Austria is a beautiful country located in Central Europe, known for its stunning Alpine scenery, imperial history, and rich culture. It has inspired poets, artists, and travelers for centuries. Austria also has a tradition of clever riddles that reveal the quick wit and wisdom of its people.
In this article, we have collected 52 riddles about different aspects of Austria – its geography, cities, history, culture, people, stereotypes, and more. Some may make you think hard while others may bring a smile. See how many you can get right! Reading the answers also gives interesting facts about Austria.
Riddles about Austrian Geography
Q1: What European country has a long history with wine but does not border the sea?
A1: Austria. Although Austria does not border the sea, it has a long history of wine production with wine growing regions like Burgenland, Vienna, Styria, and Lower Austria.
Q2: What small landlocked country has nearly the same size and terrain as Maine in the United States?
A2: Austria. At 83,879 sq km, Austria is slightly smaller than Maine which is at 91,646 sq km. Both have similar terrain – forests, mountains, hills, plains, rivers, and lakes.
Q3: Over 60 percent of which country is covered by the Alps mountains?
A3: Austria. Nearly two-thirds of Austria is covered by the Alps. There are also other mountain ranges like the Bohemian Forest and the Karwendel.
Q4: Which country has the most earthquakes in Central Europe?
A4: Austria. Located on the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, Austria has frequent seismic activity averaging over 100 earthquakes every year.
Q5: Home to nearly 1,800 lakes, over 25,000 kilometers of rivers, and 180,000 hectares of glaciers, which country provides abundant fresh water resources?
A5: Austria. With the Alps covering most of Austria, it has plentiful water resources from mountain lakes, streams from glacier melt, and major rivers like the Danube.
Q6: The highest waterfall and largest ice cave system in Europe can be found in which country?
A6: Austria. The Krimml Waterfalls with a 380-meter drop is Europe’s tallest waterfall while the Eisriesenwelt cave stretching over 42 kilometers is the continent’s largest ice cave. Both are located in Austria.
Riddles about Austrian Cities and Towns
Q7: Known as the “City of Music”, which Austrian city’s musical heritage includes famous composers Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Strauss?
A7: Vienna. Vienna has been home to a glittering musical tradition dating back centuries with famous composers being key figures. It also houses the Wiener Philharmoniker orchestra and the Vienna Boys Choir.
Q8: Which Austrian city hosted the important Congress in 1814-15 that reorganized Europe after the Napoleonic wars?
A8: Vienna. The influential Congress of Vienna was held here in 1814-1815 where European heads of government redrew political boundaries after Napoleon’s defeat.
Q9: Name the Austrian city that has changed countries multiple times in the last century between Austria, Italy, and Yugoslavia.
A9: Klagenfurt. The southern city of Klagenfurt has changed nationalities between Austria, Italy, and Yugoslavia due to shifting borders, only settling with Austria in 1955.
Q10: Which Austrian city is famous for the Von Trapp family and “The Sound of Music”?
A10: Salzburg. The Von Trapp family lived near Salzburg where the Oscar-winning musical movie “The Sound of Music” was based and partly filmed.
Q11: One of Europe’s best preserved medieval towns located on the Danube river is which Austrian gem?
A11: Krems. The pretty little town of Krems with cobblestone streets and medieval houses is beautifully preserved from centuries ago. It lies on the picturesque Danube river.
Riddles about Austrian History
Q12: Which major European dynasty that produced influential kings and queens was originally from Austria?
A12: The Habsburgs. The House of Habsburg was one of the most powerful royal dynasties in Europe originating from Austria and producing monarchs of Spain, Germany, Hungary as well as Holy Roman Emperors.
Q13: Maria Theresa was an Empress in the 18th century from which country?
A13: Austria. Maria Theresa was the only female ruler of the Habsburg-led Austrian Empire in the 1700s, reigning for 40 years from 1740-1780.
Q14: Who was the last emperor of Austria when the monarchy ended in 1918?
A14: Charles I or Karl I. He ruled for only two years from 1916-1918 when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed at the end of World War 1.
Q15: Adolf Hitler was born in which modern-day country?
A15: Austria. Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn in Austria in 1889. He later moved to Germany and eventually led the Nazis in World War 2.
Q16: Who was the first democratically elected president of Austria after World War 2?
A16: Theodor Körner. He became the first elected president in 1951, leading efforts to rebuild Austria after WW2 and negotiate its independence in 1955.
Q17: Which treaty recognized Austria’s independence and neutrality after Allied occupation post-World War 2?
A17: The Austrian State Treaty. Signed in 1955, it established Austria as an independent, democratic, and neutral state during the Cold War era.
