Burgenland The Sunny Side of Austria With 360 days of sunshine a year, Burgenland is unique among Austrias nine

e provinces. Just an hours drive away from Vienna, it offers wide open spaces, idyllic rolling hills and vineyards, a paradise for water sports, a unique nature preserve near Lake Neusiedl, as well as imposing fortresses and castles. With Eisenstadt as its capital, Austrias easternmost province is also the countrys smallest in terms of population. Burgenland borders on Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia, incorporating many elements of these countries cultures into a rich and diverse cultural life.

NEWS New gourmet Restaurant Zur Blauen Gans After a fire destroyed the legendary "Blaue Gans" restaurant and the "Club 119" in 2010, both have now been reopened and promise to become another highlight of Burgenlands already impressive roster of gourmet experiences. The warm yet stylish simplicity of the restaurants new design reflects the landscape around it, while the chef Oliver Wiegand who gained his reputation as top chef with stints at the award winning restaurant Fossil in Purbach and the Mole West focuses on incorporating the best local ingredients into his creative menu. www.zurblauengans.at Haus am Kellerplatz Only in the Burgenland will you find a modern vinotheque that also functions as a local tourist office: The Haus am Kellerplatz is the ideal starting point for a journey of discovery of the Leithaberg-Region. Since the region is all about wine, the vinotheque sells more than 350 wines, and every day 64 different wines are available for tasting perfectly cooled and always fresh thanks to innovative wine-dispensing machines. A nature exhibition in the same building relates interesting facts on the flora and fauna of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site Neusiedler See Seewinkel. Located directly on Purbachs main street, the Haus am Kellerplatz is directly opposite of the Tuerkentor, the historic gate to the charming city center. Behind the house lies the start of the romantic Kellergasse, a beautiful alley with rows of wine cellars on either side. www.haus-am-kellerplatz.at

Welcome to Gans Burgenland A pannonian gourmet festival For the second time now, the gourmet festival Gans Burgenland will be held from September to Mid-December in many regions of the Burgenland. The festival centers around the goose (Gans, in German), the state bird of Burgenland, and features events ranging from traditional crafts workshops to special restaurant menus. Until the 1960s, geese used to freely roam villages in the Burgenland. Since then, geese almost entirely disappeared, until a group of farmers got together in 2002 to revive the tradition and bring back the Sdburgenlndische Weidegans as a culinary specialty of the region. Today, there are about 6000 geese in the Burgenland. The highlight of the Festival is around the 11th of November, on Martini. Having nothing at all to do with the famous cocktail, Martini is the day of the local patron saint, and traditionally celebrated with a big feast including what else delicious roast goose. The day was also the occasion for naming the new wine of the year, hence it has special significance for the wine regions and villages around Lake Neusiedl. Here, the Martiniloben is celebrated with open wine cellars, exciting events and culinary highlights revolving around the goose. Find more information at www.burgenland-schmeckt.at or contact the local tourist office at www.neusiedlersee.com. DISCOVER BURGENLAND Enjoy Burgenlands traditional Christmas markets Burgenland offers many attractive ways to enjoy winter, and one of the most traditional ones is visiting the Christmas markets. When the days become shorter, the icy wind sweeps across the land, and the first snowflakes fall from the sky, festively lit up Christmas markets open up everywhere. Town squares and castle courtyards spread the pre-Christmas spirit, and the seductive scents of gingerbread, mulled wine, and roasted chestnuts fill the air. The Christmas markets of Burgenland are unique due to the handmade gifts and traditional artisan craftwork like broom making and basket weaving that can be found here, as well as the regional savory delicacies served in addition to the well-known sweet ones. Most castles such as Esterhazy, Halbturn and Lockenhaus open up their courtyards for these markets, allowing visitors to take in the festive markets and majestic castles all at once. www.neusiedlersee.com Burgenland Facts 300 days of sunshine per year yield high-quality agricultural products, in particular wine of international fame. Visit Lake Neusiedl National Park and uncover the wild diversity of a truly unique stretch of land in the heart of Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Approximately one third of the entire province is comprised of protected nature reserves and provides an ideal environment for a vacation in a natural environment.

There are 1500 miles of bike paths, 800 miles of horse riding trails, and three golf courses that offer athletic enjoyment. Biking and horseback riding trails, superb watery terrain for sailing and wind surfing, golf courses and running routes make the countryside a veritable paradise for sports. Hidden deep under the earths surface is Austrias most abundant source of mineral water as well as geothermal hot springs that have therapeutic qualities and account for the popularity of Burgenlands spa resorts. An assortment of cultural events stems from the rich multi-cultural traditions of Austria that once inspired the composers Joseph Haydn and Franz Liszt. The open-air festivals, music and theater performances draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to great acclaim year after year. Family holidays in Burgenland promise adventure for the kids and relaxation for the adults as one of the most child-friendly regions worldwide. Burgenland is ... ... home of the world famous music composers Joseph Haydn & Franz Liszt. ... a habitat of about 340 different species of birds and a paradise for birdwatchers. ... Austrias flattest holiday region with more than 2.500 kilometres of bicycle paths. ... a country with outstanding wines & breathtaking winery architecture. ... the sunny side of Austria with 365 days of relaxation! DISTANCES FROM/TO A MAJOR CITY AND AIRPORT Burgenland is just a stones throw away from Vienna: the Lake Neusiedl region can be reached in about 30 minutes either by car or by train. The best way to reach South Burgenland in just under 90 minutes is via the Sd-Autobahn A2. Distances from Vienna Int. Airport: ... to Eisenstadt: 37 miles km (40 min.) ... to Raiding: 65 miles (75 min)

