Styria (state)
Encyclopedia
Styria is a state
or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria
. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia
as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria
, Lower Austria
, Salzburg
, Burgenland
, and Carinthia
. The population (as of 2011) was 1,210,700. The capital city is Graz
(255,000 inhabitants).
" used by an Austrian refers to the northern and northwestern parts of the federal-state (districts Liezen
, Murau
, Judenburg
, Knittelfeld
, Leoben
, Bruck an der Mur
, and Mürzzuschlag
). The term "West Styria" (Weststeiermark) is used for the districts to the west of Graz (Voitsberg
, Deutschlandsberg
, western part of the district Leibnitz
), the districts east of Graz (Weiz
, Hartberg
, Feldbach
, Fürstenfeld
, and Radkersburg
) are referred to as "East Styria" (Oststeiermark). The western and eastern parts of the district Graz-Umgebung may or may not be considered parts of West and East Styria, respectively. The southern parts of the Duchy of Styria, which have formed part of Slovenia since 1918, were (and sometimes colloquially still are) referred to as "Lower Styria
" (Untersteiermark; ).
, Styria was inhabited by Celtic tribes. After its conquest by the Romans, the eastern part of what is now Styria was part of Pannonia
, while the western one was included in Noricum
. During the Barbarian invasions, it was conquered or crossed by the Visigoths, the Huns
, the Ostrogoths, the Rugii, the Lombards
, the Franks
and the Avars
. In 595 the latter were defeated by the Slavs, who thenceforth ruled it.
In 1180 Styria separated from the Duchy of Carinthia
and became a Grand Duchy of its own; in 1192 it became part of Austria. After the hereditary subdivision of the latter, Styria formed the central part of Inner Austria
.
Styria developed culturally and economically under Archduke John from 1809 and 1859. In 1918, after World War I
, it was divided into a northern section (forming what is the current Austrian state), and a southern one, called Lower Styria, inhabited mostly by ethnic Slovenians, and which was annexed to Yugoslavia, and later in Slovenia.
In 2004 Styria had the strongest economic growth
rate in Austria at 3.8% - mainly due to the Graz area which saw strong economic growth that year and has continued to grow in economic and population terms since then.
Styria is home to more than 150 cleantech companies, of which one dozen are world technology leaders in their field. The cleantech revenue of Styrian companies totals €2.7 billion. This equals to 8 percent of the Gross Regional Product (GRP), and is one of the highest concentrations of leading clean technology companies in Europe. The companies have an average (real) growth rate of 22 percent per year—well above the worldwide cleantech market growth of 18 percent per year. The region created roughly 2,000 additional green jobs in 2008 alone.
e), and a statutory city
.
The state had been a stronghold of the Austrian People's Party
(ÖVP) since 1945. Graz however is a stronghold for the left-wing Communist Party
(KPÖ). The governor (Austrian political term: Landeshauptmann
) was usually a member of the ÖVP.
(SPÖ) under their regional chairman Franz Voves
won the majority after the ÖVP had damaged its credibility through scandals and the secession of a high-ranking party member who took part in the 2005 election after setting up his own party. In this election, the Communist Party
(KPÖ) also received many votes after it had gained much popularity through its role in local politics in Graz during the preceding few years. The two right wing populist parties, the FPÖ
and the BZÖ
both failed to win seats.
States of Austria
Austria is a federal republic made up of nine states, known in German as Länder . Since Land is also the German word for a country, the term Bundesländer is often used instead to avoid ambiguity. The Constitution of Austria uses both terms...
or Bundesland, located in the southeast of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. In area it is the second largest of the nine Austrian federated states, covering 16,401 km². It borders Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
as well as the other Austrian states of Upper Austria
Upper Austria
Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...
, Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
, Salzburg
Salzburg (state)
Salzburg is a state or Land of Austria with an area of 7,156 km2, located adjacent to the German border. It is also known as Salzburgerland, to distinguish it from its capital city, also named Salzburg...
