How to get to the Vienna Woods from Vienna. A trip to the Vienna Woods (photo) - on your own and with a guide. This tour assumes both your rest and at the same time an equally fascinating journey into history, perhaps not as rich as museums, but you will agree from

The ancient city of Vienna is surrounded by an area that the inhabitants of Austria call "green lungs". Here, surrounded by majestic mountains, is the Vienna Woods. Its colorful valleys, flower meadows and huge forests impress every tourist. In this territory there are several ancient towns and small wine-growing villages, each with its own rich history.

This is a popular tourist place, because it is so nice to wander along the shady paths, relax in a flowering meadow, breathe in the clean forest air.

How to get there

The area of ​​the Vienna Woods in Austria is 1350 km². On its territory there are as many as seven territorial districts. The forests themselves begin in the suburbs of Vienna, about ten kilometers from the city. The beginning of the Vienna Woods can be reached by public transport (bus route No. 38 A to the stop of the same name).

When planning a tour of this wonderful place, it is better to decide in advance which sights you would like to visit. After all, it’s impossible to see everything even in a few days.

The charm of untouched nature

The Vienna Woods is located on low forested hills in the foothills of the majestic Alps. The conditional boundaries of this territory are, on the one hand, the Danube River valley with its extensive vineyards, and on the other, the resort areas of Baden-Baden and Bad Vöslau.

The territory of forests itself occupies 1350 square kilometers, most of which is a biosphere reserve. This status was assigned to the Vienna Woods by UNESCO in 2005, although people began to protect the unique nature of these places several centuries ago, when logging was prohibited. A significant part of the forests was the hunting grounds of the royal family. Access there was opened only in 1919.

There are more than two thousand species of plants on the territory of the forest, some of them are listed in the Red Book. Thanks to the protection and creation of favorable conditions, the population of nesting birds is constantly increasing here.

On an ecological tour of the Vienna Woods, you can get to know the nature of the reserve in detail. In addition, the largest underground lake in Europe is located on the territory of the reserve. It's called the Seegrotte. Its area exceeds six thousand square kilometers. The lake is located near the ancient town of Medling.

Zoological Garden Lainzer

This animal nursery is located not far from Vienna, on the outskirts of the Vienna Woods. It is good to come here with children, because it is so interesting to observe the life of animals in their natural environment.

The Lainzer Zoo is home to more than a hundred red deer, more than three hundred fallow deer, and the wild boar population is constantly growing. Large ungulates (deer and elk) live in spacious enclosures, and families of wild boars roam freely in the forest.

The vast territory of the natural park is indented with hiking trails, from which it is strictly forbidden to go. It is believed that this ban was introduced so that people would not frighten wild forest dwellers. Although the meeting with the huge fanged head of the boar family will shock any brave man.

On the territory of the zoo there is a wooden tower, climbing on which you can watch the animals without fear of disturbing them. There are also several viewing platforms from which stunning views open up. Photos of the Vienna Woods taken in this unique place will long remind you of the wonders of untouched nature.

ancient monasteries

The ancient Cistercian monastery of Heiligenkreuz (Holy Cross), located just 25 kilometers from the center of Vienna, has long been called the "Mystical Center of the Vienna Woods". Its history can be traced back to 1133, when it was founded by Margrave Leopold III of the Babenberg dynasty.

Today it is the oldest Cistercian monastery in the world. It is noteworthy that from the day of its foundation, its doors have never been closed to believers.

Most of the buildings of the monastery, including the monastery church of the XII-XIII centuries, were made in the Gothic style. Some buildings still have original medieval windows.

During the Baroque era, the monastery was enriched with several original buildings, such as the sacristy. The famous Venetian artist Giovanni Giuliani, who decided to stay in the monastery after the death of his wife, decorated it with several wonderful sculptures. Among them is the famous column of the Holy Trinity and several decorated seats for the monks.

Heiligenkreuz is an active monastery. More than eighty monks permanently live in it. Despite the friendliness and openness of the monastery's servants, tourists can visit only at set times.

It will be interesting to visit the Augustinian monastery, one of the most ancient places of worship in Austria. The construction of the "Holy Palace" began in 1108, and it is still a significant spiritual center. History buffs will be interested to see the Verdun enamel altar, created in the twelfth century by the artist Nicolus Verdeni. Since then, the monks carefully keep it as a shrine.

Currently, there is a functioning museum of post-war art on the territory of the Holy Palace.

Castles and parks

Arriving in the small town of Laxenburg, located on the outskirts of the Vienna Woods in Vienna, you must definitely visit the Blue Court - the summer residence of the Austrian emperors. The construction of the palace was completed in 1752. Now it has turned into a real palace and park ensemble. Its true decoration can be called a picturesque old park, in which there are many centuries-old trees, gazebos for relaxation and beautiful lakes.

