Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

A USTRIA REGION b y REGION  133

LOWER AUSTRIA &

BURGENLAND

Lower Austria is the largest province in Austria,
both in terms of area and population. It surrounds
the Austrian capital, Vienna, which for many years
doubled as capital of the province. Following a plebiscite
in 1986, the provincial capital was moved to St Pölten. At the edge of Lower
Austria, bordering Hungary along one side, is the low-lying province of
burgenland, with its capital Eisenstadt.
Lower Austria, together with Upper Lower Austria’s most important towns,
Austria, covers the area that was once the beside St Pölten, are Krems, Mödling, Wiener
cradle of the country. The low-lying and Neustadt, Klosterneuburg and Baden bei
gently undulating terrain make this region Wien. In the north of the province, adjoining
easily accessible. During Roman times, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, lies the
its southern reaches belonged to the vine-growing region of Weinviertel. Further
provinces of Noricum and Pannonia, while west is the wooded Waldviertel.
the areas north of the Danube frequently To the southeast of Lower Austria, from
changed hands as Slav and German tribes Neusiedler See downwards, is the long
fought over them. From AD 791, Lower province of Burgenland, covering an area
Austria belonged to the Franks and, of 3,965 sq km (1,530 sq miles), with a
in AD 970, it was given the name Ostmark population of 278,000. Historically, it was a
(Eastern Margravate). Today, it occupies an part of Hungary, but after the Turkish wars
area of 19,163 sq km (6,930 sq miles) and (1529–1791) it was settled by Germans and
stretches along the Danube valley, from the Croats, and finally included in Austria in 1921.
German border in the west, to Hungary in The main town in Burgenland is
the east. In the south it reaches the slopes Eisenstadt, where the mighty Esterházy
of the limestone Rax Mountains, with their family established their seat; to this day
highest peak, Schneeberg, and the popular they continue to play an important role
winter resort of Semmering. in the region’s development.

The ornate 19th-century casino in the spa town of Baden bei Wien
Beautiful spiral staircase with trompe l’oeil moulding, Melk Abbey

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