, Burgenland
Burgenland
Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state or Land of Austria. It consists of two Statutarstädte and seven districts with in total 171 municipalities. It is 166 km long from north to south but much narrower from west to east...
, and Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
. The population (as of 2011) was 1,210,700. The capital city is Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
(255,000 inhabitants).
Geography
The term "Upper StyriaUpper Styria
In the Austrian usage of the term, Upper Styria refers exclusively to the northwestern, generally mountainous and well wooded half of the federal state of Styria, the southwestern half of the state around the capital of Graz being known as Mittelsteiermark , which is further divided into Eastern...
" used by an Austrian refers to the northern and northwestern parts of the federal-state (districts Liezen
Liezen (district)
Bezirk Liezen is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.It is by far the largest district in Austria, about three times the size of other large districts, and is divided into three "subdistricts":...
, Murau
Murau (district)
Bezirk Murau is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Dürnstein in der Steiermark**Wildbad Einöd* Frojach-Katsch...
, Judenburg
Judenburg (district)
Bezirk Judenburg is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Amering...
, Knittelfeld
Knittelfeld (district)
Bezirk Knittelfeld is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Apfelberg**Landschach* Feistritz bei Knittelfeld**Altendorf,...
, Leoben
Leoben (district)
Bezirk Leoben is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Eisenerz* Gai** Edling, Gausendorf, Gimplach, Gößgraben, Kurzheim,...
, Bruck an der Mur
Bruck an der Mur (district)
Bezirk Bruck an der Mur is a district in the Austrian state of Styria.-Municipalities:* Aflenz Kurort* Aflenz Land** Döllach, Dörflach, Graßnitz, Jauring, Tutschach* Breitenau am Hochlantsch** Sankt Erhard, Sankt Jakob-Breitenau...
, and Mürzzuschlag
Mürzzuschlag (district)
Bezirk Mürzzuschlag is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Allerheiligen im Mürztal...
). The term "West Styria" (Weststeiermark) is used for the districts to the west of Graz (Voitsberg
Voitsberg (district)
Bezirk Voitsberg is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Bärnbach**Hochtregist* Edelschrott**Kreuzberg* Gallmannsegg**Hadergasse...
, Deutschlandsberg
Deutschlandsberg (district)
Bezirk Deutschlandsberg is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Aibl**Aichberg, Hadernigg, Rothwein, Sankt Bartlmä, Sankt...
, western part of the district Leibnitz
Leibnitz (district)
Bezirk Leibnitz is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Allerheiligen bei Wildon**Großfeiting, Kleinfeiting, Pesendorf,...
), the districts east of Graz (Weiz
Weiz (district)
Bezirk Weiz is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Albersdorf-Prebuch**Albersdorf, Kalch, Postelgraben, Prebuch, Wollsdorferegg...
, Hartberg
Hartberg (district)
Bezirk Hartberg is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Bad Waltersdorf**Hohenbrugg, Leitersdorf, Lichtenwald, Wagerberg*...
, Feldbach
Feldbach (district)
Bezirk Feldbach is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Auersbach** Wetzelsdorf* Aug-Radisch** Aug, Radisch* Bad...
, Fürstenfeld
Fürstenfeld (district)
Bezirk Fürstenfeld is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.- Municipalities :Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Altenmarkt bei Fürstenfeld** Speltenbach, Stadtbergen* Bad...
, and Radkersburg
Radkersburg (district)
Bezirk Radkersburg is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Bad Radkersburg* Bierbaum am Auersbach* Deutsch Goritz...
) are referred to as "East Styria" (Oststeiermark). The western and eastern parts of the district Graz-Umgebung may or may not be considered parts of West and East Styria, respectively. The southern parts of the Duchy of Styria, which have formed part of Slovenia since 1918, were (and sometimes colloquially still are) referred to as "Lower Styria
Lower Styria
Lower Styria or Slovenian Styria is a traditional region in northeastern Slovenia, comprising the southern third of the former Duchy of Styria. The population of Lower Styria in its historical boundaries amounts to around 705,000 inhabitants, or 34.5% of the population of Slovenia...
