Austria And Germany: Neighbors With A Rich History

Austria and Germany share a 784-kilometre border and have many similarities, including their official language, German. However, there are also many differences between the two countries. Austria is known for its breathtaking natural scenery, while Germany is relatively flat. Germany has more large cities spread across the country and is generally more expensive than Austria. Both countries offer unique experiences in terms of food, sights, culture, and lifestyle, and their proximity makes them popular destinations for travellers looking to explore diverse European cultures.

Austria and Germany share a 784km border

The border between Austria and Germany has not always existed in its current form. In 1363, the Duchy of Tyrol gained independence, giving birth to the first Austro-German border. The border underwent further changes in 1805, including the acquisition of the Salzburg region by the Habsburgs. The founding of the Republic of Austria in 1918 stabilised the border, but it disappeared in 1938 with the annexation of Austria by Germany. The border was restored at the end of World War II and has remained unchanged since.

The shared language of German between Austria and Germany facilitates cross-border cooperation. There are also several cross-border programmes in place, such as the Interreg cooperation programmes, which aim to promote sustainable development and economic competitiveness in the region. Other initiatives include the Arge Alp Working Community and the Internationale Bodenseekonferenz (International Conference of Lake Constance). These programmes and organisations symbolise the high degree of cooperation between the two countries at multiple levels.

There are nine ways to travel from Austria to Germany

Yes, Austria is next to Germany.

• Take a bus from Berlin Alexanderplatz to Vienna, International Busterminal (VIB).
• Take a train from Berlin Hbf to Prague hl.n, then take another train from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi to Wien Hbf.
• Take a night train from Berlin Hbf to Wien Meidling.
• Fly from Frankfurt (FRA) to Salzburg Airport (SZG).
• Fly from Munich International Airport (MUC) to Vienna International Airport (VIE).
• Take a bus from Berlin, Zentralen Omnibusbahnhof, to Vienna Stadioncenter.
• Drive from Berlin to Vienna.
• Take a rideshare from Berlin to Vienna.
• Fly from Munich International Airport to Graz, then take the tram from Graz Hauptbahnhof A to Graz Dietrichsteinplatz.

Both countries speak German but Austria has a variety of dialects

Germany and Austria do have the German language in common, but there are some distinct differences between the two. Austrian German is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. It is mutually intelligible with Standard German, allowing speakers of each language to understand each other. However, there are variations in accent, vocabulary, and grammar between the two.

Austrians use a variety of dialects in informal situations. These include Bavarian and Alemannic, which are traditionally spoken but rarely written in Austria. The geographic borderlines between the different accents (isoglosses) strongly coincide with the borders of Austrian states and with the border with Bavaria. Bavarians have a markedly different rhythm of speech despite the linguistic similarities.

The Viennese dialect, for example, is more impenetrable to German speakers, and the rural western Austrian Alps dialect also sounds very different. The people of Graz, the capital of Styria, speak yet another dialect that is more easily understood by people from other parts of Austria than other Styrian dialects.

Some examples of vocabulary differences between Austrian German and Standard German include:

• "Hallo" or "guten tag" (hello) in Germany vs. "grüß gott" or "servus" in Austria
• "Tomate" (tomato) in Germany vs. "Paradeiser" in Austria
• "Milchkaffee" (milk coffee) in Germany vs. "Melange" in Austria

There are also grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For instance, the perfect tense in Austrian German sometimes uses "sein" ("to be"), instead of "haben" ("to have") in Standard German.

Germany is larger and flatter than Austria

Germany is larger than Austria. Germany has a total area of 357,022 sq km, compared to Austria's 83,871 sq km. Germany is also flatter than Austria. Germany has lowlands in the north, uplands in the center, and the Bavarian Alps in the south. In contrast, Austria is mostly mountainous, with the Alps in the west and south, and flatter land in the east and north.

Germany's highest point is the Zugspitze mountain, at 2,963 m above sea level, while Austria's highest point is the Grossglockner mountain, at 3,798 m. Germany's lowest point is Neuendorf bei Wilster, at -3.5 m below sea level, while Austria's lowest point is Neusiedler See, at 115 m above sea level.

In terms of water resources, Germany has more renewable water resources than Austria, with 154 billion cubic meters compared to Austria's 77.7 billion cubic meters. Germany also has a longer coastline than Austria due to its borders with the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.

Austria is more mountainous and has more breathtaking natural scenery

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country in Central Europe, with breathtaking natural scenery. It is located approximately between Germany, Italy, and Hungary. The Alps form the physical backbone of the country, with three major ranges running west to east: the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Central Alps, and the Southern Calcareous Alps. The Central Alps are the largest and highest ranges in Austria, with the Grossglockner peak reaching 3,797 m (12,460 ft).

The Austrian landscape is characterised by mountains and forests, with the Austrian Alps offering a complex geologic and topographical pattern. The western Austrian states of Vorarlberg, Tirol, and Salzburg are known for their majestic mountains and breathtaking scenery of the high Alps. This high Alpine landscape also extends to parts of Kärnten (Carinthia), the Salzkammergut region, and Steiermark (Styria).

In addition to its mountains, Austria is also a land of lakes, with many of them formed during the Pleistocene Epoch by glacial erosion. The largest lakes include Lake Constance (Bodensee) in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake (Neusiedlersee) in the east.

The contrast between these two lakes illustrates the diversity of Austria's landscape. Lake Constance, located on the Austrian-Swiss-German border, is nestled in the Alps, while Neusiedler Lake on the Austrian-Hungarian border is a typical steppe lake on the edge of the Hungarian Plain.

Austria's natural scenery is not limited to its mountains and lakes, as it also boasts lush valleys, rolling hills, and lowlands. The country's lowlands and hilly regions in the northeast and east include the Danube Basin, while the Northern Alpine Foreland includes the Danube Valley. The Southeastern Alpine Foreland features rolling hills and lowlands, with the steppe of the Hungarian Plain beginning southeast of the low Leithagebirge mountain range.

The diversity of Austria's landscape, from its majestic mountains to its tranquil lakes and picturesque valleys, makes it a sought-after destination for nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike.

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