Fascinating destinations from all over the world
Although it is technically impossible to travel instantly from one place to another, there are some locations on the planet that allow you to take only a few steps and you'll find yourself moving between three different countries! These places are known as "tripoints," and they are the converging location for three distinct nations, cultures, and even languages.
There are more than 170 tripoints around the world, with 48 in Europe. Some of them are relatively insignificant, but there are others that are worth noting. Curious? Click through this gallery as we take a look at the more prominent ones on the European continent.
Out of all the countries in Europe, Austria has the most number of tripoints compared with any other on the continent. Indeed, the country has nine tripoints, one of which is located in the Bohemian Forest at the border with Germany and the Czech Republic. It is a heavily forested region known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities.
International borders around the world aren’t always lines on a map, and instead can sometimes be natural formations in the landscape, like rivers or mountains. The tripoint between Austria, Germany, and Switzerland is one such place, located on Lake Constance, which is a popular tourist destination.
While most tripoints have a significant marker that highlights the meeting point of three countries, the Austria-Italy-Switzerland marker is nothing more than a stone embedded in the rock. One thing is certain, however: the surrounding view of the Alps certainly makes up for it.
The tripoint of these three countries is located in a sculpture park that is freely open and easily accessible to the public. Aside from the stone pillar shown here, the borders of these nations also meet by a nearby stone table that features the crests of each country on top.
This tripoint is the westernmost point in Hungary, and is marked by a unique triangular sculpture surrounded by individual flagpoles. The region is heavily forested and known for its wine production and rolling hills, making it a picturesque spot for visitors.
Situated in the Julian Alps, this tripoint offers beautiful landscapes and is a gateway to various outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking. Interestingly, there are two distinctive markers that indicate the meeting point of these three countries, but only one of them is official.
Moving away from the Austrian border and on to where Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands meet, this tripoint is a rather popular tourist attraction thanks to an observation tower and labyrinth that were constructed for visitors. Fun fact: this tripoint also marks the highest point in the Netherlands!
This is another tripoint that is defined by a naturally-occurring formation. In this case, the Réibaach river and the Our river meet in an area that is known for its lush forests, rolling hills, and charming villages.
This tripoint is also located on a river, specifically the Chiers. The region is predominantly industrial, and the only indicator that these three nations join at this point is an inconspicuous marker placed on the river bank close to Luxembourg City.
In the east of Europe, the borders of Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia meet rather unceremoniously in a mountainous area that is rich in history and cultural diversity. There isn’t even a feature to mark the location, although the Greek territory holds a nature reserve that is home to the Belasica mountain range (pictured).
This tripoint is politically significant for a number of reasons. It lies on the Maritsa river region and is often in the news due to geopolitical tensions between Greece and Turkey, most of which arise from border disputes.
This is a rather infrequently visited tripoint, considering it isn’t really highlighted as a tourist destination. It is located on the summit of Shulep Kamak Peak at a height of 4,387 ft (1,337 m), and is marked only by a simple stone column.
The northern border between Croatia and Serbia has been relentlessly disputed since 1947. Indeed, the tripoint of these three nations is largely undecided, with two locations given as possible contenders, both of which are part of the Danube river.
A large granite slab marks the tripoint of these three nations, even though the border sits at the meeting point of a river and a brook in the Czech Republic's northern region of Bohemia. This part of the border is known as a common crossing point for German shoppers who visit supermarkets in the nearby Polish village of Sieniawka.
These three nations join at a place known as Trojmedzie. A granite monolith marks the location, which is in the stunningly beautiful Carpathian Mountains.
This tripoint is historically significant for the Schengen Agreement, which led to the creation of the Schengen Area of free movement in Europe. The agreement was named after the village located at the meeting point of these three nations.
The Swiss city of Basel hugs the borders of France and Germany. Indeed, this tripoint is dramatically delineated by a massive monument that rises above the Rhine river, which cuts the city in half.
Mont Dolent, a mountain located in the Alps, is largely regarded as the tripoint between these three nations, even though the actual meeting point is about 328 ft (100 m) north-west of its summit. Any hiker who attempts to visit the area will be met with breathtaking alpine views.
A unique monument stands at the tripoint of these three countries, with a multi-layered design located on the side of a road that crosses from Hungary into Serbia. Since Serbia is not a member of the European Union and Hungary is, the road is blocked by border control and a fence that runs alongside it.
Three small, waist-high markers sit at this tripoint, straddling the Eher-Tur river that divides Ukraine and Romania, with the Polish marker pictured here. The river is rather narrow, but since Romania is not part of the Schengen region, crossing into the country can be questioned.
Much of Estonia’s border with Russia is placed over water, including lakes and rivers. Along with Latvia, these two northern Baltic countries are neighbors to the largest country in the world. Interestingly, there are no significant markers to delineate the tripoint, and instead the region is consumed by forestland and the Pededze river (pictured).
This tripoint is marked by three distinct poles, each standing within their respective country. The area is marked by other pagan wooden statues scattered along the landscape, all of which have significant cultural value to the locals.
The stone column that sits on the tripoint of these three nations is mostly inaccessible due to the fencing that separates the Russian territory from the other two countries. Indeed, the Russian territory that borders Poland and Lithuania isn’t conjoined with the majority of Russia, and is instead an exclave known as Kaliningrad.
An almost-nondescript pillar stands at the meeting point of Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus. Although the location doesn’t afford much in the way of spectacle or tourist attractions, the surrounding forests and lakes make it one of the more serene tripoints on this list.
The tripoint of these three countries lands on Lake Prespa, which is mostly located in Greece and was added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
This is the northernmost tripoint in the whole world, located where the Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, and Finland meet. The point is marked by a makeshift cairn that sits on Lake Kilpisjärvi in the Scandinavian Mountains.
There is only one place on Earth where four countries meet (known as a “quadripoint”), which is the Botswana–Namibia–Zambia–Zimbabwe border located on the Zambezi River in Africa. Interestingly, a bridge crosses directly over this spot, connecting Zambia and Botswana.
Sources: (Mapologies) (Marine Regions) (Taylor & Francis Online) (Britannica) (TwistedSifter) (Explanders)
Places in Europe where three countries meet
Even you can be in three places at once!
TRAVEL Borders
Although it is technically impossible to travel instantly from one place to another, there are some locations on the planet that allow you to take only a few steps and you'll find yourself moving between three different countries! These places are known as "tripoints," and they are the converging location for three distinct nations, cultures, and even languages.
There are more than 170 tripoints around the world, with 48 in Europe. Some of them are relatively insignificant, but there are others that are worth noting. Curious? Click through this gallery as we take a look at the more prominent ones on the European continent.