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Burgenland.

The lowlands of Pannonia in the north, countless vineyards in the central area, and gently sweeping slopes in the south. Bordering on Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia. An elongated province like apple-strudel dough, stretched thin in the middle (only about 4 km wide). With Eisenstadt as its capital, Burgen-land is the easternmost and, in terms of population, smallest state of Austria.

Discover, unveil, experience, remember. Uncover the wild diver-sity of a truly unique stretch of land in the heart of Europe: the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lake Neusiedl, is as fascinating to international visitors as are the six nature parks or the border-traversing National Park. Approximately one third of the entire province is comprised of protected nature reserves. Biking and horseback riding trails, superb watery terrain for sailing and surfing, golf courses and running routes make the countryside a veritable paradise for sports. Winemakers and chefs have unfor-gettable tastes in store for your palate. The open-air festivals, c

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Long live sports. Burgenland provides ideal pre-requisites to power out and really clear the cobwebs from your head while surrounded by dream-come-true scenery. With an online tour guide, you can plan your own outdoor activities before you even leave home, in any sport you like.

On your bike. Get to know the most beautiful parts of Burgenland on your bike. The far reaching, well-maintained

biking paths extend more than 2,500 kilometers from north to south and fill every grade of difficulty from tough and deman-ding to easy and enjoyable.

In the saddle. Enjoy the feeling of adventure and freedom while roaming more than 1,300 kilometers of bridle paths lacing throughout Burgenland.

With your clubs. Are you a golf lover? Then try the vast assortment of highly varied greens or Austria’s largest golf course, where every tee-off is wreathed by a fabulous view. In Burgenland, you can golf practically all year round: there are about 300 sun-bathed days a year.

On foot. In case you don’t want nature to whiz by you quite so swiftly, try out some hiking, running or nordic walking

along a few of the 418 km of well-marked running and walking paths. They’re a perfect alternative.

Healthy and exciting. Being in motion out of doors makes you happy and reinforces good health. In Burgenland, every route is a new experience, varying with the seasons, attaining exciting diversity: a springtime ocean of blossoms, prismatic colours all summer long, vineyard paintings in autumn or snow-covered wintery romance.

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Water – a bucketful of holiday. Calming and stimulating at the same time. The numerous thermal bath centres permit you to launch your water sports with a bath and a swim. The zenith - thanks to the local specialties, wind and water - can be reached in sailing, surfing and kiting.

One of Europe’s top regions for sailing. With an average depth of 1.5 meters, the most numerous sunshine days and best wind

conditions in Austria, Lake Neusiedl is renowned international territory for sailing regattas. This is where you become one with wind and water.

Lots of hot air for surfers and kiters. Thousands of fans cheer on the World Cup at the Summer Opening in Podersdorf every April. Particularly spectacular are the loops of the kite-surfers, when the whipping power of the wind picks up their boards and

whisks them at high speed above the watery surface. The highly respectable wind conditions, together with the minimum water depths, are guarantors for sheer endless fun, for professionals and beginners alike.

Touch nature in a kayak or canoe. From April until October, genuine adventures await you in kayak or canoe. Guided tours on the Lafnitz, Raab or Leitha rivers, or straight into Lake Neusiedl: each in its way offers incomparable charms.

The joys of winter in ice and snow. Burgenland enchants its visitors in winter as well, unveiling some of its most beautiful aspects. Enjoy a dreamy winter walk through one of the nature parks, or dig in your heels with sporting ardour. Lake Neusiedl transforms its 320 km² into the largest ice sports arena in central Europe, enticing ice bikers and ice surfers, ice sailors and ice kiters to partake of its magic.

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Immersing into nature. Right there, where the ramparts of the Alps meet the Pannonian lowlands, that’s where you’ll find National Park Neusiedler See - Seewinkel. That’s where you can connect with a plethora of landscapes and species of flora and fauna you’ll never find within such a small area anywhere in Europe. Perhaps that’s why UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. The habitats of this border-crossing nature reserve include a shallow lake of the steppes, reed beds, salt lakes which periodically dry out, small-surfaced sand dunes and the lowland moor of Hanság - highly exotic scenery for an alpine country such as Austria. Each and every season has its own peculiar highlights, whether flora or fauna, whether the colours of the atmosphere or play of light across the lowlands.

