Despite many trips to Vienna, some to Salzburg and Salzkammergut, one to Innsbruck/Hall and another to Graz, we stumbled upon Laxenburg (south of Vienna) and were delighted. I don't remember it in Rick's book, and all that makes we wonder: What else may we have missed within an easy drive of Vienna? Within the Weinerwald, what's a don't-miss?
Thanks from Virginia.
Two of my favorites - Klosterneuburg Abbey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klosterneuburg_Abbey and Baden bei Wien https://www.baden.at/ Baden is south of the City and the abbey is north of the city ( each about forty minutes travel time ). In spite of your car , both are easy trips by rail
Just looked them up. Excellent advice!
Schloss Laxenburg is well worth visiting and exploring. Very important in the modern dynastic history of thr monarchy.. The grounds are huge, I'll be back there (again) in June to see if guided tour is offered , ie most likely the only way to see what you are allowed to see. The town itself is interesting.
"...near Vienna." If your focus is historical from the 18th century , I would suggest Wiener Neustadt. In 2014 I went there for a couple of hours exploring the Zentrum and the Schloss and its function starting from the 18th century.
Hello ,Fred !! I'll be in Vienna for two weeks this coming October. If things work out , I'm going to try to get to Wiener Neustadt . The Bosendorfer factory is located there and I've long wanted to see the construction of the exquisite pianos that they create. All my best , Steve
... I would suggest Wiener Neustadt.
Wiener Neustadt was Austria's most destroyed town after WWII. After two years of being bombed only 18 buildings remained without damages in the whole town. The airfield and the aircraft factories were the targets of the bombing.
Therefore there is not much left of the "original" Wiener Neustadt.
@ Steven.....Good that you have a specific reason for going to Wiener Neustadt aligned with your specialty. I went , as usual, because of a specific site in Austrian History I wanted to see.
Among one the early reforms Maria Theresa embarked on were those in the realm of military affairs. Wiener Neustadt was the site chosen for Austria's first military academy to add further a certain degree of professionalism the monarchy's army.
That Schloss is open to visits , the sign posted under "Schloßbesichtigung " . After the country's take-over by Nazi Germany in 1938, that military academy received a certain German officer, a colonel named Erwin Rommel as its instructor.
However, between Laxenburg and Wiener Neustadt if you're out for esoteric modern Austria history , I suggest Laxenburg, obviously, It was the refuge for the last emperor , Charles (Kaiser Karl) after WW1 , his abdication and under the protection of a British officer charged with that task.
I suggest Laxenburg, obviously, It was the refuge for the last emperor , Charles (Kaiser Karl) after WW1 , his abdication and under the protection of a British officer charged with that task.
Sorry, but a little historical correction. The last Austrian emperor, Charles I., used Laxenburg as a residence in 1917/18. After Austria's surrender ending WWI Charles signed the so called "declaration of waiver" saying that he will refrain from any action in governing Austria. This was a de facto abdication although he never used this term and felt being still emperor until his death. (Same for his wife Zita who was not allowed to enter Austria for about 80 years because of this.)
After having stepped down from the throne Charles, his family and his entourage of about 100 people had to move into the much smaller Eckartsau palace which remained private property of the Habsburgs, while all other palaces were expropriated and taken over by the young Austrian republic. Charles' attempts to re-install the monarchy failed. Living in Eckartsau was dire because of both the famine and the Spanish flu.
At the end of February 1919, a British Army officer arrived at Eckartsau: Colonel Edward Lisle Strutt delivered a letter of solidarity from King George V. of England to the Austrian ex-monarch, assuring Charles of the British government's "moral support." Strutt also brought a shipment of urgently needed food and medicine.
When Switzerland finally expressed its willingness to grant Charles and his family asylum, Colonel Strutt organized their departure by train.
Thanks for the historical accuracy . I was trying to recall from the account by the British historian, Gordon Brook Shepard, "The Last Habsburg" (1968), not very critical.
A few ideas.
Mayerling
Hermesvilla/Lainzertiergarten
Moedling
Liechtenstein Castle
Kreuzenstein Castle
Carnuntum
Schloss Hof
Neusiedl am See
