Neusiedler See

The Neusiedler See, in the east of Austria near the Austro-Hungarian border, is one of Europe's most unusual lakes. The only steppe lake on the continent, it measures 35km/22mi long and between 5-15km/3-9mi wide. It is, however, extremely shallow - 1-1.8m/40-72 ins. deep. The shallow water, slightly saline, thus warms up very quickly in summer to a temperature of over 25°C/77°F. The water level varies according to the rate of evaporation: between 1866 and 1869 the lake dried up completely.

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With practically no inflow of water and no outflow, the lake is fringed round almost its whole circumference with a girdle of reeds up to 5km/3mi wide. The only reed free area is on the eastern side around Podersdorf, where there are a number of beautiful beaches. The lake and the region along its shores offer facilities for water sports of all kinds - swimming, fishing, sailing and motorboat trips. On land there are opportunities for cycling and walking, trips in horse drawn caravans and pony trekking, especially from Illmitz to the "Lacken". The reeds provide a home for more than 250 different species of birds (bird watching station) and there are many rare water plants. Most of the plant and animal life is under statutory protection. Visitors may not catch or alarm any of the wildlife, nor may they damage, remove or buy any plants or parts of plants. The nature wardens responsible for ensuring that these regulations are observed are entitled to search visitors for this purpose. The reeds are cut commercially and used in stucco work. To the east the land merges into the steppe-like puszta, which is covered with a luxuriant growth of vegetation in spring but in late summer becomes withered and dusty. In the Seewinkel area, towards the Hungarian border, there are numerous small lakes and ponds, the "Lacken", also fringed with reeds. These lakes, the most interesting of which is the Lange Lacke, can be reached only on foot or on horseback (rental of horses). The quality of the water in the Neusiedler See is being increasingly threatened. Considerable quantities of copper, lead, zinc and other harmful substances are finding their way into it from the River Wulka, as well as local sewage. In order to avoid further deterioration attempts are being made to enforce stricter regulations. In the course of the next few years it is planned to turn the lake region into a national park, crossing national boundaries and thus taking in Hungarian territory as well as Austrian. First of all, however, the authorities must be sure that the money is available to finance this expensive project.

Related Attractions

St Margarethen - Quarry

On the road from Rust to St Margarethen (4km/2.5mi), some 300m/330yd to the north, is an old quarry of Leitha limestone which was already being used in Roman times. Stone from this quarry was used in the construction of St Stephen's Cathedral and other buildings in Vienna. During the summer artists of different nationalities work here, producing works of monumental sculpture, usually abstract in form, many examples of which (some of them painted) are scattered about the quarry. Every summer a Passion Play is performed here.

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Passio Domini

This play is performed every five years in the open-air stage of the Romersteinbruch quarry. The play has very deep religious significance to the local residents, hundreds of which participate in the play, reenacting scenes from the New Testament.

The play is held on weekends during the summer and is followed by a procession and pageant, after which the local residents rejoice with various events.

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Seewinkel

South of Podersdorf, between the Neusiedler See and the Hungarian frontier, stretches the Seewinkel, an area of salt steppe country dotted with small lakes and ponds (the "Lacken"), with interesting plants and wildlife (many species of birds). Every year in autumn numerous gray, speckled and white geese come to the Lange Lacke in the Seewinkel. Some breed in Russia and Siberia, and when the "Lacken" and the Neusiedler See freeze they usually migrate to Yugoslavia and Italy. In early summer, too, bird migration can be observed in this region. Also of interest to holidaymakers are the "Pannonia Holiday Center" (a holiday village with reed-thatched bungalows and the Hotel Pannonia; thermal spring) and the "Pamhagen Steppe Animal Park" in the south of the Seewinkel.

The Landscape Conservation Area in Seewinkel is comprised of several comprehensive nature reserves.

Rust, Austria

Rust (121m/397ft; pop. 1,700), situated on the western side of the Neusiedler See, is a well known town and tourist resort with excellent facilities for winter sports. It was given the status of a royal Hungarian free city in 1681. It has many well preserved burghers' houses of the Renaissance and Baroque periods; many of the houses have storks' nests on their roofs. Because the stork population fluctuates greatly the town of Rust has developed a stork protection program in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, with the aim of again providing optimum living conditions for the birds.

From Rust a 1km/0.75mi long causeway leads through the reeds to the bathing area (lakeside restaurant).