In the center of one of them, on an artificially created island, an elegant little Franzensburg castle was built. The idea of ​​creating a medieval castle on the lake belonged to Emperor Franz II. The construction of the castle, stylized as a knight, was completed in 1835.

Today, its architecture and refined interiors of the inner chambers are considered an example of romantic classicism. You can visit Franzensburg Castle as part of an excursion group. You can also take a boat ride on the Palace Lake, take a walk along the shady alleys of the park, visit the former Laxenburg hunting castle, reconstructed in 1970.

Traditions of local winemaking

Historians believe that the first vineyards on the lands of the Vienna Woods were planted during the time of the Roman legions. The local climate contributes a lot to the good ripening of grapes, which is why there are so many small distilleries with deep old cellars for storing wine.

For connoisseurs of quality wines, this is a real paradise. The oldest vineyard, located in an ancient monastery, was founded in the twelfth century.

Excursions in the Vienna Woods

Here, as elsewhere in Austria, the tourist infrastructure is remarkably developed. Guided tours from Vienna through the Vienna Woods run daily. You can choose a suitable agency in advance, discuss all the nuances with a guide and have a wonderful time seeing the sights. Tourist offices in Vienna offer a variety of tours, from sightseeing buses to educational ecological excursions.

According to tourist reviews of the Vienna Woods, it is best to just walk along the forest paths, slowly explore interesting old castles and ruins, and try local cuisine in numerous cozy restaurants. Some tourists note that it is better to visit the sights with a guide, as he tells a lot of interesting things. In addition, some sights, such as Franzensburg Castle, can only be visited as part of an excursion group.

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Needless to say about the fame of this green oasis, located in the vicinity of Vienna. For many years, the park has been one of the most popular places for recreation for both residents of Vienna and visitors to the city. Here you can walk for hours along smooth alleys, relax on the lawns and even pick mushrooms if you have nothing to do at all.

It is this oasis of green that is mentioned in the "Tales of the Vienna Woods", a famous work written by Johann Strauss - son in 1868.

Which places of the Vienna Place are worth paying attention to?

• Observation deck Hermannskogel;
• observation deck Bellevue Höhe;
• outdoor pool Krapfenwaldl;
• Polish church;
• Stephaniewarte tower;

In the immediate vicinity of the Vienna Woods, attractions such as the Leopoldsberg mountain, the Baroque monastery and the Josefinenhütte house, and Liechtenstein Castle on its outskirts are located.

How to get there: by metro line u4 to the Heiligenstadt stop and then by bus 38A.

Pool ticket price: 4 euros for an adult, 1.5 euros for children under 15 years old.

pool opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 to 20:00.

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Tour of Austria by car or bus.

Duration at least..5 hours

This is a country tour of Austria.

Not far from Vienna, by car (the first point is 35 minutes from Vienna and the next 15 minutes from each other).

This excursion involves both your rest and at the same time an equally fascinating journey into history, perhaps not as rich as museums, but you must admit that a lot of useful and interesting things can be learned from a small fragment of history ....

• Points of interest: the castle, the underground lake, the monastery and the city of Baden..

Vienna Woods

One of the favorite excursions in Austria, which is popular both in winter and summer. The Vienna Woods, dear guests, is a huge forest area, with villages, monasteries, castles. The area of ​​​​this territory is 7401 hectares and the concept of how to go to the Vienna forest, or how to get to the Vienna forest, cannot even be explained in principle, this is a lot of transfers .. Of course, as an option, visiting one of the listed points .. But this is not enough !!

You so often ask me, what are the tales of the Strauss Vienna Woods?

should disappoint you a little, but only a little, because indeed in all these towns around Vienna, in Baden, great composers, writers, playwrights, monarchs lived, spent their holidays in the bosom of wonderful nature. We drew inspiration from here, created, wrote ... so we can say - Tales of the Vienna Woods. And also dear tourists, this is the Vienna Woods and Klosterneuburg, the city of Medling, Bad Feslau, Perchtolsdorf, only some points are completely in the other direction and these are other excursions already!

ALL THIS IS MY DEAR AND THERE IS THE VIENNA FOREST!

And as an option visit winemakers! The presence of hydrogen sulfide thermal springs in Baden offers a great opportunity for you to swim in the pool, sit in a small pool with thermal water and massage .. (availability of swimsuits!).