Riddles about Austrian Culture
Q18: Traditional lederhosen shorts made from leather are strongly associated with which country?
A18: Austria. Along with dirndls for women, lederhosen for men are customary dress originating in Austria, particularly in Tyrol. Both remain iconic today.
Q19: Goulash, wiener schnitzel and apple strudel come from the cuisine of which nation?
A19: Austria. These hearty meat stews, fried cutlets and sweet pastries are world-famous Austrian food. Also popular are snacks like sachertorte cake and kaiserschmarrn pancakes.
Q20: The famous dancing Lipizzaner horses were first bred for the nobility in which European country?
A20: Austria. Graceful Lipizzaners were originally bred for princely households in Austria during the Habsburg Empire in the 16th century. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna trains them.
Q21: Which European language term meaning “please” or “you’re welcome” sounds like “garbage” in English?
A21: The Austrian German term “bitte”. While it may sound funny to English speakers, “bitte” is commonly used in Austria to politely say “please” or a friendly “you’re welcome”.
Q22: Apfelstrudel, Topfenpalatschinken and Kaiserschmarrn are all popular desserts featuring which fruit?
A22: Apples. Austria grows many delicious apples which get used in sweets like apple strudel, sweet pancakes with cottage cheese (Topfenpalatschinken) and fluffy shredded pancakes (Kaiserschmarrn) – all sweet treatsPair text here.
Q23: In the Sound of Music, what do the Von Trapp children wear during the song “Do Re Mi” while hiking over Austrian mountains?
A23: Play clothes they previously wore when performing in concerts. The children changed out of their nice uniforms given by their father into old play clothes that let them move freely and have fun in nature.
Riddles about Austrian People
Q24: Who is the famous physicist from Austria who explained the photoelectric effect and later won the Nobel Prize?
A24: Albert Einstein. Though born in Germany in 1879, Einstein renounced his German citizenship a year later and lived in Switzerland and Austria as a stateless scientist until becoming American in 1940. He won the 1921 Nobel Prize for Physics.
Q25: Which Austrian bodybuilder turned actor starred in films like Terminator, Predator, Total Recall and was the governor of California in the 2000s?
A25: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Originally from a small Austrian village, Schwarzenegger moved to the US, becoming an action movie star later nicknamed the “Austrian Oak” and even serving as governor.
Q26: Who was the youngest ever Formula One racing champion in history, breaking records in the early 2000s?
A26: Sebastian Vettel. German driver Sebastian Vettel was born in 1987 in Heppenheim but his mother is Austrian, making him a dual citizen. At age 23, he broke records to become the sport’s youngest world champion.
Q27: This Austrian artist known for his fragmented distorted images painted The Persistence of Memory in 1931 featuring melting clocks.
A27: Salvador Dali. Though born in Spain, surrealist painter Salvador Dali spent years working in Austria and was inspired by Sigmund Freud who also lived in the capital Vienna at the time.
Q28: Which Austrian composer from the 1800s went deaf but produced iconic works like Für Elise, Symphony No. 9 and Moonlight Sonata?
A28: Ludwig van Beethoven. Germany’s most famous classical genius Ludwig van Beethoven was born to a musical family in the Austrian city of Bonn. He later settled in Vienna composing legendary pieces.
Riddles about Austrian Stereotypes
Q29: Known for opera, fine arts and classical music, which country is thought to be home to sophisticated intellectual society?
A29: Austria. There’s a stereotype that Austrians discuss philosophy and literature while attending the opera and orchestral performances, centered around cities like artistic Vienna.
Q30: Where might you find people relaxing by drinking coffee and eating cake for hours on end?
A30: Vienna, Austria. The Viennese “coffee house culture” involves lingering for a long time in cafes to slowly enjoy coffee, chocolate cake or fruit tarts while catching up with friends.
Q31: If asked whether you’d prefer Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel, which country are you likely visiting?
A31: Austria. These two beloved desserts – elegant chocolate cake and sweet apple pastry – are quintessential Austrian delicacies offered in every café in Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck.
Q32: Known for having “old money” and remembering when they ruled an empire, which country’s residents seem proud and proper?
A32: Austria. Some believe Austrians have an air of courtly refinement and conservativeness owing to the erstwhile Austro-Hungarian Empire which instilled notions of endure and nobility over centuries.
Q33: Where would you find people wearing “Tracht” with Dirndls and Lederhosen to celebrate cultural festivals and holidays?
A33: Austria. Austrians love wearing traditional dress “Tracht” featuring Dirndls and Lederhosen to mark various provincial occasions and holidays across the country through the year.
