Few countries can look back on such a rich, varied and colourful history as Austria. Situated at the very heart of Europe, Austria has been from time immemorial the meeting-place of East and West. Her sphere of influence extended from Spain to Russia and from Italy to the Netherlands. Vienna was not only the residence of the Holy Roman Emperors, and later the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but it was also a European metropolis. It was from the walls of Vienna that the Turkish onslaught on Central Europe was rolled back in 1683, and it was in Vienna that the Congress was held in 1814 that gave Europe peace for almost half a century. - Back cover.