Austria's Neighbors: A Guide To Bordering Countries

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, surrounded by several other countries. To the northwest, it borders Germany, to the north, it shares a border with the Czech Republic, to the northeast is Slovakia, and to the east is Hungary. To the south, Austria is bordered by Slovenia and Italy, and to the west, it shares borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Austria has a mountainous terrain, with the Austrian Alps forming the physical backbone of the country. The country's geography has played a significant role in its history and cultural development, including serving as an important trade route between east and west.

Austria shares a 497-mile border with Germany, its longest

The border between Germany and Austria is not a recent development. In fact, the area that is now Austria was settled in pre-Roman times by various Celtic tribes, and the city of Hallstatt has the oldest archaeological evidence of the Celts in Europe. The Celtic Kingdom of Noricum, which included most of modern Austria and parts of modern Slovenia, was conquered by the Roman Empire in 16 BC and made a province called Noricum which lasted until 476.

In the Middle Ages, the area that is now Austria was ruled by the Babenberg family, who were granted the territory as a march of the Holy Roman Empire in 976. The first record of the name "Austria" dates to 996, where it is written as "Ostarrîchi", referring to the territory of the Babenberg March. In 1156, the Privilegium Minus elevated Austria to the status of a duchy.

In more recent times, the border between Germany and Austria has been subject to change. After World War I, South Tyrol, which had been an integral part of Tyrol and part of Austria for centuries, was ceded to Italy under the Treaty of Saint-Germain (1919). Then, in 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany and ceased to exist as an independent country. It was only in 1945, after World War II, that Austria regained its independence and declared its perpetual neutrality.

The country is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west

The country of Austria is bordered by Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The Alpine Rhine forms the border between Austria and Switzerland, with the Rhine flowing into Lake Constance, which is shared by both countries. The border between Austria and Switzerland is 158km (98mi) long.

Liechtenstein is a double-landlocked country, bordered by Austria to the north and east, and Switzerland to the south and west. The border between Austria and Liechtenstein is 34km (21mi) long.

Switzerland is a landlocked country, located on the eastern side of Austria. It is geographically split between the Jura, Swiss Plateau, and the Alps. Switzerland occupies an area of about 15,940 sq miles, and has a population of over 8,401,120.

Liechtenstein is the fourth smallest European state, occupying an area of about 62 sq miles, and a population of about 37,877. It is a constitutional monarchy under the Liechtenstein Prince, with German as its official language.

Switzerland and Liechtenstein are not members of the European Union.

Austria's eastern border is shared with Hungary

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is bordered by several countries, including Hungary to the east. Austria's eastern border with Hungary is approximately 331 km (205 mi) long. The two countries are separated by the Neusiedler See, a lake that lies on their shared border. This lake is an example of the diverse landscapes found in Austria, contrasting the Alpine landscape to the west.

Austria and Hungary have a long history of relations, with Hungary ceding territory to Austria after World War I. Most of Burgenland, one of Austria's nine federal states, was part of the Kingdom of Hungary but became Austrian due to its predominantly German-speaking population. The current border between the two countries was established by the Trianon Treaty in 1920.

Austria and Hungary are both members of the European Union (EU) and have close economic ties. Trade with neighbouring countries, including Hungary, accounts for more than half of Austria's trade flows. The two countries also cooperate in the framework of European regional cooperation programmes.

In recent years, Hungary has opened new border crossing points with Austria, improving transportation and connectivity between the two countries. This has added a new dimension to their bilateral relations.

The Alpine Rhine forms part of the Austrian-Swiss border

The Alpine Rhine is a glacial valley formed by the part of the Rhine between the confluence of the Anterior Rhine and Posterior Rhine at Reichenau and Lake Constance. Covering three countries, the Alpine Rhine is 93.5km long, with sections of the river demarcating the borders between Austria and Switzerland and between Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

From Reichenau, the Alpine Rhine flows east, passing Chur and turning north, before turning northeast at Landquart and then north, east of Sargans. From here, the Alpine Rhine forms the border between the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. About 28km further down, the Rhine meets the Austrian federal state of Vorarlberg and flows into Lake Constance, south of Lindau in Germany.

The Swiss-Austrian border follows the historical bed of the Rhine, but today the river follows an artificial canal within Austria for the final 5km, running parallel to the canalised Dornbirner Ach. The border also still follows the old river bed at Diepoldsau. The Alpine Rhine Valley is flanked by the Alps and its mountain ranges, some higher than 3,000m.

The Alpine Rhine Valley is characterised by a very active culture scene. The Bregenzer Festspiele and the Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein are significant beyond the region. From a regional perspective, there are many platforms, events and projects that enhance the cultural life of the inhabitants and local actors.

The valley was part of the ancient Roman province of Raetia. The Alemannic people settled the lower Rhine Valley in the early Middle Ages. Under the Frankish Empire, the Rheintal between Montstein and Hirschensprung was given to the Rhinegraviate, and its first recorded mention is in 891. Rule of the Rhine Valley was fragmented throughout the Middle Ages, with the Holy Roman Emperor, the Bishop of Constance, the Abbot of St Gall and the counts of Bregenz and Werdenberg all claiming various portions of the valley. It was not until 1348 that the Rheintal was united, under the county of Werdenberg-Heiligenberg.

The current border is a product of the creation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. During the 19th century, it was part of the western border of the Austrian Empire and later Austria-Hungary. In the 20th century, it became the border of the First Austrian Republic, the Federal State of Austria, Nazi Germany and Allied-occupied Austria, and eventually modern Austria since its formation in 1955.

Austria's southernmost border is shared with Slovenia and Italy

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, with a total of eight bordering countries. Austria's southernmost border is shared with Slovenia and Italy.

Slovenia has a parliamentary system and over two million residents, occupying an area of about 7,827 square miles. Historically, it has been the crossroads of Romance, Germanic, and Slavic cultures and dialects, with Slovene as the official language. The border between Austria and Slovenia is about 185 miles long and is dominated by the Pohorje massif, Karawank chain, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Julian Alps. The Sentilj-Spielfeld checkpoint is the busiest crossing, with facilities for processing and screening migrants.

Italy is an independent European state in Southern Europe, with over 61 million residents and an area of about 116,350 square miles, making it the most densely populated state in Southern Europe and the sixth most populated country in Europe. The border between Austria and Italy is about 251 miles long and has numerous border passes. One of these is Birnlucke, which is situated between the Zillertal Alp and Venediger Group, forming the boundary between the valleys of Ahrntal and Krimmler Achental in South Tyrol, Italy, and Salzburg in Austria. The Brenner Pass is one of the Eastern Alpine range's principal passes, providing a route between Germany and Italy.

Austria's southernmost border with Slovenia and Italy is part of a wider network of borders with its neighbouring countries, including Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, and Hungary to the east.

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