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Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, is a state in northeastern Austria. It is the country's largest state by area, and surrounds Vienna, the country's largest city and national capital, though Vienna is a separate administrative entity. Lower Austria is home to around half of Austria's towns, including Wiener Neustadt, Sankt Pölten, Amstetten, and Krems an der Donau. The region is also the country's largest wine-growing region, with around 28,000 hectares of vineyards, and is known for its outstanding red wines. Lower Austria's name comes from its location downriver on the River Enns, and its history dates back to 976 when the region was granted to the Bavarian Babenberg margraves.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Land area | 19,186 km2 (7,408 sq mi) |
| Location | Northeastern corner of Austria |
| Bordering countries | Czech Republic, Slovakia |
| Bordering Austrian Bundesländer | Burgenland, Steiermark (Styria), Oberösterreich (Upper Austria) |
| Major cities | Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt, Sankt Pölten |
| Capital | Sankt Pölten |
| Administrative entity | Bundesland (federal state) |
| River | Enns |
| Religion | Roman Catholic, small Protestant communities |
| GDP (2018) | 61.0 billion € |
| GDP per capita (2018) | 32,300 € |
| Wine region | Yes, the largest in Austria |
| Wine-growing regions | Eight, including Wachau and Carnuntum |
| Natural caves | 4,082 |
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What You'll Learn
It is Austria's largest state and wine-growing region
Lower Austria, or Niederösterreich in German, is the country's largest state by area, covering 7,408 square miles (19,186 square kilometres). It is located in the northeastern corner of the country and is bordered by the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the north and east, respectively, as well as several other Austrian states, including Vienna, Upper Austria, Burgenland, and Styria.
The state is rich in natural caves, with 4,082 recorded, and is home to approximately half of Austria's towns. The principal towns include Wiener Neustadt, Klosterneuburg, Baden, Mödling, Schwechat, and Stockerau, which are all part of the greater metropolitan area of Vienna. Lower Austria's capital city is Sankt Pölten, which replaced Vienna when it became a separate state in 1921.
Lower Austria is also Austria's largest wine-growing region, with 26,732 hectares of vineyards. It consists of eight wine-growing regions and can be divided into three rough climate zones: the Weinviertel in the north, the Danube region and its tributary valleys to the west of Vienna, and Lower Austria, with its Pannonian climate, in the southeast. The flagship wines of the region are Grüner Veltliner, which makes up 44% of wine production, and Riesling. However, the region also offers a wide range of different wine varieties, including fresh, aromatic white wines, fruit-driven red wines, and dessert wines.
The state's name, Lower Austria, originates from its downriver location on the Enns River, which flows from west to east. The river Enns is also reflected in the province's official name before 1918, Österreich unter der Enns, which translates to "Austria Below the Enns".
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It is home to around half of Austria's towns
Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, is home to around half of Austria's towns. It is the country's largest state by area, covering 19,186 square kilometres (7,408 square miles). The state is located in the northeastern corner of the country and shares international borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The region has a rich cultural heritage and a diverse variety of landscapes, including alluvial forests, steppes, alpine pastures, lakes, gorges, and hilly landscapes. The state is also known for its wine production and is the country's largest wine-growing region, with around 28,000 hectares (69,000 acres) of vineyards. The vast Weinviertel, or Wine Quarter, is the largest wine-growing area in Austria and is known for its cool but dry climate, which helps retain important acidity and freshness in its wines.
The state can be divided into three major climatic zones: the Weinviertel in the north, the region along the River Danube in the centre, and the Pannonian Plain in the south-east. The River Danube separates the Vienna Basin in the south from the Vienna Woods in the north, which are separated by a line of thermal springs known as the Thermenlinie.
The historic heartland of Austria, Niederösterreich is home to several major cities, including Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt, and Sankt Pölten, which has been the state's capital since 1986. The state also includes eight of Austria's 16 official wine regions, each contributing to its wide variety of wine styles and types.
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It has a rich cultural heritage and a variety of landscapes
Lower Austria, or Niederösterreich in German, is Austria's largest state by land area, with a size of 19,186 square kilometres (7,408 square miles). The state is located in the northeastern corner of the country and shares international borders with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The state's special geographic location has resulted in a rich cultural heritage and a variety of landscapes. The region is home to a diverse range of landscapes, including alluvial forests and steppes, alpine pastures and lakes, gorges, and hilly terrain. The state also boasts a wealth of natural caves, with 4,082 recorded in total.
