Burgenland

Burgenland is the easternmost and least populous state of Austria. It has two main cities and seven rural areas, making up a total of 171 small towns and villages. The capital of Burgenland is Eisenstadt.

Burgenland used to be part of the Kingdom of Hungary. After a big agreement called the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, the land was given to the new Republic of Austria. This change was finished in 1921, and the area was named Burgenland.

Burgenland is close to many places. It touches the city of Bratislava to the north, Hungarian areas to the east, a small part of Slovenia to the south, and the Austrian states of Styria and Lower Austria to the west. The land has Lake Neusiedl in the north and the foothills of the Alps in the south, making it a special part of Austria.

History

The land that is now Burgenland has been home to many different groups over time. It was part of the Roman Empire, several Germanic kingdoms, the Kingdom of Hungary, and many other states before becoming part of Austria.

Burgenland is special because it was never part of the old Austrian empire or the Holy Roman Empire. It has a rich history with many different cultures living there, including Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes, and others.

In more recent times, Burgenland became part of Austria after World War I, though it took some time and discussions to make this happen. It has since grown and changed, becoming an important part of Austria.

Geography

Burgenland is one of the smaller states in Austria, covering an area of 3,962 km². Its highest point is on the border with Hungary, reaching 884 metres above sea level. The lowest point in all of Austria is also in Burgenland, at 114 metres above sea level, located near Apetlon.

Burgenland shares borders with several places. It touches Styria to the southwest and Lower Austria to the northwest. To the east, it meets Hungary. In the far north and south, it has short borders with Slovakia and Slovenia. The region also shares a large lake called the Neusiedler See with Hungary. This lake is famous for its shallow waters and mild weather, attracting many visitors.

Politics

Main article: 2025 Burgenland state election

Burgenland's state assembly, called the Landtag, has 36 members. After the 2025 Burgenland state election, the assembly includes members from four parties: the Social Democratic Party of Austria with 17 seats, the Freedom Party of Austria with 9 seats, the Austrian People's Party with 8 seats, and The Greens – The Green Alternative with 2 seats.

Economy

Burgenland's total economic value, known as its gross domestic product (GDP), was €9 billion in 2018. This made up 2.3% of Austria's entire economy. In that same year, the amount of money each person could buy with was €27,300, which is about 90% of the average for all of Europe. Burgenland has the smallest amount of this economic value compared to Austria's other areas.

Administrative divisions

Burgenland has nine districts, two statutory cities, and seven rural districts. The statutory cities are Eisenstadt and Rust.

The rural districts include Neusiedl am See, Eisenstadt-Umgebung, Mattersburg, Oberpullendorf, Oberwart, Güssing, and Jennersdorf.

Demographics

Burgenland is Austria’s least crowded state. As of January 2023, it had over 300,000 people, making it the smallest but growing state in Austria. While some parts are losing people, the northern area is growing.

Burgenland is home to many different groups. Most people speak German, but there are also Burgenland Croats, Hungarians, and a few others. The Croats came after wars long ago and kept their language and traditions. Hungarians have lived in certain villages for centuries. Sadly, many Jews and Roma lived there before they were taken away during a difficult time in history.

Most people in Burgenland are Christian, with many being Roman Catholic and some Protestants. A small number follow other religions or none at all.

Names

Burgenland has many names depending on the language of the people who live there. In Slovak it is called Hradsko; in Croatian it is called Gradišće; and in Hungarian it is called Őrvidék, Felsőőrvidék, or Várvidék. In Slovene it is called Gradiščanska.

Before 1921, this area was not its own region and did not have an official name. People sometimes called it Deutsch-Westungarn (German West Hungary). The name Burgenland was chosen in 1922 because the area has many old castles along its borders.

Different groups have their own ways to refer to parts of Burgenland. For example, some people call the western shores of the Neusiedler See lake "Luzic" or "Lusic". Over time, many different cultures have lived in this area, mixing their traditions together.

Symbols

Burgenland’s coat-of-arms features an eagle standing on a rock. The eagle has red wings, a crown, and a small shield on its chest with red and white stripes. These symbols were created in 1922 when the area became a new province. They come from old families who lived in the region long ago.

The flag of Burgenland has two stripes, red and gold, matching the colors of the coat-of-arms. The flag became official in 1971.

Culture

Burgenland has many cultural events, especially in the summer. Two big ones are the Seefestspiele Mörbisch and the Nova Rock Festival, where many international rock bands perform.

At Forchtenstein Castle, you can see a wonderful collection belonging to the dukes of Esterházy. The famous musician Joseph Haydn worked at their court in Esterházy Palace. He used a song from the Burgenland Croatian people called "V jutro rano se ja stanem" to create the tune for "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser", which is now the national anthem of Germany. Different groups in Burgenland, like the Croatian and Hungarian communities, also hold folk evenings.

The local dialect in Burgenland is called Hianzisch. People from other parts of Austria sometimes tell jokes about folks from Burgenland, suggesting they might be a bit slow or not very quick to understand things.

Media

Radio

• Radio OP (2009)