Monastery Heiligenkreuz

A visit to the monks of a Benedictine-Cistercian monastery entails many questions, who are the Cistercians, these monks, in black and white robes?? What is their purpose? We, dear friends, have a great opportunity to see not only one of the main centers of theology in Austria and the oldest Cistercian monasteries in Europe, but also to feel the spirit of the monastery!

To see the unique stained-glass windows of the thirteenth century, the Assembly Hall - a masterpiece of Romanesque art, where there are also the burial places of the Babenberg dynasty, thanks to which a large number of monasteries were founded in Austria, and to walk along the cloister (a covered gallery inside the monastery of Romanesque and Gothic styles, on one side of which there are halls and rooms, and on the other, a patio, access to the park is usually decorated with arcades) of the monastery - all this will truly bring great pleasure to lovers of antiquity.

Liechtenstein Castle

“I would very much like to introduce you during this excursion to people without whom this world would not be so beautiful and romantic. Master of Theology, caretaker of Liechtenstein Castle, LEOPOLD FASCHING, who invests his own funds in the reconstruction of the castle, thanks to which we can imagine what it really looked like many centuries ago. A person who, as a child, dreamed that someday this castle would come to life and whose program and ideas would allow us, we hope, to plunge into the atmosphere and life of the Middle Ages in the near future. "Internal inspection of the medieval family castle of the princely family of Liechtenstein (WE CAN VISIT THIS CASTLE WITH YOU AND IN WINTER !!) is the next most interesting moment of this excursion ..

Seegrotte underground lake

Boating on an underground lake, where there are absolutely no stalactites, stalagmites and stalagnates .. WHY?? And why is this underground lake so loved? what connects the gypsum mine and the Third Reich? Under what conditions did the miners work, and where did the "Three Musketeers" again? Mayerling Inspection of Mayerling, oo!! This is a highlight, believe me ... - the story of the tragedy of the suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf (heir to the throne, son of the Empress Sissi, "Bavarian Rose" and Franz Joseph, what nevertheless caused this terrible tragedy and was he another victim of that time or was he still born under a tragic and unlucky star ??).

Baden

Well, the city of Baden with a walk in the center, composers and emperors loved it so much ...!

The Vienna Woods is the "green lungs" of the city, one of the symbols of the Austrian capital and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. But first of all, the Vienna Woods is a favorite vacation spot for citizens, a recreational area where they have picnics, take romantic walks and play sports.

The forest became famous in 1868, when Johann Strauss's famous waltz "Tales of the Vienna Woods" was written, the melody of which is familiar today, perhaps, to everyone. The name "Tales of the Vienna Woods" is also the play of the famous Austrian playwright Eden von Horvath, which has been screened many times.

History and geography

The Vienna Woods is a chain of wooded hills in the foothills of the Alps west of Vienna, 45 km long and 20 to 30 km wide. The natural boundaries of the nature reserve are the rivers Tristing, Gelsen, Traisen and Danube (Danube).

The first settlements on the territory of the Vienna Woods in Austria appeared in the 8th century. Interestingly, the most ancient inhabitants of the area were the Slavs. It is to the Slavic roots that the names of the villages, and now the communes of the city, go back - Döbling, Lizing and Gablitz.

The Vienna Woods has long served the townspeople for walking and hunting. Despite this, logging has been actively carried out here since the 16th century, and during industrialization in 1870, a plan was even developed to cut down most of the forest. Fortunately, these intentions were not realized.

In 1987, the Austrian government awarded the Vienna Woods the status of a protected area, and since 2005 it has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, that is, it is considered a zone of special cultural and ecological significance.

Some parts of the vast territory of the Vienna Woods that are part of the city received a "protected status" several centuries ago. For example, the Lainzer Tiergarten was declared a private royal hunting ground as early as 1561, and until 1919 the Tiergarten (“animal garden”) was surrounded by a stone wall, access to which was closed to commoners.

The history of the Schwarzenbergpark, the first landscape park in Austria, laid out in the English style, dates back to the 18th century. For a long time this beautiful park with alleys and ponds was privately owned. Only in 1958 the land was purchased by the city, and Schwarzenbergpark became another jewel in the crown of the Vienna Woods.

Today the area of ​​the Vienna Woods is 9900 hectares. To be more precise, this is the area of ​​the biosphere reserve, while the green massif itself is even larger. The forest park covers and partially captures seven southwestern Viennese quarters (Hitzing, Penzing, Ottakring, Hernals, Währing, Döbling and Lizing), that is, almost half of the city.

The highest point of the reserve is at around 893 m above sea level - this is Mount Schöpfl. From the observation tower at its top offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings. And on the neighboring, second highest peak, Mittershöpfl (882 m), there is an observatory named after. Leopold Figl.