The region's name, which translates to "Eastern Region", was granted to the Bavarian Babenberg margraves in 976. Lower Austria has a long history of viticulture, with ancient grape pips found in Traisental suggesting wine production in the area dates back to the Bronze Age. Today, Lower Austria is the country's largest wine-growing region, with around 28,000 hectares of vineyards, contributing to roughly half of Austria's total wine output. The region can be divided into three major climatic zones: the Weinviertel, the region along the River Danube, and the Pannonian Plain. The Weinviertel is the largest wine-growing area in Austria and is known for its cool and dry climate, which helps to retain important acidity and freshness in its wines.
The state is also home to several major cities, including Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt, and Sankt Pölten, which has been the capital since 1986. Lower Austria's principal towns are part of the greater metropolitan area of Vienna, which is a separate administrative entity.
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It was part of the Reichsgau Niederdonau during the Anschluss
Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, is a state in northeastern Austria. It is the country's largest state by land area, with a land area of 19,186 square kilometres (7,408 square miles). The state is home to approximately half of Austria's towns, including Wiener Neustadt, Klosterneuburg, Baden, Mödling, Schwechat, and Stockerau. Lower Austria surrounds Vienna, Austria's largest city and national capital, which is a separate administrative entity.
During the period of Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, Niederösterreich was part of the Reichsgau Niederdonau (Lower Danube Reich District). This administrative division existed between 1938 and 1945 and consisted of areas in Lower Austria, Burgenland, southeastern parts of Bohemia, and southern parts of Moravia. The Nazi Gau system, established in 1926, was used to reorganise the Austrian provinces, replacing them with seven Nazi party Gaue. Under the Ostmarkgesetz law of 1939, the Austrian Gaue were elevated to the status of Reichsgaue. This period marked a significant change for Austria's Jewish population, with the Anschluss representing a turning point.
The name "Niederösterreich" translates to "Lower Austria" and has been in use since around 1450 when a permanent administrative division between Upper and Lower Austria was established. The province's official name until 1918 was "Österreich unter der Enns" ("Austria Below the Enns"), but Niederösterreich was commonly used. The name is derived from its downriver location on the river Enns, flowing from west to east.
Niederösterreich is a significant wine-growing region in Austria, known for its diverse origins and wine styles. It can be divided into three major climatic zones: the Weinviertel, the region along the River Danube, and the Pannonian Plain. The Weinviertel made headlines in 2003 when it decided to exclusively use its regional name to market its flagship wine, the peppery Grüner Veltliner.
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It is divided into three major climatic zones
Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, is Austria's largest state by area. It surrounds Vienna, the country's largest city and national capital, but does not include it. The state is located in the northeastern corner of the country and is bordered by the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the east, Burgenland to the southeast, Styria to the south, and Upper Austria to the west.
Niederösterreich can be divided into three major climatic zones: the Weinviertel, the region along the river Danube and its tributary valleys, and the Pannonian Plain. The Weinviertel is a hilly region in the northeast of the state, which descends to the plains of Marchfeld in the east. The Weinviertel is also a well-known wine-growing region, producing the flagship, peppery Grüner Veltliner. The region along the river Danube is separated from the Vienna Basin to the south by the river itself. The Pannonian climate zone of Niederösterreich is located to the south and east of Vienna and is known for its outstanding red wines, including Zweigelt and Blaufränkisch in Carnuntum.
The state's name, which translates to "Lower Austria", is derived from its downriver location on the river Enns, which flows from west to east. Niederösterreich was officially known as "Österreich unter der Enns" or "Austria Below the Enns" until 1918, but its popular name was always Niederösterreich. A permanent administrative division between Upper and Lower Austria was established around 1450.
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Frequently asked questions
Niederösterreich, or Lower Austria, is the country's largest state in terms of land area. It is located in the northeastern corner of the country and is bordered by the Czech Republic to the north and Slovakia to the east. The name "Lower Austria" comes from its downriver location on the river Enns, which flows from west to east.
The region has a rich cultural heritage due to its special geographic location, which also provides a diverse variety of landscapes. The region is known for its natural caves, alluvial forests, steppes, alpine pastures, lakes, gorges, and hilly landscapes. It is also Austria's largest wine-growing region, with around 28,000 hectares of vineyards, contributing to roughly half of Austria's wine output.
Some major cities in Lower Austria include Amstetten, Krems an der Donau, Wiener Neustadt, and Sankt Pölten, which has been the state's capital since 1986. Vienna, which was previously the capital, became a separate state in 1921.
The region was granted to the Bavarian Babenberg margraves in 976 and was known as Ostarichi (Eastern Region). A permanent administrative division between Upper and Lower Austria was established around 1450. The province's official name, "Österreich unter der Enns" ("Austria Below the Enns"), was changed in 1918 to the more commonly used "Niederösterreich."