Q34: Which European country do people associate with the grandeur and elegance of Empress Sisi from the late 1800s?
A34: Austria. Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” ruled the Austro-Hungarian empire alongside Emperor Franz Joseph I as a fashion and cultural icon, embodying Austrian regal glamour.
Riddles about the Austrian Flag and Symbols
Q35: The Austrian flag has three horizontal bands of which colors arranged from top to bottom?
A35: Red, white and red. The state flag of Austria contains two thick red stripes separated by a thinner white band in between. The design dates back centuries to 1230 AD.
Q36: Which historic coat of arms contained the iconic double-headed eagle on a gold background?
A36: The Austrian Empire. The striking emblem had a big double-headed eagle in the center with images of various ruling provinces on its chest or wings, set on a golden yellow base.
Q37: Which rare dog breed named after a mountain range stretching across Austria features a warm thick coat with twisted cords?
A37: The Puli dog. Named after Hungary’s Puli region touching parts of Austria, this smart Hungarian herding dog is recognizable by its thick corded coat somewhat resembling dreadlocks.
Q38: What is Austria’s national personification known as with iconic braided hair wearing Alpine clothes holding a scythe?
A38: Toni Sailer or Anton Sailer. The Tyrolean skiing legend Toni Sailer with record Olympic golds became a national icon depicted in posters and ads wearing “Tracht” while farming wheat fields.
Q39: Which crimson flower associated with Austrian mountain meadows is depicted on stamps, euro coins and the passport cover?
A39: The Edelweiss flower. This petite white flower with woolly star-shaped blooms and small yellow centers grows in the Alps. Edelweiss is a national symbol seen widely.
Riddles about Austrian Politics
Q40: Which Austrian politician served the longest stint of over 25 years as federal chancellor until resigning in the 2010s due to corruption allegations?
A40: Werner Faymann. From 2008 to 2016, Social Democrat leader Werner Faymann was the second longest-serving Chancellor in the country’s post World War Two history.
Q41: Who was the first female chancellor of Austria elected in the late 1990s?
A41: Susanne Riess-Passer. From Austria’s conservative “People’s Party”, Susanne Riess-Passer served a brief seven-month term in 2000–2001 as the nation’s first woman federal chancellor.
Q42: Foreign-born Serbian man Peter Handke’s Nobel Prize in 2019 was controversial for his support of which leader?
A42: Ex-Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. Austria-based writer Peter Handke sparked outrage over his vocal defense of former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic who faced UN tribunals for war crimes.
Q43: Which Austrian celebrity nicknamed ‘The Terminator’ and ‘Conan the Republican’ served two terms as Governor of California till 2011?
A43: Arnold Schwarzenegger. Originally from Austria, movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger went into American politics as a Republican, serving as the Governor of California from 2003 to 2011.
Q44: Who was the first Austrian President to be elected directly by popular vote under a new constitutional law?
A44: Rudolf Kirchschläger. The parliament amended Austria’s constitution allowing direct voting for presidents. In 1980, Rudolf Kirchschläger won to become the first directly elected head of state.
Riddles about the Austrian Economy
Q45: With over 150 banks in Austria, which city is a leading international business and financial hub?
A45: Vienna. Austria’s elegant capital Vienna houses multinational companies and over 60 percent of banks located across the small nation making it the premier economic center.
Q46: Known as Europe’s secret capital of coffee with over 1000 coffee houses, which Austrian destination is famous for leisurely café culture?
A46: Vienna. Coffee first came to Vienna from the Ottoman Turks in the 1600s. Now Austria’s capital has a booming coffee scene woven into its heritage evident in Vienna’s splendid historical cafes.
Q47: Austria lacks key natural resources like coal and iron but what plentiful clean resource powers over three-fourths of the nation’s electricity?
A47: Hydropower from Alpine rivers and streams. Abundant water resources owing to the snow-capped Alps allows Austria to generate most of its renewable power from hydroelectric plants.
Q48: Austria’s sweet dessert Kaiserschmarrn was first made for which Emperor – Franz Joseph I or Franz II?
A48: Franz II. Austria’s last Holy Roman Emperor Franz II had shredded pancakes with raisins, called Franz Josef von Österreich Röhre, as a quick nourishing meal for hunting trips which later became iconic Kaiserschmarren.
Q49: Which major Austrian bank that sponsored composers and arts collapsed in 1931 causing hardship comparable to the Great Depression?
A49: Creditanstalt Bank. When the prominent Creditanstalt Bank declared bankruptcy in 1931, it triggered a wider European banking crisis leading to employment and stability issues much like the US market crash.