Birdwatching – eagerness and fascination. For decades now, the region surrounding Lake Neusiedl has been considered a hot spot among Europe’s birdwatchers. Particularly exciting is the period from the beginning of March until June, or at the end of summer, when the National Park is a stepping stone for many migratory birds on their flight from northern Europe to Africa. Of the more than 300 proven species who put in a stopover here, about half of them breed here as well, including rarities which can be found nowhere else in Austria. With binoculars or a spotting scope, you can observe many of these species in their natural habitat.

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The nature parks. Experience nature anew. Up close, and utterly aware. In the six nature parks extending from the Neusiedler See in the north to the Landseer Berge in the middle of the region, and all the way to the hill-studded south of the Burgen-land. On hikes through forests and vineyards or on guided tours for the whole family in any season. Nature for all five senses.

Nature Park Neusiedler See-Leithagebirge. Located right on the shores of Lake Neusiedl, these panorama trails will make you gape at the splendid views of the lake of the steppes, regardless of whether you tread them afoot or abike, in whatever season you choose.

Nature Park Rosalia-Kogelberg. The protected natural habitat of many rare species of plants and animals. Explore the woods, the reed-covered ponds, meadows of fruit trees and grass, sa-vour the strawberries, refined chestnuts and full-bodied wines.

Nature Park Landseer Berge. This cultivated landscape is unusual, for it contains a bevy of archeological excavation sites. Particularly imposing is the fortress ruin of Landsee, one of the largest in central Europe; or Pauliberg, Austria’s youngest extinct volcano.

Nature Park Geschriebenstein-Írottkő. No fewer than 500 km of hiking trails lead through one of the largest cohesive forests in Austria. The knightly castle of Lockenhaus, museums and the observation tower at Geschriebenstein, Burgenland‘s highest elevation (884 meters), await you.

Nature Park Wine Idyll. Romantic vineyard routes, thatch-roofed wine cellars, rapturously beautiful slopes covered with vines. Wooded creek beds, moors and wetlands, the Instruction Trail around the Urbersdorf reservoir and the Wild Game Nature Park with stag, wild boar and age-old species of domesticated animals literally burst with charm.

Nature Park Raab-Örség-Goričko. Meander at your whim through three different countries - Austria, Hungary and Slovenia - on a day trip to Dreiländereckstein. Guided new-experience tours over the “Peace Trail” and the “Life Trail” will perk your enthusiasm.

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Listen, look, feel... and remember forever. The mind-bending diversity of Burgenland’s cultural offerings will awaken all five senses. Touch the ways of life, feel the high spirits that the people of Burgenland unleash in your soul. Soak up the charm and character of Pannonia.

Haydn and Liszt – world composers. Haydn and Liszt – two brilliant personalities who bore the stamp of the Pannonian lowlands and left an everlasting legacy to Burgenland which extends far beyond its borders. The young musician Joseph Haydn was engaged as court composer to the Esterházy princes and directed their orchestra and opera. Haydn (1732–1809) is considered still today the guiding force of the Viennese classical era. Another music genius of Pannonia was Franz Liszt (1811–1886) who launched his piano virtuoso career at the age of nine, also at Esterházy Castle, and later became one of the most dazzling exponents of the Romantic Age. He packed Europe’s concert halls with ecstatic spectators.

Haydn Centre Eisenstadt. The Haydn house in Eisenstadt, where the composer lived for 12 years, has been a museum since 1998. For Haydn fans all over the world and music lovers in general, it is simply a must. The exhibitions and concerts at Esterházy Castle are magnets of equal drawing power to one of Austria’s most beautiful Baroque palaces, known all over the world to culture lovers, and not merely for its splendid Haydn Salon.

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Land of castles, palaces, fortresses. Knights, princes and counts - their tracks are visible all over the countryside. Towering castles and forbidding fortresses have left their accents every-where, with tall towers, magnificent facades and far-reaching parks. Each structure has its own inimitable history, making ages past come alive right before your eyes. The ancient dynasties of Esterházy, Batthyány and Nádasdy have become memorable through their great buildings.

Time journeys: take your pick. Have a yearning for classic, ennobling castles… or creepy fortresses? You could start out at the Baroque palace of Halbturn, former hunting lodge and summer residence of the emperor. Or Austria’s last knight-ly fortress, Burg Lockenhaus, which offers a highly-varied programme. Or perhaps at Burg Güssing, standing atop the knoll of an extinct volcano, and which houses a collection of weapons in its museum. Or else…or maybe…or why not…?