Fishermen's Church

Rust's Fischerkirche (Fishermen's Church), first recorded in 1493, lost its tower in 1879; some original wall paintings were discovered in 1953, showing scenes from the New Testament. Note also the Gothic altar and Gothic tabernacle. The church is still surrounded by a defensive wall. Candlelight concerts are held in the church during the summer months. In the main street stands the house known as "Zum Auge Gottes" (the Eye of God), with a fine 18th century oriel window. The Seetor (Lake Gate) dates from 1715.

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Morbisch, Austria

Situated 5.5km/3.5mi south of Rust, near the Hungarian frontier, lies Mörbisch (115m/377ft), an attractive little town of traditional Burgenland style with gaily decorated arcaded houses and long narrow lanes. A mineral spring was bored here in 1959, and a 1.7km/1mi long causeway leads to the bathing beach, with an island offshore. There are excellent facilities here for various water sports, including surfing and sailing, and a floating stage on which performances of operettas (Mörbischer Seefestspiele) are given in August, culminating in a firework display.

The town of Mörbisch is known for its beautiful floral decor.

Lakeside Operetta Festival

This annual seven-week festival runs from mid-July to late August. The concerts take place on Saturday and Sunday nights on a grand stage which floats on Lake Neusiedl.

Frauenkirchen, Austria

Frauenkirchen, 6km/3.75mi south of Halbturn on the eastern side of the Neusiedler See, is named after its magnificent pilgrimage church (1695-1702); on the high altar can be seen a much venerated Gothic image of the Virgin, taken from the church's medieval predecessor which was destroyed during the Turkish wars. It is said, however, that the original venerated image was the oil painting of a "Maria lactans", which now adorns a side altar. The interior of the church is decorated with painted stucco work and frescos by Italian artists. Near the church is a Calvary (Kalvarienberg).

Neusiedl am See, Austria

Highlights:	Bruck an der Leitha, Austria	Rohrau, Austria

Purbach, Austria

To the southwest of Breitenbrunn on the northwestern side of the Neusiedler See lies Purbach (124m/407ft), a vine growing town and holiday resort with a well preserved circuit of walls (four massive gates) dating from the time of the Turkish raids (16th-17th century) and some old houses. The town's emblem is the "Purbach Turk", a bust on the chimney of a house. Purbach is the starting point for walks and climbs in the Leitha mountains. At harvest time the visitor can indulge in a "Traubenkur" (curative diet of grapes).

Breitenbrunn, Austria

On the "Neusiedler Lake Highway" which runs southwards from Neusiedl to Eisenstadt lies the village of Breitenbrunn (140m/460ft), with a tall watch tower (now a museum) of the Turkish period in the main square. The parish church, in front of which stand the Kreuzkapelle (Chapel of the Cross, 1706) and a Gothic "lantern of the dead", is surrounded by a defensive wall with embrasures. From here a road (4km/2.5mi) and a canal lead to the lake (swimming pool, boat-hire).

Halbturn, Austria

10km/6mi northeast of Podersdorf on the eastern side of the Neusiedler See lies the market town of Halbturn (128m/420ft); note the maize stores known as "Tschardaken". The old imperial hunting lodge was built by Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1710; it is one of the finest Baroque buildings in all Austria. Maria Theresa had the Grand Hall decorated with ceiling paintings by Anton Maulpertsch; the park is also well worth seeing.

Halbturn Castle

Not only does the castle in Halbturn have an impressive museum, but it also plays hosts to temporary exhibitions.

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Illmitz, Austria

To the west of Seewinkel lies Illmitz (117m/384ft; pop. 2,400), a typical puszta village at the foot of the vine-clad Illmitzer Höhe, with a mineral spring and a biological station. A road 4km/2.5mi long with a cycle lane runs southwestward between reedy "Lacken" to the bathing beach on the Neusiedler See. In the well known nature reserve around Illmitz rare flora and fauna can be found.

Illimitz is located on the beautiful lakeside.

St Andra, Austria

St Andrä (123m/404ft) is the chief place in the Seewinkel area. The wide village green, surrounded by a row of typical Burgenland farmhouses, gives the village its character. A steam train which still runs to Hungary, and some reed thatched houses are reminiscent of olden times. The Zicksee, to the west, a lake with high sodium carbonate content, has a beach of fine sand.

Podersdorf

On the eastern side of the Neusiedler See, 15km/9mi south of Neusiedl on the "Seewinkl Highway", lies Podersdorf (122m/400ft), a bathing resort with a reed-free beach and motorboat station). Here, too, there are a number of storks' nests on the houses, some of which are thatched with reeds. The parish church dates from 1791.

Folk Festival, Gols, Austria

The Folk Festival is an annual two-week event including musical concerts and various exhibitions. International bands as well as Austrian musicians are featured.