Biking Around Lake Neusiedl Cyclists feel right at home in the far-east corner of Austria, where the deep red sun hugs the earth and the horizon extends far in the distance. With its gorgeous vineyards, villages and local delicacies, the Lake Neusiedl World Cultural Heritage Site and National Park enchants visitors from around the world, yet never feels crowded. On the eastern shores, bike paths glide through the sun-drenched plains of salt lakes, wetlands and pastures near the Hungarian border, as wild horses, white donkeys, cranes and 300 indigenous bird species fill out the scene. Be sure to stop between Illmitz and Podersdorf to enjoy the views over the entire region. An easy ferry ride takes you to the cherry blossoms, vineyards and historic towns of the lake's western shores. Don't miss Moerbisch and Rust, and their culinary delights -- the most avid bar-hopper will be remade as a wine-tavernpedaler. http://www.burgenland.info/en/themen/sport/radfahren/ Pannonian Living A homey but tasteful style of accommodation Once in a while a region is so distinctive it gives rise to a lifestyle all its own. Born of Burgenland's relaxed rhythms and warm aesthetic, "Pannonian living" is all about bringing the outdoors in, and surrendering to nature's pace. This lifestyle is stitched into the region's rolling vineyards and quiet villages, into the simple, modern styling of your hotel or favorite local restaurant. A stay at the rural "Streckhfen," a traditional variety of farmhouse with old wooden staircases and white-washed stonework in the courtyard will introduce you to this mode of being. Equally enchanting is the imperial ambience at "Halbturn," once the hunting lodge of Empress Maria Theresia and now one of the statelier places to spend a night in the Burgenland. Each village and accommodation boasts its own elegant, mellow vibe, and whether you're in a farmhouse or a castle, you'll soon be a devotee of Pannonian living, too. www.burgenland.info Neusiedler See National Park The awe-inspiring Lake Neusiedl National Park is a natural wonder nestled along Austrias eastern border with Hungary. Lake Neusiedl is a steppe lake and home to one of the worlds most fragile ecosystems. An extremely shallow lake, it shapes the landscape with its vast reed beds and 40 saline ponds. The unique location, east of the Alps and west of the Asian Plains, offers an unusual variety of habitats of Alpine, Pannonic, Asian, Mediterranean, and Nordic influences that enrich the biodiversity. The National Park is a steppingstone for migratory birds halfway between Northern Europe and Africa. Many of the rarest birds populate the lakes and meadows every year. In spring, join birdwatchers and photographers from all over the world to capture this rare natural spectacle, or join the international Bird

Experience from April 11-13, 2014. All this is just one hour south of Vienna. Plan your visit at www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at/en/ Multicultural Burgenland Burgenlands minorities contribute significantly to the cultural diversity of Austrias youngest and one of its smallest provinces just 40 minutes south of Vienna. Croatians settled in the region 500 years ago and kept their dialect and traditions alive until today. Visit folk festivals and enjoy the colorful traditional costumes with their intricate embroidery, and the passionate yet slightly melancholy folk dances. Even Joseph Haydn found inspiration in the folk songs of Burgenlands largest minority on frequent visits to friends in neighboring Croatian villages. Today, Burgenland Croatian is spoken in 48 towns and villages. Hungarians have been a minority in Austria ever since the Habsburg monarchy fell apart. Their influence and the proximity to Hungary can be felt in Burgenlands cuisine, with various Hungarian specialties as staples in Burgenlands restaurants. The fiery energy of Hungarian folk songs makes traditional events a memorable experience. The Roma also cherish their music and folk dances, which they proudly present at various folk festivals.

EVENTS NOT TO MISS Liszt Festival 2014 Child prodigy, piano virtuoso, heartthrob and enchanter of Europes concert halls: Franz Liszt was one of the most dazzling musical personalities of the Romantic era and the composer of a gigantic oeuvre. The Liszt Festival Raiding celebrates the famous composer, who was born in Raiding, Burgenland, with a series of outstanding concerts and internationally acclaimed musicians. www.lisztfestival.at Pannonian Bird Experience, APRIL 11-13, 2014 The three-day bird fair is held during Spring Migration, the best time of year for birdwatching! www.birdexperience.org Festival Stage Wiesen June until September 2014 People from all over Europe flock to the Wiesen Arena to experience outstanding jazz festivals, blues nights, and other festivals like Lovely Days or Two Days a Week featuring outstanding international artists. www.wiesen.at AIDA July 9 - August 17, 2014 Experience unforgettable opera and concert performances at the roman quarry in St. Margarethen. Every year, the Opera Festival

St. Margarethen offers musical and cultural pleasures on one of the most beautiful open-air stages in Europe. www.ofs.at Anatevka, July 10 August 23, 2014 In 2014, Anatevka will be staged at the incomparable lake-side stage on the shores of Lake Neusiedl, right next to the National Park. Paired with outstanding performances, the setting ensures a memorable evening. www.seefestspiele-moerbisch.at

Welcome to the sunny side of Austria. Welcome to Burgenland.

Press Contact: Michaela Fischbach Marketing Manager Overseas Markets Johann Permayer-Strae 13 7000 Eisenstadt, Burgenland Austria Phone Fax Email URL +43 2682 63384-23 +43 2682 63384-20 fischbach@burgenland.info www.burgenland.info