Austria's Northern Neighbor: Exploring The Country Above

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing its borders with eight countries. To the north of Austria lies the Czech Republic, with a border of 402 km (249 mi).

The Czech Republic borders Austria to the north

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, of which the capital, Vienna, is the most populous city and state. The country occupies an area of 83,879 sq km (32,386 sq miles) and has a population of around 9 million.

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's total border length is 2,706km.

The geography of Austria is characterised by its mountainous landscape, with approximately 60% of the country's territory being mountainous and part of the Eastern Alps. The Bohemian Massif, including the Granite and Gneiss Plateau, is located in Upper and Lower Austria, north of the Danube River. The Granite and Gneiss Plateau is the oldest part of Austria from a geological perspective.

The Czech Republic shares a border with Austria in the north, with the Bohemian Massif extending across the border between the two countries. The Bohemian Massif is a low mountain range with bare and windswept plateaus and a harsh climate.

Germany borders Austria to the northwest

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.

The area of today's Austria has been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period. Around 400 BC, it was inhabited by the Celts and then annexed by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. Christianization in the region began in the 4th and 5th centuries, during the late Roman period, followed by the arrival of numerous Germanic tribes during the Migration Period.

Austria is a semi-presidential representative democracy with a popularly elected president as head of state and a chancellor as head of government and chief executive. The country has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 and of the European Union since 1995. It is also a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Interpol.

The native name for Austria, Österreich, derives from the Old High German Ostarrîchi, which meant "eastern realm" and which first appeared in the "Ostarrîchi document" of 996.

Slovakia borders Austria to the northeast

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.

Austria's geographical position has long made it a crossroads for trade routes between major European economic and cultural areas. Approximately 60% of Austrian territory is mountainous and belongs to the Eastern Alps. The Bohemian Massif is in Upper and Lower Austria, north of the Danube. The Granite and Gneiss Plateau, part of the Bohemian Massif, is geologically the oldest part of Austria. The most densely populated areas are the large plains, such as the Alpine Foreland and the Vienna Basin, in the eastern part of Austria along the Danube, and the Graz Basin in southern Styria.

Hungary borders Austria to the east

The border between Hungary and Austria has existed in its current form since the aftermath of World War I, when the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was signed in 1919. This treaty, along with the Treaty of Trianon, confirmed the new order of Central Europe, which had largely been established in November 1918. The treaties created new states and altered others, and Hungary lost significant territory as a result.

The border between Austria and Hungary was not always so stable. For centuries, the Leitha, March and Lafnitz Rivers formed the border between the "Habsburg hereditary lands" and the Kingdom of Hungary. This traditional border was reaffirmed by the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 and was considered an administrative internal border. However, after World War I, Austria and Hungary disputed territory for three years. The dispute was eventually settled by the victorious states in Paris, and the new Austrian province of Burgenland was created.

The border between Austria and Hungary is now a symbol of peaceful coexistence. However, it has not always been so peaceful. During the Cold War, the border was heavily policed with checkpoints, watchtowers and barbed wire. Crossing the border from Hungary to Austria was a life-or-death proposition for much of this period.

Today, the border is open and accessible to all. There is no border control, and people and commerce flow unimpeded. This stability has been maintained for almost 80 years, but it is unclear how long it will last. The flow of illegal migrants has put pressure on the Austria-Hungary border in recent years, and restrictions may return if the situation changes.

Liechtenstein and Switzerland border Austria to the west

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 of modern Austria since its formation in 1955.

Switzerland's accession to the Schengen Area in 2008 removed all passport checks between the two countries. However, Swiss and Austrian customs officials retain a presence at well-frequented border crossings as they still have the authority to carry out customs checks.

The Austro-Swiss border has the peculiarity of being divided into two segments due to Liechtenstein's location. The northern segment of the border begins at the tripoint formed by the meeting of the Austro-Swiss and Germano-Swiss borders. The second portion begins south of Liechtenstein and ends near the Resia Pass, at the geographic tripoint between Austria, Italy and Switzerland, which lies at 2000 metres above sea level.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is sandwiched on the border of Switzerland and Austria. It is a German-speaking microstate and one of the smallest countries in Europe, with an area of just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles) and a population of about 38,557. Despite its limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed a prosperous, highly industrialised free-enterprise economy and enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world.

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