More than 75 museums, collections and permanent exhibitions mirror and highlight the history of Burgenland, its culture and its nature. You will find the answers to all your questions, and lots more besides.

Welcome to the theatre of our ancestors.

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Kultur: junges Burgenland, Festspiele klassisch

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Burgenland’s love of festivals. The people of Burgenland are irrepressible festival goers. They adore spectacular perfor-mances, many out in the fresh air. And, no surprise to anyone, hundreds of thousands of visitors return year after year to be moved to tears of joy by the lust for living, the enthusiasm, and the rhythms of unforgettable open-air arenas and incom-parable music centres. Let yourself be transformed, whisked into another world, by first class opera and operetta music.

Opera Festival St. Margarethen. Classical, yet fabulously roman-tic: a composite of emotionally moving music, high quality artists and an unparalleled stage setting integrated into the monumental backdrop of an ancient Roman rock quarry, from which, inciden-tally, the sandstone was taken to build St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna. The Opera Festival St. Margarethen wows simply everyone: ensconced in one of Europe’s largest natural stages, with truly grand productions and a spectacular ambience.

Burgenland: a festival stage. Classical music Concerts of the highest imaginable niveau can be enjoyed at the Liszt Festival in Raiding, at the Haydn Festival at Esterházy Castle, at the Chamber Music Festival Lockenhaus, at the Castle Concerts at Halbturn and at the Springtime of Sound at Burg Schlainig.

Fans of theater, musicals and opera also have a highly varied programme at their beck and call, e.g. the Castle Performances in Kobersdorf or the J:Opera in Jennersdorf. Regardless of whether you prefer classical or modern culture, the festival stages of Burgenland guarantee pure and utter enjoyment.

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From Classic to Pop and Rock. Burgenland draws young audiences as well, along with those who’ve remained young at heart, into the jetstream of its festivals. At Nova Rock, for example, top bands make the fields of Pannonia in Nickelsdorf quiver and quake for three days. The festivals in Wiesen merge jazz, reggae, blues and rock into big, relaxing cloudbursts. The Picture On Festival in southern Burgenland, or the Summer Opening for the Surfing World Cup on Lake Neusiedl provide all the party atmosphere you can swallow.

Deeply immerse yourself into the fascinating cultural diversity of Burgenland.

Lake Festival Mörbisch. Classical productions of traditional operettas, staged at an incomparable site on a huge stage built on the shore of Lake Neusiedl, right next to the National Park, ensure infinite memorable moments in one sole evening. This is an all-round experience for your five senses, including an appreciable quotient of romance. That’s why the Lake Festival Mörbisch has been dubbed the „Mecca of Operettas”.

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Culinary pleasures of Burgenland. Savouring the best of life in Burgenland often begins with a stroll through a lane of wine cellars... and ends with an exquisite menu comprising a host of regional specialties. An extraordinary cornucopia of natural products, chefs who celebrate their craft with innova-tion and daring culinary thrusts, restaurants that entice you with architecture and design into their wonderful world of fine dining.

Natural produce. Straight from the garden, from the field, from the lake: in Burgenland, natural products are omnipresent in astonishing variety. From ancient species of domesticated animals, e.g. the mangalitza pig, to countless varieties of fruits and vegetables, and all the way to chestnuts and hazelnuts. That’s how the kitchens of Burgenland draw the very best from their mild climate, their many, many days of sunshine and their highly motivated farmers to a truly impressive selection of natural produce.

Local version of feeling good. You can savour in truly authentic fashion the pleasures of wines and fine foods at the wide array of inns and wine bars in Burgenland. Nearly all are family-run operations, which ensures that the ambiente remains cosy and friendly. In whatever wine region you choose, a laid-back, rural “Heuriger” is part of the picture. Try it.

Constellations of gourmet toques. Stars, toques, etc. are proof that an enlivening atmosphere, aesthetic design and modern architecture can only be brought to their zenith by superb cuisine. All around the shores of Lake Neusiedl, you will find a dense network of gourmet, prize-winning cuisine, where Burgenland’s feel for life joins up with avant garde ideas about how to live it.

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Land of grapes, land of wines. The mild Pannonian climate boasts 300 days of sunshine each year; it also has just the right geology and, to top it off, hands-on vintners have centuries of experience behind them in turning Burgenland’s grapes into outstanding wines of international renown, numbering among the best the world has to offer. Such a spectrum from one sole region is unique on earth: substantive whites, full-bodied reds, unparalleled quality of dessert wines and the Uhudler with its aroma of wild strawberries.

