Fertö/Neusiedlersee, Austria/Hungary

Neusiedler Lake in winter
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neusiedler_See_im_Winter.jpg
Author: Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht


The Ferto/Neusiedler Lake is a World Heritage Site which for the most part is in Austria, with a smaller section in Hungary. The lake is known as Lake Neusiedl in English, Neusiedlersee in German and Fertö in Hungary. It is the second biggest steppe lake in central Europe. Ferto/Neusiedler Lake covers an area of 315 square kilometers, of which 240 square kilometers are located in Austria while the remaining 75 square kilometers are in Hungary.

Fertö/Neusiedler Lake was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 25th session of the World Heritage Committee meeting in Helsinki, Finland, on 11-16 December, 2001. This is because the site is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement and land use representative of a culture. The site has seen human habitation that goes back to the Neolithic period. It was densely populated as early as the 7th century BC. In 454 AD the King of the Ostrogoths, Theodoric the Great, was born near Neusiedler Lake.

The parish church of Neusiedl-am-see, located nearLake Neusiedl
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Neusiedl_am_See_01_090110.JPG
Author: Joadl


Today there are several towns along the shore of Lake Neusiedl including Illmitz, Podersdorf am See, Weiden, Neusiedl am See, Jois, Winden, Breitenbrunn, Purbach am Neusiedlersee, Donnerskirchen, Oggau, Rust and Mörbisch on the Austrian side, and Fertörákos, Fertöboz, Fertö d, Balf and Fertöújlak in Hungary.

Lake Neusiedl is an important wildlife sanctuary for migratory birds. It has also become increasing popular as a sports recreation destination offering sailing and windsurfing. This attracts visitors in nearby Austria and Hungary. There is an annual freestyle swimming competition held at the lake where participants swim from Mörbisch to Illmitz.

The church of Mörbisch, Austria
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M%C3%B6rbisch.jpg
Author: Karl Gruber

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: N 47 43 09.4 E 16 43 21.8
Inscription Year: 2001
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: V

Visiting Fertö/Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape

Your base for visiting this World Heritage Site is Vienna in Austria or Budapest in Hungary. From either of these two cities you can make your arrangement to go to Lake Neusiedl, or select an appropriate tour package there.

Getting there

Take the Ost-Autobahn (A4) from Vienna to Neusiedl am See on the northern shore of the lake. Alternatively, you can also take the Südost-Autobahn (A3) from Vienna to Mörbisch am See. From Budapest take Motorway M1 until the interchange with Highway 85 near the city of Györ. From there, head west to reach the FertÕd-Hanság National Park on the Hungarian side of the lake.

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