" (Untersteiermark; ).
History
During early Roman timesAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, Styria was inhabited by Celtic tribes. After its conquest by the Romans, the eastern part of what is now Styria was part of Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
, while the western one was included in Noricum
Noricum
Noricum, in ancient geography, was a Celtic kingdom stretching over the area of today's Austria and a part of Slovenia. It became a province of the Roman Empire...
. During the Barbarian invasions, it was conquered or crossed by the Visigoths, the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
, the Ostrogoths, the Rugii, the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
, the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
and the Avars
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
. In 595 the latter were defeated by the Slavs, who thenceforth ruled it.
In 1180 Styria separated from the Duchy of Carinthia
Duchy of Carinthia
The Duchy of Carinthia was a duchy located in southern Austria and parts of northern Slovenia. It was separated from the Duchy of Bavaria in 976, then the first newly created Imperial State beside the original German stem duchies....
and became a Grand Duchy of its own; in 1192 it became part of Austria. After the hereditary subdivision of the latter, Styria formed the central part of Inner Austria
Inner Austria
Inner Austria was a term used from the late 14th to the early 17th century for the Habsburg hereditary lands south of the Semmering Pass, referring to the duchies of Styria, Carinthia, Carniola and the Windic March, the County of Gorizia , the city of Trieste and assorted smaller possessions...
.
Styria developed culturally and economically under Archduke John from 1809 and 1859. In 1918, after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it was divided into a northern section (forming what is the current Austrian state), and a southern one, called Lower Styria, inhabited mostly by ethnic Slovenians, and which was annexed to Yugoslavia, and later in Slovenia.
Economy
As elsewhere in the developed world, there has been a shift away from the manufacturing sector towards the service sector in Styria. This has had negative consequences for the industrial regions of upper Styria which have suffered a steady decline in population in recent years.In 2004 Styria had the strongest economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
rate in Austria at 3.8% - mainly due to the Graz area which saw strong economic growth that year and has continued to grow in economic and population terms since then.
Styria is home to more than 150 cleantech companies, of which one dozen are world technology leaders in their field. The cleantech revenue of Styrian companies totals €2.7 billion. This equals to 8 percent of the Gross Regional Product (GRP), and is one of the highest concentrations of leading clean technology companies in Europe. The companies have an average (real) growth rate of 22 percent per year—well above the worldwide cleantech market growth of 18 percent per year. The region created roughly 2,000 additional green jobs in 2008 alone.
Administrative divisions
The state is divided into 16 districts (BezirkBezirk
Bezirk means "district" in German and can refer to:* The primary Subdivisions of East Germany from 1952* The districts of Austria* Some of the Districts of Switzerland...
e), and a statutory city
Statutory city
A Statutory city is a city with its own municipal law or city statute.-Austria:...
.
Districts
- Bruck an der MurBruck an der Mur (district)Bezirk Bruck an der Mur is a district in the Austrian state of Styria.-Municipalities:* Aflenz Kurort* Aflenz Land** Döllach, Dörflach, Graßnitz, Jauring, Tutschach* Breitenau am Hochlantsch** Sankt Erhard, Sankt Jakob-Breitenau...
- DeutschlandsbergDeutschlandsberg (district)Bezirk Deutschlandsberg is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Aibl**Aichberg, Hadernigg, Rothwein, Sankt Bartlmä, Sankt...
- FeldbachFeldbach (district)Bezirk Feldbach is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Auersbach** Wetzelsdorf* Aug-Radisch** Aug, Radisch* Bad...
- FürstenfeldFürstenfeld (district)Bezirk Fürstenfeld is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.- Municipalities :Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Altenmarkt bei Fürstenfeld** Speltenbach, Stadtbergen* Bad...
