Here's a guide to the national anthem of Austria: we'll look at its lyrics and then at its history. It used to have a different anthem, before a famous neighbour decided to take that. We'll also reveal how it's been wrongly attributed to a famous composer.
What is the national anthem of Austria?
The national anthem of Austria is also known by its first line, 'Land der Berge, Land am Strome' ('Land of peaks, land by the river'). It became the official anthem in 1946 - previous to that, Austria had a different national anthem. More on that in a minute.
Austria national anthem: lyrics in English
Land of peaks, oh, land of rivers,
Land of fields, oh, land of steeples
Land of labours, future-bound!
Home thou art to prodigious kin,
Shining brighter than ever been
Austria, of high praise!
Bold if battered, ne'er torn nor tattered
Stands thou strong midst Europe fettered
For thee art pledges saith!
Since days long past, verily thou hast
Trials of heated temper pas't
Austria, of true faith.
Joyfully jaunting, future-bound,
As one nation, safe and sound,
In high spirits newly found!
All together now, in jubilation
To thee, we pledge with animation
Austria, dearly loved!
Austria national anthem: lyrics in German
Land der Berge, Land am Strome,
Land der Äcker, Land der Dome,
Land der Hämmer, zukunftsreich!
Heimat großer Töchter und Söhne,
Volk, begnadet für das Schöne,
Vielgerühmtes Österreich!
Heiß umfehdet, wild umstritten,
Liegst dem Erdteil du inmitten
Einem starken Herzen gleich
Hast seit frühen Ahnentagen
Hoher Sendung Last getragen,
Vielgeprüftes Österreich.
Mutig in die neuen Zeiten,
Frei und gläubig sieh uns schreiten,
Arbeitsfroh und hoffnungsreich.
Einig laß in Jubelchören,
Vaterland, dir Treue schwören.
Vielgeliebtes Österreich.
Did Mozart compose Austria's national anthem?
The melody for Austria's national hymn was originally attributed to Austria's most famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. However, this is now seen as doubtful. So who did compose it? The melody's most likely composer is the Austrian composer Johann Holzer.
Who wrote the words to the Austria national anthem?
The Austrian writer and poet Paula von Preradović composed the lyrics for the anthem in 1947, the year after its official adoption.
What happened to Austria's previous national anthem?
Before the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria into the German Reich in 1938), the state anthem of Austria was 'Sei gesegnet ohne Ende'. This was set to the tune of Haydn's 'Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser", the slow movement of his 'Emperor' string quartet. This had been imperial Austria's state anthem since 1797.
However, with the annexation, the Haydn melody was co-opted for the Germany national anthem, the 'Deutschandlied', albeit with different words. Austria now needed its own national anthem, and this came into official use in October 1946, with the lyrics following four months later.
More national anthem lyrics
You can find the lyrics to lots more national anthems elsewhere on our site. For example, perhaps you want to find the lyrics for the national anthems of Austria's Group D rivals at Euro 2024. Here, then, here are the lyrics to the Polish national anthem, the national anthem of the Netherlands, and the French national anthem 'La Marseillaise'.