| Austria is bordered
by Germany, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy,
Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
It is a federal state made up
of nine Bundesländer (Provinces): |
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| Burgenland |
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| in the East of
Austria, is a region of fertile
plains stretching to the horizon
around the shores of Lake Neusiedl,
Central Europe's only steppe lake.
Close by is a National Park which
serves as a sanctuary for countless
rare bird species. |
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| Carinthia |
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| in the south
of Austria, on the border with
Italy, is best known for its large,
inviting bathing lakes - such
as Ossiachersee, Millstättersee
and Wörthersee - and is a
popular area for skiing, hiking
and cycling. The province also
boasts the highest point in Austria,
the summit of the Grossglockner. |
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| Lower Austria |
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| encloses Vienna
on all sides. To the East it is
undulating hill country, a patchwork
of vineyards, and to the North
the hills are densely wooded.
The Wachau, the picturesque stretch
of the Danube Valley between the
abbeys of Melk and Göttweig,
is a major tourist attraction. |
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| Salzburgerland |
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| and Carinthia
both share the Hohe Tauern National
Park, a paradise for hikers and
nature lovers. The City of Salzburg
has long been a metropolis for
superb music-making. It owes its
fame partly to Mozart, born in
the city's Getreidegasse, and
to its annual summer festival. |
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| Styria |
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| between the glacier-clad
peak of the Dachstein (2,995 metres)
on its northern border and the
vineyard-clad hillsides south
of the provincial capital Graz.
One of its most attractive areas
is the Styrian Salzkammergut,
a region of lakes and mountains
centred around Bad Aussee. |
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| Tyrol |
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| with its delightful
old towns and cities, magnificent
mountain ranges and lush verdant
valleys, attracts hikers, cyclists
and lovers of the great outdoors
during the summer, as well as
being a magnet for winter sports
enthusiasts. |
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| Upper Austria |
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| and the Salzkammergut,
famed for its natural beauty and
its health resorts. Emperor Franz
Joseph and his wife Elisabeth
spent many summers taking the
waters in Bad Ischl. Further North,
the Mühlviertel, an area
of wooded hills extends up to
the border of the Czech Republic. |
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| Vienna |
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| the country's
capital, is a mix of contemporary
architecture and stately historic
buildings. The Vienna Woods surrounding
the city are a popular recreational
area. |
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| Vorarlberg |
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| the westernmost
province, encompasses the full
range of scenic variations from
the majestic peaks of the Silvretta
Mountains to the Rhine Valley
and the shore of Lake Constance,
which it shares with Germany and
Switzerland. The stage on the
lake hosts sumptuous opera productions
during the annual summer festival
in Bregenz. |
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