- Graz-UmgebungGraz-UmgebungBezirk Graz-Umgebung is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Attendorf**Attendorfberg, Mantscha, Schadendorfberg,...
- HartbergHartberg (district)Bezirk Hartberg is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Bad Waltersdorf**Hohenbrugg, Leitersdorf, Lichtenwald, Wagerberg*...
- JudenburgJudenburg (district)Bezirk Judenburg is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Amering...
- KnittelfeldKnittelfeld (district)Bezirk Knittelfeld is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Apfelberg**Landschach* Feistritz bei Knittelfeld**Altendorf,...
- LeibnitzLeibnitz (district)Bezirk Leibnitz is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Allerheiligen bei Wildon**Großfeiting, Kleinfeiting, Pesendorf,...
- LeobenLeoben (district)Bezirk Leoben is a district of the state ofStyria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Eisenerz* Gai** Edling, Gausendorf, Gimplach, Gößgraben, Kurzheim,...
- LiezenLiezen (district)Bezirk Liezen is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.It is by far the largest district in Austria, about three times the size of other large districts, and is divided into three "subdistricts":...
with the subdistricts
Gröbming and Bad Aussee
- MürzzuschlagMürzzuschlag (district)Bezirk Mürzzuschlag is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Allerheiligen im Mürztal...
- MurauMurau (district)Bezirk Murau is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Dürnstein in der Steiermark**Wildbad Einöd* Frojach-Katsch...
- RadkersburgRadkersburg (district)Bezirk Radkersburg is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Bad Radkersburg* Bierbaum am Auersbach* Deutsch Goritz...
- VoitsbergVoitsberg (district)Bezirk Voitsberg is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Bärnbach**Hochtregist* Edelschrott**Kreuzberg* Gallmannsegg**Hadergasse...
- WeizWeiz (district)Bezirk Weiz is a district of the state of Styria in Austria.-Municipalities:Suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.* Albersdorf-Prebuch**Albersdorf, Kalch, Postelgraben, Prebuch, Wollsdorferegg...
Politics
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
(ÖVP) since 1945. Graz however is a stronghold for the left-wing Communist Party
Communist Party of Austria
The Communist Party of Austria is a communist party based in Austria. Established in 1918, it was banned between 1933 and 1945 under both the Austrofascist regime, and German control of Austria during World War II...
(KPÖ). The governor (Austrian political term: Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann is a former German gubernatorial title equivalent to that of a governor of a province or a state....
) was usually a member of the ÖVP.
2005 Elections
In the latest elections for state parliament the Social DemocratsSocial Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
(SPÖ) under their regional chairman Franz Voves
Franz Voves
Franz Voves is an Austrian politician of the SPÖ and a former player in the Austrian ice hockey national team. Since October 25, 2005, he has been Governor of Styria . He was vice-governor of Styria from March 12, 2002 to October 24, 2005...
won the majority after the ÖVP had damaged its credibility through scandals and the secession of a high-ranking party member who took part in the 2005 election after setting up his own party. In this election, the Communist Party
Communist Party of Austria
The Communist Party of Austria is a communist party based in Austria. Established in 1918, it was banned between 1933 and 1945 under both the Austrofascist regime, and German control of Austria during World War II...
(KPÖ) also received many votes after it had gained much popularity through its role in local politics in Graz during the preceding few years. The two right wing populist parties, the FPÖ
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
and the BZÖ
Alliance for the Future of Austria
The Alliance for the Future of Austria , abbreviated to BZÖ, is a conservative liberal political party in Austria. The party has sixteen seats in the National Council....
both failed to win seats.
Notable persons
- Peter RoseggerPeter RoseggerPeter Rosegger was an Austrian poet from the province of Styria. He was a son of a farmer and grew up in the forests and fields. Rosegger went on to become a most productive poet and author as well as an insightful teacher and visionary...