Wine from north to south. The winemaking traditions of Burgenland have left their imprint on the Pannonian landscapes in rather idyllic ways. Both of the largest wine regions lie between Lake Neusiedl and the Leitha hills, with their historic lanes of wine cellars. Here, whites and reds, but also unique dessert wines, are pressed and aged. In central Burgenland, also known as Blaufränkischland, the grapes thrive in their loess /loam soil. And southern Burgenland, the smallest wine region in the province, gives rise to authentic red wines with a unique mineral touch. The undisputed specialty of the region is the primeval Uhudler.

Futuristic Tradition. The winemakers of Burgenland don’t break through old limits merely with regard to their wine repertoire, they also walk a brand new architectural line combining picturesque building styles and exhilarating design.

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Sunshine all year round. Fabulously large thermal bath areas, top hotels, warm-healing waters, powerful moors and individual health packages: immerse yourself into the feel-good oases of Burgenland, turn each and every hour into pure sunshine.

Sun-Thermal Baths Lutzmannsburg. This is Europe’s leading thermal baths area for toddlers, tots and children, with a unique programme sensitively attuned to the needs of the youngest inhabitants of planet earth. Extra-mild thermal waters to strengthen their motoric capabilities, flat-water and splash basins with baby slides, children’s whirlpool, baby sauna, private nooks for breast-feeding, but also mega-slides for those kids hungry for adventure: it all adds up to a paradise of children’s wellness pleasures.

Reiter’s Family Thermal Baths in Stegersbach. Together with the whole family, dive into a pool of well-being and harmony. Let watery pleasures push you to the top of enjoyment. In the dreamy, rural hill country of southern Burgenland, at the beauty and health-enhancement thermal baths area in Stegersbach. Quivering fun moments are guaranteed by the water spectacles and game zones. And for golf lovers, the splendid greens and fantastic views can be enjoyed to the hilt.

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Relaxation and health. In Burgenland, you can utilise the healing powers of thermal water, of moor baths and of car-bonated mineral water for their sustained, long term benefits to your health. This applies especially to rheumatic illnesses, chronic ailments and disorders of mobility, the cardio-vascular system and blood vessels.

Burgenland Thermal Baths Bad Tatzmannsdorf. A place to relax, to exercise, to care for your body and rebuild your

health, inspired by the ancient Roman culture of bathing and body culture. Get the most from the strongly mineralised and healing power-enhanced thermal waters in this wide spanning landscape of saunas called Spannonia.

Bad Sauerbrunn – the Health Centre. Strengthen your inner resources through the healing powers of natural mineral, medicinal thermal waters, with their high magnesium content, just the way the nobility and gentry did back in the days of

the monarchy. Especially beneficial results are achieved for disorders of the supportive and mobility structures of human bones and joints, as well as for kidney and urinary tract ailments.

St. Martin’s Thermal Baths & Lodge. Adventure and relaxati-on - that is the unusual combination attained in a brand new concept of wellness holidays. At the forefront is an exciting encounter with nature provided by the breathtaking beauty

of the Neusiedler See - Seewinkel National Park, located right next door, bringing you face to face with the spine-tingling excitements of the steppes, of nature and, in the end, of your innermost self. If you ever wanted to submerge in nature, this is the place to do it, and discover how adventure transforms to relaxation.

Feel the Burgenland - where body, mind and soul take a breather.

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Publisher: Burgenland TourismusA-7000 Eisenstadt, Johann Permayer-Strasse 13Tel. +43 2682 / 633 84-0, Fax +43 2682 / 633 84-20info@burgenland.info, www.burgenland.info

Editor: Burgenland TourismusDesign: JWT WienPrint: offset5020

Details contained herein have been examined and assembled with all due care, but no liability for their accuracy is assumed. Cutoff date: December 2010. This project has been supported and sponsored by the European Union.

Information and Advisory Services.Burgenland TourismA-7000 Eisenstadt, Johann Permayer-Strasse 13Tel. +43 2682 / 633 84-0, Fax +43 2682 633 84-20info@burgenland.info, www.burgenland.info

Neusiedler See (Lake Neusiedl)Tel. +43 2167 / 86 00, www.neusiedlersee.com

Mittelburgenland (Central Burgenland)Tel. +43 2615 / 87171 2210, www.sonnenland.at

Südburgenland (Southern Burgenland)Tel. +43 3352 / 313 13-0, www.suedburgenland.info