Those who prefer dungeons to the heights can go 20 km from Vienna to the Sandstein-Wienerwald nature park, where there are several caves. The largest of them, the Dreidärrischenhöhle (“Caves of the Three Deaf Ones”), is 230 m long and 19 m deep.

Nature of the Vienna Woods

Over 1350 sq. km grow more than 2000 plant species, 150 bird species, including those listed in the Red Book. It was from the Vienna Woods that the reintroduction into the natural environment of the population of the Ural Owl, which disappeared in Austria more than half a century ago, began. In 2011, these rare birds bred their first offspring.

Virtually untouched wildlife can be found in the Lainzer Tiergarten with 800 to 1000 wild boars, 200 to 250 fallow deer, approximately 700 wild sheep and 80 to 100 red deer.

In the northern part of the Vienna Woods, mainly deciduous trees grow - birches, oaks and hornbeams, in the south conifers - pines and spruces predominate. The Föhrenberge (“Pine Mountains”) nature reserve is located here.

There are also several vineyards in the Vienna Woods. Despite the location within the city, wineries have retained their rural charm - in cozy taverns-heurigers, visitors to the forest park can taste new wine and taste live music.

On ecological excursions in the Vienna Woods, you can get acquainted with the nature of the reserve. Of particular interest is "biodiversity day" in June, during which visitors must find as many species as possible in a given area, and can also participate in family entertainment programs and wine tasting.

Things to do

1. Walking routes. Hiking, Nordic walking or just pleasant walks at a relaxed pace - the park has over 6,000 km of marked trails for walkers. Walking routes in and around Vienna are presented on the Vienna tourist site.

For the first acquaintance with the forest, you can choose a rather short (7.2 km) route number 4. It leads to the Jubiläumswarte observation tower, which offers a breathtaking view of the southeastern suburbs of Vienna, and in good weather you can even see the Schneeberg (2076 m) and Raks (2007 m) alpine massifs, from whose springs Vienna receives the purest drinking water.

Route number 1 is somewhat longer (11 km) - it climbs the picturesque Kahlenberg hill, covered with vineyards. On the way, you can visit one of the cozy Heurigers in Nussdorf. At the top of the hill is the historic observation tower of Princess Stephanie Stefaniewarte (unfortunately, access to the inside is now closed).

Even more walking routes through the Vienna Woods for tourists of various levels of training are presented on its information website. There is a 30-kilometer route to the highest peak of the forest park, and a small 6-kilometer “circle” through the Sparbach nature reserve, where huge century-old pines grow.

1. Mountain bike. The park has 46 marked trails with a total length of more than 1,000 km. There are tracks of various difficulty levels, from family (Family) to complex (Power).
2. Skiing. There are four small ski slopes in the Vienna Woods, which, of course, cannot compete with the infrastructure ov, however, give the opportunity to go skiing near the city. Most of the slopes work only in cold winters with natural snow.

In addition to hiking, mountain biking and skiing, in the Vienna Woods you can play golf at the Arena Baden course, ride a horse or go down the mountain on a rodelbahn (a type of bobsleigh on wheels).

1. Sightseeing. The Vienna Woods is an ideal place not only for sports, but also for familiarizing yourself with the rich history and culture of Austria. There are many picturesque villages, beautiful castles, old monasteries and romantic ruins. Among the most interesting sights:

• Liechtenstein Castle- a miniature, but wonderfully restored medieval castle, to which the current princes of Liechtenstein owe their origin;
• Mayerling- an idyllic village with a memorial chapel on the site of the tragic and mysterious death of Crown Prince Rudolf and his beloved - Baroness von Vechera;
• Monastery Heiligenkreuz, founded in the 12th century and today one of the oldest active Cistercian monasteries in the world;
• Monastery Klosterneuburg, where a unique monument of the 12th century is kept - the Verdun Altar;
• Seegrotte- the largest underground lake in Europe with an area of ​​6200 sq. m, located in gypsum mines, through which you can make an exciting journey on a special boat.

Conclusion

You can get to the parts of the Vienna Woods bordering the city by public transport. For example, tram 49 (Bahnhofstrasse stop) goes to the starting point of walking route 4, and tram D from the Ring can reach the starting point of route 1. The Hohe-Wand ski slope is located near the Hütteldorf underground station.

Information boards located at key points help you navigate the biosphere reserve. They provide information about the local flora and fauna, about the nearby sports and recreational infrastructure, and about gastronomic delights that can be tasted in the nearest Heuriger.

In a word, the Vienna Woods not without reason attracts residents of the capital and numerous tourists. Perhaps you have already been there? Share your impressions in the comments! And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, where we offer only the most interesting, up-to-date and useful information about Austria and Vienna.

