The region Centrope is a European region founded in 2003, which consists of areas of the four states Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary consists. It essentially comprises the expanded metropolitan area of the twin city region Vienna-Bratislava.
Regions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikivoyage/de/thumb/b/ba/Centrope_Map.svg/220px-Centrope_Map.svg.png)
In Austria: federal states
In Slovakia:
In Czech Republic:
- South Moravian Region (Jihomoravský kraj)
In Hungary:
- County Győr-Moson-Sopron
- County Vas
Cities
The following cities are sorted by inhabitants in the Centrope region:
- Vienna (1.7 million)
- Bratislava (450.000)
- Brno (380.000)
- Gyor (Raab) (130,000)
The following cities in the Centrope region are of supraregional importance:
- Břeclav (Lundenburg) (CZ)
- Eisenstadt (A)
- Krems at the Donau (A)
- Mosonmagyaróvár (Wieselburg-Hungarian Altenburg) (H)
- St. Polten (A)
- Sopron (Ödenburg) (H)
- Szombathely (Steinamanger) (H)
- Trnava (Tyrnau) (SK)
- Wiener Neustadt (A)
- Znojmo (Znojmo) (CZ)
Other goals
- Cross-border national park Lake Neusiedl - Fertő Tó
- Donauauen National Park
- March and Thaya meadows
- Cross-border nature park Geschrittenstein-Idrotkő
- Small Hungarian Plain
- Big bulk island
- Weinviertel
- Marchfeld
- Záhoria
- Waldviertel
- Vienna Woods and Viennese local mountains
- White and small Carpathians
- Thermal region (southern Lower Austria, Burgenland and western Hungary)
- Moravian Karst
background
Centrope as the central European region (central europe) was established in 2003 with the agreements of Kittsee justified. More than 7.2 million people live on around 55,000 km². Before the First World War, the region was one of the most important cultural, transport and industrial centers in Europe. These strong collaborations and connections were lost due to the collapse of the KuK monarchy, but especially due to the almost impermeable Iron Curtain after the Second World War. With the establishment of the European Region, the area should once again become one of the strongest economic areas in Europe. The entire region has been part of the European Union since 2004 and the Schengen zone since December 2007, which has further accelerated the dynamic development of the area.
The actors in the region aim to work together in business, infrastructure, education and culture. The region is also to be marketed across states through joint tourism advertising.
languages
The official languages of the states are spoken: German, Slovak, Czech and Hungarian. There are linguistic minorities in Burgenland and in western Hungary with the Burgenland Croats, in southern Slovakia and Burgenland with Hungary as well as numerous different groups of migrants, especially in the big cities.
getting there
The entire Centrope area has excellent connections to the European transport network.
- International airports are located in Vienna, Bratislava and Brno
- Important rail nodes are Vienna, Bratislava, Brno, Břeclav, Gyor
- The following European roads and other major European roads run through the area:
- E49: Viennahorn-Ceske Budejovice-Pilsen
- E50: Prague-Brown-Žilina-Košice
- E58: Vienna-Bratislava-Košice
- E59: Iglau-Znojmo-Hollabrunn-Vienna-Graz-Zagreb
- E60 Salzburg-Linz-Vienna-Győr-Budapest
- E65 Prague-Brno-Bratislava-Szombathely-Zagreb
- E75 Budapest-Bratislava-Žilina-Katowice
- E461 Vienna-Brno-Zittau
- E462 BrnoKatowice-Krakow
- E552 Bratislava-Dunajská Streda-Győr
By bike: Danube Cycle Path and Amber Road
mobility
- There are good train connections between the major cities in the region, mostly hourly or more often, as well as some cheap train offers (in Austria including Euregio tickets)
- The road network between the major cities is now largely well developed. The roads between Vienna, Bratislava and Győr as well as between Bratislava and Brno or Trnava are consistently built on motorways or similar to motorways. A motorway connection between Vienna and Brno has not yet been completed and covers approx. 80 km. under construction or planning.
- Speedboat connections (e.g. Twin City Liner) between Vienna and Bratislava
- Numerous regional and supraregional cycle paths, e.g. Danube cycle path
There are consistently very good public transport networks in the major cities.
Since the entire area of Centrope is in the EU and in the Schengen area, the state borders can be crossed at any point. So theoretically one should cross the Danube by swimming. Numerous local cross-border road connections have been reactivated since the abandonment of border controls, only local driving bans need to be observed.
Tourist Attractions
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Villa_Tugendhat,.jpg/220px-Villa_Tugendhat,.jpg)
UNESCO world heritage
- Vienna: Historic city center and Schönbrunn Castle with castle garden
- Semmering-Train
- Cross-border natural landscape Lake Neusiedl - Fertő tó
- Cultural landscape Wachau
- Villa Tugendhat in Brno
- Castle systems Lednice-Valtice
- Benedictine Abbey Pannonhálma
miscellaneous
- Numerous historic old towns, not just the big cities, are worth seeing.
- Numerous palace and castle complexes.
- Numerous archaeological excavations.
activities
- All kinds of water sports at Lake Neusiedl, but also at numerous smaller and larger lakes and ponds.
- Extensive hikes and bike tours in the national parks and nature reserves
- Thermal baths and wellness tourism in the entire region
kitchen
The traditional cuisine of the four states is served. Especially in the big cities, the gastronomy on offer ranges from cheap to luxurious, from down-to-earth to international and fusion. The price level in the catering trade has in some cases leveled out in the region, but prices in Austria are still higher than in the other three countries. In the big cities the prices are higher than in the rural areas.
nightlife
Especially the big cities Vienna, Bratislava and Brno offer a wide range of cultural offerings, from classical music to theater to modern culture and party rambazamba - everything is represented. But you can also find one or the other cultural attraction in the small towns and villages.
security
The entire Centrope region can be described as very safe. In the big cities, but also in the country, you should observe the usual safety precautions, beware of pickpockets and drunkards in the evening, not to leave any valuables in the car and, overall, always be attentive.
climate
The climate is temperate. In the west of the region it is more oceanic, in the east Pannonian and in the south Illyrian.
literature
Web links
- Centrope region website: http://www.centrope.com
- Tourism portal of the Centrope region: http://www.mycentrope.com/de