Page 193 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria

A USTRIA REGION B Y REGION  191

UPPER AUSTRIA

Upper Austria, so called because of its location in the
upper reaches of the Austrian Danube, occupies an area
of about 12,000 sq km (4,600 sq miles) and has
1.4 million inhabitants. Its borders are marked
by the rivers Enns to the east and Inn to the west.
To the north, the Czech Republic is its neighbour, to the
south are Styria and the Salzburger Land, to the west is Germany.

Upper Austria is, after Vienna, the most Hausruck massif and with Vöcklabruck as
industrialized Austrian province and has its largest town; and Traunviertel, which
remained the richest area of the country includes the Salzkammergut, one of the
since the time when Austria was part most picturesque and popular natural
of the Roman province of Noricum. areas in Austria. The Danube valley is
In later years, Upper Austria joined generally considered to be a separate
Bavaria. Then, under Babenberg rule in region, with scores of small towns, lofty
the 13th century, it became the cradle fortresses and magnificent abbeys,
of the great future empire, together including the most glorious of them
with neighbouring Lower Austria. all – St Florian, a jewel of Austrian
Historically, the province of Upper Baroque architecture.
Austria is divided into five districts: The province’s capital, Linz, is Austria’s
Mühlviertel, which stretches south to the third-largest city. It is an impor tant
Danube and occupies the Czech massif, industrial centre, contains the largest
with Freistadt its largest town; the Austrian Danube port, and is a major
westernmost district of Innviertel, which transport hub. It is beautifully situated
lies in the foothills of the Alps and in an extensive valley, surrounded by
includes the towns of Ried and Braunau; gently rolling hills, and has a charming
Hausruckviertel, named after the old town district.

View from the Krippenstein peak across to the imposing Dachstein massif
Houses situated on the banks of the glorious Hallstätter See, Hallstatt

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