Today, the subject of our story will be the famous Vienna Woods. Austria is literally inconceivable without this most beautiful green corner located in its capital. In 2005, UNESCO awarded the Vienna Woods the status of a biosphere park as an area with a special cultural heritage and a unique natural landscape. If you are lucky enough to get to Austria, be sure to visit this place as well. It is not at all necessary to run around the local attractions, you can just sunbathe on the lawn or admire the magnificent views from the observation decks.

Vienna Woods: photo, description

Biosphere Park, whose area is 9,900 hectares, is located right in It captures the territory of the seven administrative districts of Vienna. The main goal of the park is also the development of the region. The Vienna Woods in Vienna is inhabited by a large number of animals and birds. On its territory there are more than two hundred species of various plants. As for the inhabitants of the local fauna, many of them are very rare and are on the verge of extinction. So, a few years ago, local zoologists managed to breed again And already after three years, in 2011, for the first time in the last half century, offspring of these animals were obtained in the Vienna Woods. Also, among the representatives of the local fauna, one can single out the emerald lizard, which is on the verge of extinction.

In total, the Vienna Woods includes four natural parks and fifteen reserves. Its landscape consists of meadows, fields, forests, pastures and vineyards. For the most part, wine-growing places have retained their inherent village character: each guest of the park can spend time at a dinner of national cuisine and delicious wine in a cozy wine tavern or on a shady garden terrace.

How to get there

Despite the fact that the excursion to the Vienna Woods is one of the most popular among the guests of the Austrian capital and is offered by absolutely all tour operators and agencies, you can visit this attraction on your own. Moreover, getting to the biosphere park is not at all difficult: first you need to use the metro (line U4, stop Heiligenstadt), and then bus number 38A, the route of which passes by the main viewing platforms - Leopoldsberg, Kahlenberg and Cobenzl.

What to see in the Vienna Woods

As a rule, excursions to the biosphere park of the Austrian capital include visiting the following attractions: the Liechtenstein fortress, the Seegrote underground lake, the monastery of the Holy Cross, the hunting house of the Mayerling emperors and the resort of Baden. We invite you to learn more about each of them.

Fortress Liechtenstein

Liechtensteinburg, located on the southern outskirts of the Vienna Woods, is the family castle of the princes of Liechtenstein. It is not a museum in the traditional sense of the word, but this place has a rich history. The Liechtenstein family restored the ancestral castle in the 19th century, and to this day it is their property. During the XII and XIII centuries, the fortress was used as a temporary residence for representatives of this ancient family. Thus, Liechtensteinburg today keeps almost a thousand years of history of the family of its founders. The castle was built in the Romanesque style, while the chambers are furnished with antique furniture, as well as decorated with bas-reliefs and weapons. The Liechtensteinburg tower offers one of the most beautiful views of the Austrian capital. This picturesque place has long inspired creative people. Movies were even filmed here: the Hollywood Three Musketeers and the Austrian Commissar Rex.

Underground Lake Seergrote

The Vienna Woods has the largest underground lake in all of Europe. Its area is 6200 square meters. In the middle of the 19th century, a large deposit of gypsum was discovered on a local hill, which began to be actively developed. However, in connection with the flooding of underground mines in 1912, work was permanently stopped. After 20 years, it was decided to open the flooded adits for boat trips, which are held here to this day. Interestingly, during the Second World War, military aircraft were produced in the mine, protected from air raids.

Monastery of the Holy Cross

The Heiligenkreuz monastery (translated as the Holy Cross) is often called the mystical center of the Vienna Woods. It is the oldest Cistercian monastery in the world. It is also interesting that since its discovery, it has never interrupted its activities. So, starting from the distant 1133, novices hold services seven times a day. The Vienna Woods is considered one of the most important burial sites in all of Austria. So, in the Assembly Hall of the monastery of the Holy Cross, four rulers of the country's oldest ruling dynasty, the Babenbergs, are buried. Also in Heiligenkreuz is a very revered relic - a particle of the Cross of the Lord.

Mayerling Emperors Hunting House

This place became infamous after the double suicide committed in it - the Austro-Hungarian Crown Prince Rudolf and his lady of the heart, Baroness Maria von Vechera. Previously, Mayerling Castle, built in 1550, belonged to the Heiligenkreuz monastery. But at the end of the 19th century it was acquired and the castle became a hunting lodge for the Habsburgs.

Vienna forest. Resort Baden

Once this place was the summer residence of the Kaiser. Today, Baden invites everyone to visit the healing places located on its territory. It offers first-class hotels, a rich cultural program and the opportunity to enjoy excellent wines from local grape varieties.