Lexi Webster
Austria has been a member of UNESCO since 13 August 1948 and has ratified several of its conventions. The country has been actively involved in various UNESCO initiatives, including the protection of World Heritage Sites, the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, and the promotion of sustainable development. Austria has also established a National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and has multiple sites recognised by UNESCO.
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What You'll Learn
Austria ratified the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1992
Austria ratified the UNESCO World Heritage Convention on 18 December 1992. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an agency of the United Nations with 193 member states and 11 associate members. It was founded in London in 1945 and is based in Paris. UNESCO's mandate covers a wide range of areas, including education, science, culture, communication, biodiversity, climate change, indigenous populations, gender, and youth.
Austria joined UNESCO in 1948 and has been actively involved in various UNESCO initiatives since then. The country currently has four biosphere reserves and three UNESCO geoparks. Additionally, Austria has ten sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, and the Semmering Railway.
Austria has also been a State Party to the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage since July 2009. This convention aims to protect and promote cultural expressions such as dance, theatre, music, traditions, and festivals, as well as traditional craftsmanship. As part of its implementation, Austria has established a National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which includes six Austrian traditions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Furthermore, Austria participates in the UNESCO Memory of the World programme, which aims to preserve documentary heritage and enhance public awareness of its significance. The country also engages with UNESCO on priority areas such as the safety of journalists, freedom of the media, protection of world heritage, and education to prevent violent extremism.
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Austria has 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Austria ratified the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in August 2006 and has been a member state since 9 July 2009. The country has 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including:
The Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg
This site is known for its rich history and cultural significance. It showcases the city's architectural evolution over centuries, with influences from various styles and periods.
The Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn
The Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn are a magnificent example of Baroque architecture and design. The palace served as the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and is surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, featuring intricate fountains, statues, and green spaces.
Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape
Hallstatt is a picturesque village nestled amidst stunning mountains and lakes. This site represents the cultural landscape of the Salzkammergut region, known for its salt production and ancient mining traditions.
Semmering Railway
The Semmering Railway is a remarkable feat of engineering. Completed in 1854, it is one of the world's first high-alpine railways, winding its way through rugged terrain and offering breathtaking views.
Historic Centre of Graz with Schloss Eggenberg
Graz, Austria's second-largest city, boasts a well-preserved historic centre. Schloss Eggenberg, a 17th-century palace, is a highlight of this site, featuring beautiful architecture and intricate interior details.
Austria's other UNESCO World Heritage Sites include the Historic Centre of Vienna, the Fertö-Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape, the Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps, and the Ancient and Primaeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. Additionally, Austria has a rich intangible cultural heritage, with six traditions on the UNESCO list, including falconry, classical horsemanship, and avalanche risk management. The country also has four biosphere reserves and three UNESCO Global Geoparks, showcasing its commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of natural landscapes.
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Austria has 4 biosphere reserves
Austria has ratified several UNESCO provisions, including the World Heritage Convention, the Creative Cities programme, and the Biosphere Reserves. In terms of Biosphere Reserves, Austria currently has four: Grosses Walsertal, Wienerwald, Salzburger Lungau & Kärntner Nockberge, and Unteres Murtal.
Grosses Walsertal, located in Vorarlberg, was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2000. It covers an area of 19,200 hectares and includes six villages. The valley has a long history of human occupation, with the Walser people settling in the area in the 13th and 14th centuries. Today, it boasts a population of approximately 3,400 people and showcases a blend of cultural and natural landscapes, with modern Alpine farming, meadows, and forestry.
The Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve was established in 2005 and spans an area of around 105,000 hectares. It is situated between the northern Alps and the Pannonian Basin, just west of Vienna. Wienerwald features a geological fracture zone with hot springs and terraces formed by a prehistoric ocean.
Salzburger Lungau & Kärntner Nockberge, a typical central Alpine landscape, was recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2012. This biosphere reserve combines tall peaks of up to 3,000 metres with deep valleys sitting at almost 600 metres above sea level. The area has a surface of 1,500 square kilometres and is shared by approximately 33,500 inhabitants. Together with the Carinthian Nockberge region, Salzburger Lungau forms the largest biosphere park in Austria, emphasising the preservation of natural beauty and sustainable development.
Unteres Murtal, the most recent addition to Austria's biosphere reserves, was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2019. This biosphere reserve in Styria boasts 13,000 hectares of river landscape, providing a dynamic environment for the conservation and creation of habitats for numerous threatened plant and animal species.
Austria's commitment to its four biosphere reserves aligns with its broader dedication to nature protection. Nearly half of the country is under nature protection, including its national parks and nature parks, which contribute to a rich and diverse cultural landscape.
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Austria ratified the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009
Austria has been a member of UNESCO since 13 August 1948. The country has ratified several UNESCO provisions, including the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.
The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted during the 32nd UNESCO General Conference in 2003 and came into effect on 20 April 2006. As of 2023, 183 states have ratified the convention.
Intangible cultural heritage includes knowledge and skills that communities, groups, and individuals understand as part of their cultural heritage. This includes cultural forms of expression, such as dance, theatre, music, traditions, and festivals, as well as traditional craftsmanship. It also includes instruments, objects, and cultural spaces tied to the respective cultural heritage.
Austria has established a National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage as part of its national implementation of the convention. This inventory is maintained by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO (ÖUK), which also works to raise awareness, educate, and promote intangible cultural heritage in Austria.
Austria has a rich cultural heritage, and its cooperation with UNESCO demonstrates its commitment to preserving and promoting its cultural traditions. The country has six traditions on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, including falconry, Schemenlaufen (the carnival of Imst), classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School Vienna, Resist block printing, Avalanche risk management, Transhumance, Knowledge on Lipizzan Horse breeding, Timber rafting, and Traditional Irrigation. Additionally, there are three Austrian centres for craftsmanship recognised by UNESCO: Hand.Werk.Haus Salzkammergut, Textiles Zentrum Haslach, and Werkraum Bregenzerwald.
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Austria has 3 UNESCO Global Geoparks
Austria ratified the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in August 2006. The country joined UNESCO in 1948 and has been cooperating with the organisation across various domains, including education, sciences, culture, communication, biodiversity, climate change, and indigenous populations.
The Ore of the Alps Geopark is located in the central Eastern Alps and is known for its rich deposits of iron, copper, silver, and lead. The park offers insights into the history of mining and metallurgy in the region, with some sites dating back to the Bronze Age. The Karawanken Geopark, situated along the border between Austria and Slovenia, showcases unique geological features, including the Karawanken fault system and the oldest rocks in the Eastern Alps. The Styrian Eisenwurzen Geopark, in the Styrian-Upper Austrian Iron Region, highlights the area's long history of iron production and features museums, mines, and natural monuments related to iron ore extraction and processing.
In addition to its geoparks, Austria also has ten World Heritage Sites, including the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn, and the Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape. The country also participates in the UNESCO Memory of the World programme, which aims to preserve documentary heritage and enhance public awareness of its significance.
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Frequently asked questions
UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, is an international organisation based in Paris. It was founded in London in November 1945 and currently has 193 Member States and 11 Associate Members.
Austria joined UNESCO on 13 August 1948.
Austria ratified the "Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage" in 2009. It also ratified the "UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions" in August 2006.
