Regions of Austria: Burgenland

Small federal province Burgenland (WWW.Burgenland.AT) is located in the eastern of the country, on the border with Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. For many centuries, which was part of Hungary, this land was transferred to Austria at the end of the First World War on the basis of the results of a rather controversial from a legal point of view of plebiscite. Despite the obvious bilinguality of the region (so far about 15% of the population are Hungarians and Croats), the culture of Burgenland is not much different from the rest of Austria. But natural conditions are noticeable others – this is the only almost completely plain region of the country – there is no hill above 629 meters, and the climate is somewhat landing than else.

Lake Neizidlerzee
Bloody Castle in the town of Lokkenhaus
Bernstein city

Special attraction of Burgenland gives the only steppe lake in Western Europe Neusidler-Ze (Neusiedler, Neusiedler See, Ferto), lying 16 km east of Eisenstadt. Surrounded from all sides of thickets of the cantham, salt ponds and swamps, it is extensive (length – 33.5 km, width – 12 km, area of about 315 kV. KM.) but small (up to 1.8 m) lake is a kind of ecological phenomenon. This is the fourth in size of the lake basin of Central Europe, while it does not have any rivers that feed it with water (the largest watercours – the stream of the car) does not have a flow, but the water level is relatively constant. However, it is considered unprecedented, by and large, the lake still has stock, but it is created by the hands of a person and regulated.

Water here is salted, but numerous freshwater types of fish in it live – in Western Europe there are no more reservoirs with such parameters. Therefore, the lake and its surroundings are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List and are protected by two reserves – the National Park Neusidler-Ze – Zevinkel from the Austrian side and Firth-Hanshag with Hungarian. The lake hurt the reed and therefore is a great place to live a large number of animals, fish and rare birds (about 300 species!), as well as the beloved place of rest of the Austrians.

Ecological trail is laid along the coast (total length of about 100 km), on which you can drive on a bike, horses or horse rose and see the most picturesque places of the coast and reserves. Be sure to visit the old town Noyzidl am (Neusiedl am See) in the northeast and baroque palace in Halbturna (Halbturn, 1711 g.), Basilica Freyankirchen (XVI-XVII centuries.) 8 km east Podcendorf (Podersdorf am See, Patfalu), famous winery Merbish Am-Ze (Morbisch AM SEE) in the southwest, old shopping center Rust (RUST, RUSZT), Pleasant Monastery in Loretto (Loretto, 1651 g.) and the village Saint Margaregin-im-Bureglandland (Sankt Margarethen Im Burgenland) with its ecopark "Fabulous forest" in the West. The charm of the region adds the ridge of limestone hills passing along the north and northwest along the shores of Neusidler-Ze. These hills have always been the line of defense between the steps (Puszta – "steppe", Weng.) and German lands, so the whole series of old castles and monasteries is still stretched here.

The South Burgenland is generally visited by foreigners in general, although it is very beautiful – a string of green hills, forests, vineyards and rich farmland is diluted with many old towns and villages, and the Magyar and Slavic roots are clearly traced in whose appearance. It is worth visiting the town Riding (Raiding, Doborjan) with his beautiful house-museum of the Leaf Frenz in the XVI century mansion. Then you can visit the town of Lokkenhaus.

15 km to the West lies the town of Bernstein, who received his name from the ancient "Amber expensive", Binding the shore of the Baltic with Adriatic. 12 km south is surrounded by a wall of the city Staddleshlining, In the old castle of which the Austrian World Study and Conflict Resolution (ASCPCR) is located in the old castle. And a little north-west (10 km south of Bernstein) is a great resort town with a difficult-acting name Bad Tatsmannsdorf, His mineral waters.

In 35 km south-west of Aisenstadt, you can find the largest fortress of Burgenland, towering over the town Landze (Landsee).

Ruins in Landze
Open-air Museum in Bad Tatsmannsdorf
St. Margaregin-im-Buregland village

In the very south of Burgenland, more than 50 km south of Bad Tatsmannsdorf, lies a small town of Güssing, spread around the picturesque medieval castle.

6 km north-west of the city is located in the open-air museum Hersersdorf (Gerersdorf Bei Gussing), in which more than 20 covered straw traditional buildings from the entire region are collected. And 5 km north-east of Gusseing, between the towns Urbersdorf (Urbersdorf) and Staise (Stausee), the large forest area was highlighted under a kind of open Naturpark Gussing Zoo, which contains representatives of rare and endangered animal species, including wild horses, red deer, buffaloes, European Bison and others. The best time to visit the park – twilight, when many animals come out of the thickets and can be loosened freely with numerous pedestrian walkways crossing the entire area.