Leisure lake with a long history - Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape 772
What and Why
Honestly one of those rare UNESCO WHS that is fairly uninteresting and that I gave a characteristic 'DUH' when I reached it, Lake Neusiedl (German: Neusiedler See) or Fertő (Hungarian: Fertő Tó) is a large endorheic lake in Central Europe, straddling across both the borders of Austria and Hungary. The lake, due to its lack of drainage, is very shallow: the deepest part of it is merely 1.8 m and literally you can walk across the lake, which looks like an open sea, and reach the other side if you are tall enough.
Most of the lake is surrounded by reeds which serve as a habitat and sanctuary for for migratory birds. This area is a valuable biosphere reserve and is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna and has been shaped harmoniously for eight millennia by different human groups and ethnically diverse populations. The lake, because of its abundant water supply has been inhabitated by humans the neolithic period. The area became densely populated from the 7th century BCE onward, initially by people of the Hallstatt culture.
Toponymy
Neusiedl means new settlement in German; whereas fertő means wallowing, bathing place in Hungarian. Weiden is German for grazing, reflecting its agricultural history.
See
Lake Neusiedl, particularly in its Austrian part, draws significant numbers of tourists as it offers a good beach for swimming and yachting. We arrived at Weiden which is one of the main port of seasport. There is a national park Nationalpark Lake Neusiedl (Seewinkel) offering good sites of the natural environment on the eastern bank of the lake. There are a few classic buildings around the entire lake for excursion.
Eat and Drink
Steckerlfisch
We had a simple lunch at Steckerlfisch right at the Weiden beach. Steckerlfisch is Bavarian-German meaning fish on a stick and is exactly a fish grilled on a stick in the traditional way. It is considered a local speciality.
Getting There and Around
One must notice if you will be driving on highways in Austria, one is required to purchase a 'vignette' and affix onto your windshield to indicate you have paid the toll. The vignette can be purchased in petrol stations and prices at EUR 9.40€ for a 10-day sticker.
It is highly recommended to buy the vignette outside Austria, as you do not know where or when you will end up on a highway. There are traps so that once you get onto the highway ramp you will almost be certain to be caught to pay the fine, which is 450€! Beware!
UNESCO Inscription
The Fertö/Neusiedler Lake area has been the meeting place of different cultures for eight millennia. This is graphically demonstrated by its varied landscape, the result of an evolutionary symbiosis between human activity and the physical environment. The remarkable rural architecture of the villages surrounding the lake and several 18th- and 19th-century palaces adds to the area’s considerable cultural interest.
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