Beyond the borders of the vast, shallow and reed-hemmed "Lake Neusiedl" lies an enormous expanse of prairie land conjuring up images of camp fires and haunting strains of Gypsy music. The Burgenland is also well-known as a wine-growing region and a wine tasting trip to an authentic vintner's cavern proves a memorable experience. The capital Eisenstadt, home to Joseph Haydn, performs much of his music in the palatial residence of the Esterhazys, the princely dynasty that ruled the region for centuries.

Inhabited largely by Germans, the province of Burgenland was detached from Hungary and joined to Austria after World War I Hungary retained a small portion of the prewar Burgenland city of Odenburg (Sopron) and eight adjoining villages. Burgenland lies to the east of the Leitha River. which for many years formed the boundary between Austria and Hungary. Primarily a flat agricultural land, Burgenland has long supplied neighboring Vienna with vegetables and milk. Burgenland, whose capital is Eisenstadt, has the largest lake in Austria, the Neusiedlersee.