraldic representation from the earlier imperial coat of arms and replace the imperial crown, the sword/scepter and the orb.
The broken chains on the fangs were added in 1945 as a symbol of Austria's liberation from National Socialism. The eagle's breast is adorned with the binden shield, a red shield with a silver crossbar. The coat of arms is always used free-floating without a shield.
Where do the colors of the Austrian flag come from?
The roots of the Austrian flag go back a long way. The coat of arms of the Babenberg Henry II Jasomirgott is considered to be its origin. On the occasion of Austria's elevation to a duchy in 1156, it showed the one-headed eagle, which was later replaced by the red-white-red shield. This is the first time that this color combination appears in heraldry.
In the Middle Ages, the red-white-red striped flags were used on a variety of occasions: at tributes, funerals, triumphal arches, on paintings and seals or manuscripts. Later, however, the colors faded into the background and only appeared on the breastplate of the imperial eagle in the Habsburg family coat of arms.
It was not until 1786 that Emperor Joseph II introduced a flag with three horizontal red-white-red stripes and a shield with a golden border as a naval ensign. For a long time, Austria had no real national flag. The imperial colors black and yellow were used on official occasions.
After the collapse of the monarchy in 1918 and the abdication of the emperor, the newly founded republic returned to the colors of the Babenburgs. The red-white-red striped flag became the official flag of Austria.
Austrian vs Latvian flags: main differences
Pay attention to Austria 🇦🇹 and Latvia 🇱🇻, their flags are very similar. The main difference is that the red of the Latvian flag is darker and the white horizontal stripe is narrower.
Latvia and Austria have similar flags, both with horizontal stripes of red and white. However, their designs and historical contexts are different:
Flag design:
🇱🇻 Latvia: the Latvian flag consists of a dark red stripe at the top and bottom and a white stripe in the middle. The proportions are 2:1:2, with the red being a darker shade.
🇦🇹 Austria: The Austrian flag has three horizontal stripes: red, white and red, with equal proportions.
Historical context:
🇱🇻 Latvia: The Latvian flag was officially adopted in 1922, although its origins date back to the 13th century. The red symbolizes blood spilled for independence, while the white represents peace and unity.
🇦🇹 Austria: The Austrian flag also dates back to the 13th century. It is assumed that the red and white colors originate from the Babenberg coat of arms. The colors stand for bravery and purity.
Cultural significance: Both flags reflect national pride and historical struggles for independence. Although they have similar colors, they embody different national identities and histories.
The symbol today: pride and identity
Since then, the Austrian flag has retained its significance as a symbol of national identity. It has accompanied the country through times of reconstruction, political change and economic prosperity. The red-white-red tricolor has become synonymous with cultural diversity, historical continuity and the strength of modern Austria.
In a rapidly changing world, the Austrian flag reminds us how deep the connection between country and symbol can be. It tells of Austria's challenges and victories and symbolizes the pride of a country that wears its history with elegance. The history of the flag is a tribute to continuity and change, a witness to the past, a symbol of the present and an inspiration for the future. From the simple colors of red-white-red to the profound meaning, the Austrian flag embodies the heart of a country and its people.
Flags of Federal States of Austria
The Austrian flag is one of the oldest in Europe, and the colors red and white can be found on the flags of 7 of the country's 9 federal states. The exceptions are Lower Austria and Styria: the flag of Lower Austria is an exact copy of the flag of Ukraine, and the home region of Arnold Schwarzenegger uses the colors white and green. The flags of Upper Austria and Tyrol (without the coat of arms) are similar to the Polish flag. Funnily enough, even without the coat of arms, the flag of Austria has the same colors as the flags of the Belgian city of Leuven and the German city of Bremerhaven.
Interesting facts about Austria
This small landlocked country in the heart of Europe covers a total area of 83,850 square kilometers. The Alps characterize Austria's landscape, as around 60 percent of the country's surface area is mountainous. The country's highest mountain, the Grossglockner, at 3,798 meters, offers a breathtaking view of the Hohe Tauern National Park. On its way from Germany to the Black Sea, the country's largest river, the Danube, meanders for around 350 kilometers through an attractive river landscape.
Most of Austria is covered by mountains. The Eastern Alps make up 62% of the country's total area. The highest point, the Grossglockner (3,798 m), is also the second highest peak in Europe. It is home to the largest glacier, the Pasterze, which has been actively melting since the 19th century. Austria's best ski resorts are located here.
Few people know that the concept of "Austrian cuisine" was created under the influence of Hungarian, Czech, Jewish and Italian cuisine in particular, from which both the dishes and the preparation methods were often adopted. One of the most striking examples of this is goulash soup. However, tourists are much more familiar with other Austrian dishes - Fleischschnitzel or Tafelspitz and sweet "Strudel" or "Sachertorte".
There are only five large cities in Austria - Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg, Graz and Linz. Almost a quarter of Austria's population lives in Vienna.
Austria is the most mountainous country in Europe, with 62% of its territory covered by the Alps.
Austrian children learn to ski before they learn to walk.
The Terminator, Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, was born near Graz.
In Austria, most public saunas are open to men and women at the same time, and it is customary to warm up naked.
It was here, in the Austrian Alps, that the world's first ski resorts were built - St. Anton and Kitzbühel.
