Ferto / Neusiedler cultural landscape

Unesco's Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization has recognized Austria's Ferto / Neusiedler Cultural Landscape as a World Cultural Heritage in 2001.

The Ferto / Neusiedler cultural landscape is an area that gathers cultures for more than eight millennia. In other words, this area is a place to meet and interfere between many cultures. The result of this meeting is a series of human activities with the natural environment, which has so far been recorded.

The Ferto / Neusiedler Cultural Landscape area has villages of rural people with typical house architecture, a large lake and notably some palaces built around the 18th and 19th centuries.

The formation of the Ferto / Neusiedler cultural landscape began around 6000 BC. Scientists found the presence of the first prehistoric inhabitants living here, but in the 7th century BC the area began to be crowded with people. At that time, life took place around the lake area, the life of ancient Roman inhabitants relied heavily on fishing in the lake. In the 11th century, Ferto / Neusiedler became the land of the Hungrary. The life here really developed in the 12th and 13th centuries. Around the end of the 13th century there was an invasion of Tatar people to capture this land but failed. Since then, this place has developed strongly during the Middle Ages and lasted until the conquest of the Turks in the late 16th century.

The large saltwater lake area has created a mangrove forest with a diverse ecosystem for the entire area

In fact, the Ferto / Neusiedler Cultural Landscape is a transnational property , which is located in both Austria and Hungrary territory. But during the first centuries this landscape was held by Hungarians. However, in the last centuries, both Austrians also exploited and jointly used the resources of this heritage. It was not until the 20th century, after the Second World War, the Austrian-Hung border was clearly divided. The iron curtain between the communist world and the rest of Europe is divided and Heritage becomes the resource of Austria.

The development of the Ferto / Neusiedler area was quite powerful for centuries continuously from 13 to 18.19. The residents here develop their economy mainly based on the production of wine and part of the export of animals . Ferto / Neusiedler is an area that has great natural values ​​and is very diverse. The saltwater lake area has created a mangrove forest with extremely rich flora. This is a huge source of natural food for people living here, as well as serving the livestock.

The accretion of many nutrient-rich soil layers that have been around for thousands of years also helps the viticulture here really grow. Besides, the region's mild climate is also particularly suitable for cultivation. The grapes grown in this area have a distinctly distinct flavor and aroma so that they can produce famous wines. Researchers have identified for centuries following the Ferto / Neusiedler region that has been surrounded by ten deep inner ring settlements and twenty other outer ring settlements, these settlements are next generation connect another generation.

Economic development helps people here have a fairly stable life. And so, the Ferto / Neusiedler culture is very developed. Beginning in the 16th century, many buildings were built here. The first is just the village architecture, ordinary houses, followed by the public administrative works of the area. The material to be found is the limestone extracted from the lake bottom. By the 18th century, many remarkable cultural works were built here, such as the palace of Nagycenk town; Szechenyi palace; palace Fertod Esterhazy.

The cultures of many peoples have met, interfered and joined together in this area over the centuries, and since then formed the diverse culture of the Ferto / Neusiedler cultural landscape. The traditional occupation and the current remaining architectural buildings in this area are testament to that cultural diversity.

Neusiedlersee National Park was established to protect the natural landscape, environment and ecosystem for the entire region.

The Ferto / Neusiedler cultural landscape is recognized by Unesco according to criteria (v): This is the meeting place of different cultures. It is an area that shows the results of the birth between humans and nature for many millennia.

Currently, the Ferto / Neusiedler Cultural Landscape area includes natural landscapes, lakes, marshes and well-protected structures. A natural park called Neusiedller Park was also established to protect the natural life of the animals, plants and ecosystems here.