Mixed
Paysage culturel de Fertö / Neusiedlersee
Autriche
Photo : Haeferl (CC BY-SA 4.0)
This mixed heritage site straddles the border between Austria and Hungary, encompassing the Fertö/Neusiedlersee lake and its surrounding cultural landscape. The site was inscribed for its outstanding representation of human settlement and land-use patterns characteristic of the pre-industrial European feudal system, as well as for the exceptional ecological value of the shallow steppe lake and wetland environment. The landscape reflects centuries of agricultural traditions and social structures that shaped the region's development, with distinctive architectural heritage and land divisions visible across both national territories. The shallow alkaline lake and surrounding wetlands create a unique ecosystem of significant natural importance, supporting specialized flora and fauna adapted to these specific conditions. The site represents the interaction between cultural and natural heritage, demonstrating how traditional land management practices have sustained both the human community and the natural environment over an extended historical period.