(born 1843), poet - Elfriede JelinekElfriede JelinekElfriede Jelinek is an Austrian playwright and novelist. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2004 for her "musical flow of voices and counter-voices in novels and plays that, with extraordinary linguistic zeal, reveal the absurdity of society's clichés and their subjugating power."-...
(born 1946), Nobel Prize in Literature winner - Jochen RindtJochen RindtKarl Jochen Rindt was a German racing driver who represented Austria during his career. He is the only driver to posthumously win the Formula One World Drivers' Championship , after being killed in practice for the Italian Grand Prix...
(1942–1970), Formula 1 World Champion - Dr. Helmut MarkoHelmut MarkoDr. Helmut Marko is a former racing driver from Austria.A friend of Jochen Rindt, he entered racing, and eventually participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 15 August 1971...
(born 1943), former racing driver - Dietrich MateschitzDietrich MateschitzDietrich Mateschitz is an Austrian businessman who co-founded the Red Bull energy drink company and holds 49 per cent of the company's shares.-Biography:...
(born 1944), founder and CEO of Red BullRed BullRed Bull is an energy drink sold by the Austrian Red Bull GmbH, created in 1987 by the Austrian entrepreneur Dietrich Mateschitz. In terms of market share, Red Bull is the most popular energy drink in the world, with 3 billion cans sold each year. Dietrich Mateschitz was inspired by an already...
, billionaire - Klaus Maria BrandauerKlaus Maria BrandauerKlaus Maria Brandauer is an Austrian actor, film director, and professor at the Max Reinhardt Seminar in Vienna.-Personal life:...
(born 1944), actor and director - Frank StronachFrank StronachFrank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
(born 1932), founder of Magna InternationalMagna InternationalMagna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
, billionaire - Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
(born 1947), Hollywood actor and former Governor of CaliforniaGovernor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced... - Thomas MusterThomas MusterThomas Muster is a former world no. 1 tennis player from Austria. One of the world's leading clay court players in the 1990s, Muster won the 1995 French Open and at his peak was known as "The King of Clay." In addition, he won eight Masters 1000 series titles, placing him sixth on the all-time list...
(born 1967), former World No. 1 tennis player - Renate GötschlRenate GötschlRenate Götschl is a former champion alpine ski racer. She is a two-time individual World Champion in the combined and downhill , and has won a total of 9 World Championships medals...
(born 1975), alpine skiing World Champion - Elisabeth GörglElisabeth GörglElisabeth Görgl is an Austrian professional alpine skier. She is an all-round skier who has reached World Cup podiums in all disciplines, with her best World Cup results in giant slalom and super G. In January 2008, she won her first world cup race in the Maribor, Slovenia giant slalom...
(born 1981), professional alpine skier - Ulla WeigerstorferUlla WeigerstorferUlla Weigerstorfer won the 1987 Miss World pageant in London, United Kingdom, representing Austria...
(born 1967), Miss Austria and Miss World 1987 - Andreas MünzerAndreas MunzerAndreas Münzer was an Austrian professional bodybuilder renowned for his extremely low bodyfat levels and early death. Münzer appeared in Flex twice and Muscle Magazine International once.-Background:...
(born 1966, died 1996), professional bodybuilder. - Johann PuchJohann PuchJohann Puch was an inventor and mechanic who went on to become a very significant vehicle producer in Europe...
, (slovene: Janez Puh, b. 1862 in Juršinci, Slovenia, died 1914), founded Johann PuchPuchPuch is a manufacturing company located in Graz, Austria. The company was founded in 1889 by the industrialist Johann Puch and produced automobiles, bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles.-Pre 1919:...
Erste Steiermärkische Fahrrad-Fabriks-Aktiengesellschaft at Graz in 1899. - Johann Joseph Fux (born 1660 - died 1741), composer and music theorist, wrote Gradus ad Parnassum - a composition manual used by many famous composers including Beethoven and Mozart.