You need a border like the one between Bavaria and Austria to be able to reliably distinguish between the two countries. Just as – just for example – a border between the Upper Bavarian town of Laufen and its neighboring community Saaldorf-Surheim is needed so that the two can even be neighboring communities and not just a single community. But a perfectly formed state border like the one between Laufen and Oberndorf in Austria is of course still more impressive.
Laufen and Oberdorf only got this kind of internationality in 1816, before that both were just Laufen together and were already on the Salzach, but still in the middle of the independent Prince-Bishopric of Salzburg. And because the two cities used to be one, this year they are celebrating the first documented mention of the “castellum ad louffi”, the fortification by the rapids, 1275 years ago. It could hardly be much more international in some respects.
It doesn’t even have to be about where all those tote bags, t-shirts, mugs and fridge magnets are made that have the logo of the celebrations emblazoned on them. You will definitely find outlets as raging as the Salzach once did in that unique bend in the river where Laufen lies. Because of these rapids, the expensive export salt from Hallein and Reichenhall was loaded onto larger ships above and below, which gave many people in Laufen impressive town houses and the city its massive collegiate church.
Even then, internationality in trade and services was good for the money, and it is still the case today. Because like them Southeast Bavarian Review reported, the logo that adorns all the merchandising stuff there is even more international than Laufen and Oberndorf together. Accordingly, the design contract was advertised by a service provider on a Spanish crowdworking platform on the Internet for 110 euros. According to the local newspaper, the order went to a sub-service provider from Vietnam, who has stretched a stylized Salzach bridge over a vague body of water and could afford almost ten mousepads with his logo for the fee in Laufen. Apparently, it was said from the town hall that you could hardly have gotten it cheaper anywhere else.