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Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing its borders with eight countries. To the north, Austria is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic, to the east by Hungary and Slovakia, to the south by Slovenia and Italy, and to the west by Switzerland and Liechtenstein. France, despite being close, does not border Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country that does not border Austria | France |
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What You'll Learn
Austria borders Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is predominantly mountainous, with the Alps running through its territory. Austria shares its borders with eight countries, including Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west.
Switzerland and Austria have been neighbouring countries since the creation of the Helvetic Republic in 1798. The border between the two countries is approximately 158 km (98 mi) long. The border is divided into two parts, separated by the Principality of Liechtenstein, with a total length of 180 km (110 mi). The longer, southern stretch runs across the Grison Alps, and the shorter one follows the Alpine Rhine, except near Diepoldsau and between Lustenau and Lake Constance, where it follows the Old Rhine bed. The Rhine also forms the border between Austria and Liechtenstein. The westernmost point of Austria is at the tripoint border of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein at Feldkirch, Vorarlberg.
The border between Austria and Switzerland has existed since the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which marked the end of the Thirty Years' War and established Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire. The border underwent changes in 1719 with the creation of Liechtenstein, and again in 1919 when South Tyrol was entrusted to Italy following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Liechtenstein is a small German-speaking microstate nestled between Switzerland and Austria. It is 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. Liechtenstein has one of the highest living standards in the world, thanks to its low corporate tax rates and prosperous, highly industrialized economy.
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Germany borders Austria to the northwest
There are over 50 border crossings at the German-Austrian border, with highway crossings at Kiefersfelden, Walserberg, and Suben being the most relevant for vacationers. The German A93 highway, for example, merges with the Austrian A12 at Kiefersfelden, which is about 110 kilometres from the Austrian-Italian border. The German A8 highway becomes the Austrian West Autobahn A1 toward Vienna at Walserberg, and the German A3 becomes the Austrian A8 at Suben, leading to the A9 Pyhrn Autobahn toward Slovenia.
The border between Germany and Austria has evolved over time, with a history of conflicts and agreements between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Bavaria in the 19th century. In 1938, the countries merged through the Anschluss, but this was reverted in 1955 by the Austrian State Treaty, which re-established Austria as a sovereign state. Border controls were removed in 1997 with the Schengen Area, but temporary controls have been reinstated on certain occasions, such as during international events, to ensure public order and internal security.
The westernmost third of Austria is a narrow corridor between Germany and Italy, with a width of 32 to 60 kilometres (20 to 37 miles). This unique geographical position between two larger countries has shaped Austria's history and cultural interactions.
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Austria's southern border is shared with Italy and Slovenia
Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, is a federal republic in Central Europe. It is predominantly a mountainous country, with the Alps accounting for much of its terrain. Austria shares land borders with eight countries, including Italy and Slovenia to the south.
Austria's southern border with Italy is 404 kilometres (251 miles) long and runs along the Alps. The border has existed since the 1861 Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, but most of the current border was established in 1920 after World War I. The biggest changes to the border occurred in 1920 when southern Tyrol was ceded to Italy under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The border was last changed in 1947.
The border between Austria and Italy is an EU internal border and is characterised by three different languages, administrative systems, and cultural backgrounds. The regions of Carinthia in Austria and Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Italy represent this border triangle. The main routes over this border go over the Brenner Pass.
Austria's southern border with Slovenia is 330 kilometres (210 miles) long and was established in 1991 when Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia. The Austrian-Slovenian border runs along the mountain range "Karawanken" and the Carnic Alps. The border region is characterised by its karst and coastal areas, as well as its vast pine forests and mountain lakes.
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The Czech Republic borders Austria to the north
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing its borders with eight countries. To the north, Austria is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east, and Poland to the north. The two countries share a 402 km (249 mi) border.
Austria and the Czech Republic have a long shared history. From 1253 to 1276, the two countries were united under the rule 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 to 1918. During this time, the capital shifted between Vienna and Prague, with Vienna serving as the capital for most of this period.
In the 19th century, the Czech National Revival movement emerged with the aim of reviving Czech language, culture, and national identity. The Revolution of 1848 in Prague sought liberal reforms and autonomy from the Austrian Empire, but it was ultimately suppressed. After World War I, the collapse of Austria-Hungary led to the creation of the First Czechoslovak Republic, and diplomatic relations between Austria and the newly formed republic were established in 1920.
The two countries have had a complex relationship, with periods of cooperation and conflict. In 1938, Austria was annexed to Germany, and the German districts in Bohemia and Moravia became a source of tension between the two countries. The Treaty of St. Germain in 1919 acknowledged the rights of the Czechs to keep these districts, but the issue remained contentious. During World War II, many Germans in the Czech lands welcomed Hitler's annexation of the Sudetenland, and this led to the expulsion of Germans from Czechoslovakia after the war.
Despite their differences, Austria and the Czech Republic maintain neighborly relations today. Austria supported the Czech Republic's membership in the European Union, and both countries are members of the Schengen Area, having abolished border controls and opened their borders to each other.
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Austria's eastern border is shared with Hungary
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, sharing its borders with eight countries. To the north, Austria borders Germany and the Czech Republic. In the east, Austria shares a border with Hungary and Slovakia. To the south, Austria is bordered by Italy, Slovenia, and to the west, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Austria's eastern border with Hungary spans 331 km (205 mi). The two countries' border begins at the tripoint of Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia and ends at Lake Neusiedl, which sits on the border between the two countries. The lake is a notable contrast to Lake Constance on the Austrian-Swiss-German border in the west of the country, as it is a typical steppe lake on the westernmost fringe of the Hungarian Plain, whereas Lake Constance is in the Alps.
The border between Austria and Hungary has not always existed in its current form. The two countries were united as Austria-Hungary from 1867, following the defeat and loss of territories of the Austrian Empire in the 1860s. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 led to the outbreak of World War I and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary in 1918.
In recent years, Austria has deployed troops to its eastern border with Hungary to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants into the country.
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Frequently asked questions
France.
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.
Austria borders eight countries.
The terrain of Austria is highly mountainous, with the country lying within the Alps.
Austria has a population density of 93 inhabitants per square kilometre.
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