The first generally accepted piece of prehistoric art is the Venus of Willendorf, a 25,000-year old statuette found in Lower Austria.
Rich findings of Illyrian and Celtic bronze and ceramic works date back to 800-400 BC.
Roman ruins and other findings can bee seen at Petronell and Magdalensberg.
The Romanesque period in Austria saw cathedrals and abbeys (Heiligenkreuz, Zwettl, Lilienfeld, Dom zu Gurk) as well as splendid frescoes and sculptures (Lambach, Pürgg, Gurk).
Distinctive features of the Gothic style include pointed arches, ribbed ceiling vaults and elaborately carved doorway columns. Austria´s most impressive Gothic structure is Vienna´s St. Stephen´s Cathedral.
A supreme example of Renaissance style can be seen at Schallaburg/Lower Austria.
The Baroque is closely associated with the rebuilding in Austria after the Thirty Years´ War. Among the many outstanding examples of Baroque are Kollegienkirche in Salzburg, Karlskirche and Schloss Belvedere in Vienna, and Stift Melk in Lower Austria.
Rococo was a great favorite of Empress Maria Theresia. She chose this style for most of the rooms of Schloss Schönbrunn.
In the second half of the 19th century, historicism took hold. This is seen principally in Vienna´s Ringstrasse.
The end of he 19th century saw the emergence of Art Nouveau. One of the leading architects in the field was Otto Wagner
