The defining moment in Austrian history was the introduction of the influential Habsburg family, which ousted the not so powerful Ottokar II of Bohemia in 1278. The Habsburg family remained in power through the middle ages right up to the end of WWI in 1918. The Habsburgs ruled over much of the continent at the peak of their power, with an empire stretching from Holland to Romania and Poland to Spain. Rudolf IV of Habsburg was arguably one of the most influential Habsburg emperors, who built St Stephan’s Cathedral and many other iconic landmarks in Vienna. It was also during this time that Austria became the centre of Europe for music, literature and art and it produced many masters in the field, including: Brahms, Haydn, Mozart and Strauss, among others; as well as the master and inventor of psychoanalysis, Dr Sigmund Freud. Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania came out of WWI from the end of the Habsburg reign and the subsequent break up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After Austria finally emerged from WWII and the long allied occupation, Vienna was declared capital of the neutral Austrian Republic and the country became one of the most highly developed in Europe. Today, Austria is home to many ethnic populations, including large communities of Turks, Yugoslavs and Iranians. Vienna enjoys an international reputation, being home to one of the main headquarters of the United Nations, and it boasts a fine face of architecture collected over the centuries by its aristocrat leaders. Ordinary Austrians are relaxed and well mannered and have a love of life, evidence of which can be seen in the coffee houses, wine taverns and plentiful restaurants of its classy cities. | 
