The Innviertel (literally German for the Inn quarter or district) is a traditional Austrian region south-east of the Inn river. It belongs to the state of Upper Austria and borders the German state of Bavaria.

The other three traditional quarters of Upper Austria are Hausruckviertel, Mühlviertel, and Traunviertel.

History

Innviertel was earlier called Innbaiern when it belonged to Bavaria but in 1777 it was ceded to Austria. During the Napoleonic Wars it returned to Bavaria in 1809 but in 1816 it was ceded to Austria again.

Demographics

Innviertel has about 200,000 people in its towns, villages and hamlets. Its Bavarian roots show in the local German dialect, Innviertlerisch.

Geography

Innviertel is approximately 2250 km² in area and comprises the broad Inn valley and hill country.

Innviertel spans the Austrian political districts of Schärding, Ried im Innkreis and Braunau am Inn.

Major towns in Innviertel include the district capitals Braunau am Inn, Ried im Innkreis and Schärding as well as Mattighofen and Altheim.