Purkersdorf Nature Park

Purkersdorf Nature Park

Purkersdorf Nature Park is located on the western outskirts of Vienna and is a popular recreational area in the Vienna Woods. Spanning 77 hectares, it offers natural forests, large animal enclosures, family-friendly hiking trails, and exciting nature education. The area is particularly ideal for families – the trails are short, varied, and lead past deer and wild boar enclosures. Admission is free, making the park a popular destination for a half-day trip.

Short info:

• What is the Purkersdorf Nature Park? A publicly accessible forest area with wildlife enclosures, hiking trails, and environmental education.
• How much does the entrance fee cost? The visit is free.
• Where is the nature park? In the Vienna Woods, west of Vienna near Purkersdorf.
• How big is the park? The nature park covers 77 hectares.
• What animals can you see? Red deer, wild boar and (depending on the season) also roe deer.
• Is the park child-friendly? Yes, with wildlife enclosures, petting zoo, playground and easy trails.
• What is the best way to reach the park? On foot from Purkersdorf-Zentrum train station in about 30 minutes.
• Is there parking? Yes, but only to a very limited extent – public transport is recommended.
• What hiking trails are there? 1–6 km long trails, many of them circular.
• Are there barrier-free offers? Yes, for example, the blind date trail with Braille boards.
• Where can I stop for a bite to eat? In the Vienna Woods Guesthouse Klugmayer directly at the entrance to Deutschwald.

Parking & Access

The Main entrance is located at the P&R facility on the B44 near the Purkersdorf-Zentrum S-Bahn station. The accessible "Blind Date" trail also starts here. Parking is available there for drivers who wish to combine access with public transport. Use is free of charge with a valid ÖBB ticket.

There are two short-term parking zones in Purkersdorf:

• Blue Zone: max. 2 hours free with parking disc
• Green Zone: 3 hours free, then € 2/hour via app or parking disc

The Access to Deutschwald is located about 0.5 km further along the B44 and is accessible via a footpath (approximately 1 km via Deutschwaldstraße and Rudolf-Hanke-Gasse). Parking spaces directly at the entrance are scarce – drivers are best advised to park at the P&R and then walk to the nature park center.

Experience wild animals up close

Directly adjacent to the nature park center are several large game enclosures, which are freely accessible and free of charge. This is a truly special experience, especially for children – you can observe red deer, wild boar, and occasionally even roe deer in natural settings.

A magnificent red stag lives in the deer enclosure with several hinds. This impressive antlered animal sheds its antlers annually – a shed pole with an information board can often be seen at the feeding hut.

The wild boar enclosure is particularly popular because it offers excellent visibility. Two viewing platforms and a 20-minute circular trail lead past it. It's especially lively when young boars are out and about—usually in spring.

The deer enclosure is somewhat hidden above the wild boar enclosure. The animals there have plenty of places to retreat, which makes observing them somewhat more challenging. Whether deer are visible at any given time depends on the current population and their behavior.

The Kellerwiese also features a small petting zoo with dwarf goats, donkeys, and sheep—an ideal spot for a short break with children.

Hiking in the Vienna Woods

A dense network of well-marked hiking trails crisscrosses the nature park. The trails vary in length, lead through diverse landscapes, and offer numerous opportunities for nature observation.

The Buchenweg (6 km) runs through old deciduous forest with some steep sections.
The Schöffelweg (2.5 km) ends at the Schöffelstein, where a meadow is maintained in a natural way – ideal for a rest.
The Salamander Trail (2 km) offers an easy route with a view from the “Darüber-Blick” platform.
The Nature trail (2 km) teaches nature knowledge in a playful way – ideal for families.
The Wild boar circular trail (approx. 30 minutes) leads directly around the wild boar enclosure.

The trails are mostly natural, but easily manageable with all-terrain strollers. Overview signs and colored markings facilitate orientation. Free hiking maps are available at the entrance.

Another popular destination is the Rudolfswarte – an observation tower with an unobstructed view over the Vienna Woods to Vienna.

Accessible & sensual: the “Blind Date” trail

The "Blind Date" trail is an accessible, multi-sensory adventure trail. It was designed specifically for visually impaired people, but is also very exciting for children and school classes. The approximately 1-kilometer-long circular trail features 18 tactile information panels with Braille, handrails, and a barefoot area.

The starting point is at the P&R parking lot on the B44. If you're traveling with children, this route should definitely be included – we discovered firsthand how consciously you perceive nature when you rely on other senses.

Habitats and biodiversity

The nature park is home to four protected forest habitat types, which differ in their tree species and soil types: Mull brown earth beech forests, woodrush beech forests, bedstraw oak-hornbeam forests and Turkey oak-sessile oak forests.

These forests are home to protected animal species such as the greater oak longhorn beetle, stag beetle, black woodpecker, middle spotted woodpecker, red-breasted flycatcher, fire salamander, alpine newt, slowworm, sand lizard and Aesculapian snake.

The temporary small bodies of water in the forest are also particularly valuable – they serve as spawning grounds for amphibians such as the yellow-bellied toad and the great crested newt.

Meadows and forest edges are regularly maintained to provide suitable habitats for rare plant and reptile species. Some areas have been deliberately renaturalized and converted into species-rich meadow grasslands.

Experience & learn about nature

The nature park is also a center for environmental education. Schools, kindergartens, and families can book guided tours and workshops. There is a dedicated nature park school and changing educational programs for different age groups.

We recommend the free brochure "21 Treasures," available at the Nature Park Center. It highlights special places and observation tips in the park—we, too, discovered corners we would otherwise have missed.

There's a beekeeping facility on Salamanderweg, where they produce their own nature park honey, which you can buy directly on site.

Stop at the Wienerwaldgasthaus Klugmayer

Directly at the entrance to Deutschwald is the traditional Vienna Woods Guesthouse KlugmayerIt offers hot meals throughout the day, homemade pastries, and a lovely terrace. Ideal for refueling after a hike. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

You can find more restaurants and cafés around Purkersdorf's main square – just a few minutes' walk from the Kellerwiese entrance.