Exploring Austria's Neighbors: 8 Bordering Countries

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country occupies an area of 83,879 km2 (32,386 sq mi) and has a population of around 9 million.

Germany borders Austria to the north-west

The border begins in the northwest at Lake Constance, which separates the German state of Baden-Württemberg and Austria, before moving east up to the tripoint formed by the German-Czech and Czech-Austrian borders in the Bohemian Forest. The western tripoint of the border is located between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, in the eastern part of Upper Lake Constance. The eastern tripoint is located near the villages of Schwarzenberg am Böhmerwald and Bayerischer Plöckenstein.

The Austria-Germany border runs along several rivers, including the Danube, Inn, Salzach, and Leiblach. It also follows the western part of the Northern Limestone Alps, including the Allgäu Alps, Ammergau Alps, Wetterstein, Karwendel, Bavarian Prealps, Kaiser Mountains, Chiemgau Alps, and Berchtesgaden Alps. Several valleys cross the border, such as the Inn Valley near Kufstein.

The border between Austria and Germany was established in 1871 with the independence of the Duchy of Tyrol. It underwent changes in 1805 when the Salzburg region was acquired by the Habsburgs. The founding of the Republic of Austria in 1918 stabilized the border. In 1938, Austria was annexed by Germany, but the border was restored at the end of World War II in 1945. The border controls were removed in 1997 with the Schengen Area agreement.

The Czech Republic borders Austria to the north

The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres and has a population of over 10.6 million people. Its capital and largest city is Prague, with a population of over 1.3 million people. Other major cities include Plzen, Ostrava, and Brno. The country has a hilly landscape and is bordered by Germany to the west, Slovakia to the east, and Poland to the northeast.

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a German-speaking country in Central Europe. It has a population of over 8.8 million people and covers an area of approximately 32,385 square miles. The country is landlocked and has a mountainous terrain, with its highest point reaching 12,461 feet above sea level. Austria became a member of the European Union and the United Nations in 1955.

The Czech Republic and Austria have a long shared history. From 1253 to 1276, they were united under the reign of Ottokar II of Bohemia. Later, they joined forces with Hungary to form a major European power under the Habsburg dynasty, which lasted from 1526 until 1918. During this time, the monarchy was ruled mostly from Vienna, which caused tension with the Czechs, who wanted to be governed by a government in their own capital city of Prague. Despite this, the two countries maintain neighbourly relations and are both members of the European Union.

Liechtenstein and Switzerland border Austria to the west

The Alpine Rhine Valley has a complicated feudal history, but the territories on its left bank had become subject territories of the Swiss Confederacy by the 17th century. The current border is a product of the creation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. The course of the border reflects the success of the rivals of the House of Habsburg in limiting the influence of the Habsburg Archdukes of Austria in the original Habsburg domains west of the Rhine in the 14th and 15th centuries. The border has been in existence since the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which established Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire. In 1719, the birth of Liechtenstein divided the border into two distinct portions.

Switzerland's status as a non-EU country creates slight obstacles to cross-border cooperation, but the two countries still participate in several projects together. For example, the transnational operational programme "Alpine Space" aims to improve the attractiveness and encourage the development of the Alpine region by increasing competitiveness and making greater use of new technologies. The "Alpenrhein – Bodensee – Hochrhein" Interreg programme involves a privileged region with a GDP significantly above the EU average. The programme aims to encourage advanced networking and close cooperation between labour markets on either side of the border.

Austria's eastern border is shared with Slovakia and Hungary

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, surrounded by eight countries. To the east, Austria shares its border with Slovakia and Hungary.

Slovakia is a landlocked country in Central Europe, occupying an area of about 19,000 square miles. Bratislava is the country's capital and largest city, with Kosice as the second-largest. The Slovakian landscape is mostly mountainous, and the official language is Slovak. Slovakia gained independence on January 1, 1993, after the Velvet Divorce. The border between Austria and Slovakia is about 185 miles long, with the lower course of the River Morava forming a large part of it. There is a crossing point at the border connecting Berg in Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia. The only motorway crossing between the two countries is in Jarovce.

Hungary is also a landlocked country in Central Europe, occupying an area of about 35,920 square miles. Budapest is the largest and capital city of Hungary, with other major urban regions including Gyor, Pecs, Szeged, and Debrecen. The border between Austria and Hungary is about 205 miles long. The current borders were established by the Trianon Treaty, signed in 1920. From the end of World War II until 1989, Austria and Hungary were separated by an electric border fence. In October 2017, Hungary announced the opening of six new crossing points along the border with Austria.

Austria's eastern border with Slovakia and Hungary is just one part of its diverse landscape. The country is home to about 8.7 million people and covers an area of roughly 32,000 square miles. Vienna, the capital city, is located in the country's northeastern region, where the Alps meet the beginnings of the steppe-like Pannonian plains. Austria's landscape varies widely, from the mountains in the east to the hills and plains around Lake Constance and the Bregenzerwald in the west. The country's highest point reaches about 12,461 feet above sea level, and 68% of the country is over 1,640 feet high.

Italy and Slovenia are Austria's southern neighbours

Slovenia and Italy surround Austria to the south, with the Slovenian-Austrian border dominated by the Pohorje massif, Karawank chain, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Julian Alps. The Sentilj-Spielfeld checkpoint is the busiest crossing between the two countries. The Austria-Italy border is about 251 miles long, with numerous border passes, including Birnlucke, which forms the boundary between the valleys of Ahrntal and Krimmler Achental and South Tyrol in Italy and Salzburg in Austria.

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, with a population of around 9 million people. The country is surrounded by several European countries, including Italy and Slovenia to the south.

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