Schloss Schönbrunn
former imperial summer residence of the Hapsburg emperors
(you can click for a larger picture)

Formerly a great power in Europe under its own Hapsburg dynasty, in 1867 Austria merged with Hungary to form the Austro-Hungarian empire. That continued until its collapse with the end of World War One. The First Austrian Republic was established in 1919. In 1938 it was annexed de facto into Nazi Germany. After World War Two, Austria was occupied by the Allies until 1955 when it returned to being a sovereign state. In the same year, by a declaration in parliament, the country declared itself permanently neutral in world affairs.