Austrian Folk 53
Saunas and Nude Bathing
Austrians are open and accepting toward nudity. Now and
then, you will see nude or suggestive advertising. On warm
summer days, many women go about braless. If you enjoy
saunas, be prepared to wear
just your towel. Some saunas
have mixed days when men and
women share the sauna. Women
at the beach or the pool are often
topless. Along the same lines,
there is nude swimming, usually
on Sunday evenings, at certain
pools; nudist swimming areas
can be found around lakes and
rivers as well. While cycling or strolling by the Danube, don’t
be surprised if you spot one or two people with nothing but
their birthday suits on!
Sex
Austria seems to have no hang-ups about sex. Prudery and
chastity were never very fashionable. Most also ignore the
Catholic Church with regard to contraception and abortion.
The unmarried person in a steady relationship is referred to
as the Lebensgefährten or Lebensgefährtin (life companion);
a married woman’s lover is referred to as the Hausfreund
(friend of the house).
Love those Dogs!
Austrians love their dogs and they are integral members of
the family. People openly demonstrate their affection for their
canine friends. Dogs accompany their owners on outings
and in stores and restaurants. They are not to be left behind
at home. You’ll see a lot of dogs in Austria and you’ll enjoy
your stay more if you are a dog lover.
The downside of having so many dogs in Austria, especially
in large cities like Vienna, is having to clean up the 15 tons
of fecal matter every month, deposited by those sweet,
loving canine pets. Many dog owners don’t feel in any way
responsible for cleaning up after their pets as they pay a
Nudity is a normal part of life
and as such is prevalent in
advertising and magazines. It
is only natural that an ad for
soap or shampoo would show a
naked woman taking a shower.
You’ll also find nudity on the
pages of glamour and fashion
magazines; some layouts even
border on the pornographic.
