Exploring The Borders: Austria And France's Neighboring Countries

Austria and France are two European countries that do not share a border. Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, surrounded by eight other countries. These are Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. France, on the other hand, is located in Western Europe and shares borders with Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. While France is geographically closer to Austria than some of its bordering countries, such as Spain, it is still separated from Austria by Germany and Switzerland.

Liechtenstein and Switzerland border Austria to the west

Liechtenstein is the fourth-smallest European state, covering an area of about 62 sq. miles. It is surrounded by two countries and has a mountainous terrain, making it a popular destination for winter sports. The Austria-Liechtenstein boundary is 21 miles long and is situated to the north and east of the country.

Switzerland, on the other hand, occupies an area of about 15,940 sq. miles and is made up of 26 cantons. The majority of its residents live in large cities like Geneva and Zurich, which are located on the Swiss plateau. Switzerland and Austria share a boundary in two places, with the longest boundary extending through the Grison Alps. The current boundary between the two countries is a result of the establishment of the Helvetic Republic around 1798.

Both Switzerland and Liechtenstein offer Austria access to different cultural and economic interactions. The borders shared with these two countries contribute to Austria's position as a transit country in Central Europe, connecting eastern and western Europe through its magnificent Alpine passes.

Germany and the Czech Republic border Austria to the north

Germany and the Czech Republic are among Austria's northern neighbours. Germany's border with Austria is 497 miles (801 km) long, making it the longest border for both countries. The boundary runs from east to west, with the western point at the tripoint border of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, and the eastern end at the point where the two countries meet the Czech Republic. The German states of Bavaria and Austria's Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Tyrol are among those on the border.

The border between Austria and the Czech Republic is 249 miles (402 km) long. Some of the towns on the border include Ceske Velenice, Mikulov, and Drasenhofen in the Czech Republic, and Gmund and Breclavin in Austria.

Italy and Slovenia border Austria to the south

Slovenia, on the other hand, shares a 330 km (185-mile) long border with Austria. This border is dominated by the Pohorje massif, Karawank chain, Kamnik-Savinja Alps, and the Julian Alps. The Sentilj-Spielfeld checkpoint is the busiest crossing point between the two countries and has facilities for processing and screening migrants. Slovenia is a parliamentary state with over two million residents and covers an area of approximately 7,827 sq miles. It has historically been a crossroads of Romance, Germanic, and Slavic cultures and dialects, and its official language is Slovene.

Hungary and Slovakia border Austria to the east

Hungary, which is a landlocked state in Central Europe, shares a 205-mile-long border with Austria to the east. The current border between the two countries was established by the Trianon Treaty, which was signed in 1920. From the end of World War II until 1989, when communism collapsed in Hungary, Austria and Hungary were separated by an electric border fence. In October 2017, Hungary's foreign affairs minister announced the opening of six new crossing points along the border with Austria.

Slovakia, a landlocked country in Central Europe, shares a 105-kilometre (65-mile) border with Austria to the northeast. The lower course of the River Morava forms a large part of this border. 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.

Belgium and Luxembourg border France to the north

Belgium and Luxembourg share a border with France to the north. Belgium has a 620 km border with France, which is its second-longest border after its border with Luxembourg. Belgium and France's border runs from the North Sea in the west to Luxembourg in the southeast. The Belgian-French border is characterised by its straight lines and 90-degree angles, which were drawn up by the Second Treaty of Paris in 1815. The border has remained unchanged since the 1839 Treaty of London, which established Belgium as a kingdom in its own right.

Luxembourg, meanwhile, has a 73 km border with France. The border between the two countries is characterised by the steep slopes of the Ardennes mountains, which run along the northern third of the border. The border also runs through the Upper Sûre Lake Nature Park, which is a popular tourist destination for hiking and water sports.

Both Belgium and Luxembourg were founding members of the Benelux Economic Union, which was established in 1944 and also includes the Netherlands. The Benelux countries further integrated in 1960, when passport controls were abolished, and in 1970, when customs controls were removed.

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