Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park, National park in Bezirk Neusiedl am See, Austria.
Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park is a protected area on flat terrain in the Burgenland region, shaped by a large shallow lake, extensive reed beds, salt ponds, and grasslands. The landscape is open and low-lying, with water and land constantly mixing and shifting.
The park was the first in Austria to receive the IUCN category II label, in 1994. In 2001 the Austrian part became a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Fertő/Neusiedler See Cultural Landscape, shared with Hungary's Fertő-Hanság National Park. The land is not state-owned: around 1,200 owners, mostly local farmers, receive yearly compensation for leaving their plots unused.
The villages around the park trace their roots to Germanic, Slavic and Finno-Ugric peoples. Storks nest on village rooftops, and old local livestock breeds such as the Hungarian steppe cattle and the white donkey are again grazed on the Seewinkel pastures to keep them from scrub and reed encroachment.
The information center in Illmitz serves as the main starting point, offering guidance and organized tours through the park. Multiple observation platforms and well-marked walking trails allow visitors to explore different habitats at their own pace.
The park is not government-owned: roughly 1,200 owners, mostly local farmers, hold the land and receive a yearly compensation for leaving their plots unused. Grazing by old local breeds such as Hungarian steppe cattle and the white donkey keeps meadows from scrub and reed encroachment.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,065 contributors worldwide.