Lower Austria

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Lore & Background

Lower Austria derives its name from its downriver location on the river Enns, which flows from west to east. The state is divided into four regions: Mostviertel (above the Vienna Woods), Industrieviertel (below the Vienna Woods), Weinviertel (below the Manhartsberg), and Waldviertel (above the Manhartsberg). These regions have different geographical structures: the Mostviertel is dominated by the foothills of the Limestone Alps with mountains up to 2,000 m high, the Waldviertel is a granite plateau, and the hilly Weinviertel descends to the plains of Marchfeld. The Danube drains almost all of Lower Austria; the only river flowing into the North Sea is the Lainsitz in northern Waldviertel. The state has an international border 414 km long with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and also borders Upper Austria, Styria, Burgenland, and Vienna. Lower Austria is rich in natural caves—4,082 have been recorded, most in limestone and dolomite. The largest is the Ötscherhöhlensystem at 27,003 m long. The Battle on the Marchfeld on 26 August 1278 marked the beginning of the ascendancy of the House of Habsburg. During the Ottoman wars, Lower Austria was targeted by repeated raids, with many people taken into slavery. The Battles of Wagram and Aspern were fought here in 1809 between French troops under Napoleon and an Austrian army led by Archduke Charles.

Reader's Guide

Lower Austria's significance lies in its size, history, and economic role. It is the largest Austrian state by area and second-most-populous, with a GDP of 61.0 billion € in 2018, accounting for 15.8% of Austria's economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 32,300 €, or 107% of the EU27 average, making it the state with the second-lowest GDP per capita in Austria. Historically, it was the site of the Battle on the Marchfeld (1278), which marked the beginning of the ascendancy of the House of Habsburg, and the Battles of Wagram and Aspern (1809) during the Napoleonic Wars. The state contains many castles and Klosterneuburg Abbey, one of Austria's oldest abbeys. Before World War II, Lower Austria had the largest number of Jews in the country. Its economy is supported by transport links via Vienna International Airport, located in the town of Schwechat, Lower Austria; some western parts are served by Linz Airport, and the east by Bratislava Airport. The Wachau valley, situated between Melk and Krems in the Mostviertel region, is famous for its landscape, culture, and wine. Administratively, the state is divided into 20 districts and four independent towns (Krems an der Donau, Sankt Pölten, Waidhofen, Wiener Neustadt), with 573 municipalities in total.

Did You Know?

• Lower Austria derives its name from its downriver location on the river Enns.
• The state has 4,082 recorded natural caves, with the Ötscherhöhlensystem being the longest at 27,003 m.
• The Battle on the Marchfeld on 26 August 1278 marked the beginning of the ascendancy of the House of Habsburg.
• Before World War II, Lower Austria had the largest number of Jews in the country.
• Vienna International Airport is located in the town of Schwechat, Lower Austria, not in Vienna.