Short Information:
- What is Naturpark Sparbach and what does it offer? Naturpark Sparbach is a 2,000-hectare nature park located south of Vienna, offering hiking trails, wildlife observation, and a large playground for children.
- What makes Naturpark Sparbach special? Naturpark Sparbach features various hiking trails with different difficulty levels. With some luck, visitors can spot wild boars and other local animals.
- Where is it located? It is located 17 kilometers south of Vienna, Sparbach 6, 2393 Sparbach.
- When is it open and how much is the admission fee? You can find the opening hours and admission fees here. Admission is free with the NÖ-Card.
- Are there hiking routes available? Yes, there are 5 hiking routes. Details can be found below.
- How much time should one plan for a visit? At least half a day.
Only 17 kilometers south of Vienna is the first nature park in Austria, Sparbach, which covers an area of 249 hectares. The park offers numerous leisure activities such as hiking, picnicking, and even barbecuing, as well as a spacious adventure playground for children. Rich in flora and fauna, Naturpark Sparbach is home to many animal species, including red deer, wild boars, donkeys, foxes, badgers, martens, and a variety of bird species. Rare plant species such as spring adonis and true mezereon can also be admired.
The parking lot and visitor center
We recommend arriving early, as the generously designed parking lot can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. At the visitor center, you can stock up on supplies. However, we recommend bringing at least drinks, as the prices can be a bit steep.
TIP: Some paths are suitable for strollers. Bicycles and dogs are not allowed! You can also borrow a small cart for young children and their belongings after the entrance. The tokens can be obtained at the cash desk for a rental fee of €5 + deposit of €10.
Near the entrance of the nature park
After passing the entrance at the visitor center, everyone initially follows the same path. It goes downhill past the small animal enclosure. Here, you will find goats, sheep, and donkeys Anita, Hubert, Emil, Rosi, and Franzi, which can be petted.
If you’re lucky, you can already observe wild boars at the feeding area here. Note: Although they may appear tame, the wild boars roam freely, so unnecessary closeness should be avoided. However, there is no need to worry about your children; the animals are used to people. After the small animal enclosure, continue to Lenauteich and Leopoldmühle.
The Lenauteich in Naturpark Sparbach is named after the Biedermeier poet Nikolaus Lenau, who may have written the “Reed Songs” on its shores. Rest areas along the pond’s edge offer a good view of the small island where ducks can nest in wooden houses. The Lenauteich is home to roach and carp, two fish species that can be observed here.
The Leopoldmühle in Naturpark Sparbach originally comes from the Bucklige Welt region and was brought here and rebuilt in the 1960s. The large water wheel that powers the milling mechanism is particularly impressive. The mill is fully furnished, and an information panel on the exterior wall shows its construction. It is worth a visit to gain insight into the traditional craft of milling.
Adventure playground, barbecue area, wildlife observation
Behind the lake is the extremely popular adventure playground. It offers children a variety of opportunities to have fun in an adventurous way. The large playground features a treehouse, a fox den, an extensive water and sand play area, and a drinking fountain. On weekends and holidays, you can also visit the snack bar at the playground. As mentioned earlier, we find the prices to be excessively high. A PET bottle costs €3.6 even from the vending machine in 2023. However, you can treat yourself to a wild boar cheese sausage for €5.8.
Furthermore, the barbecue area at the adventure playground can be booked for hosting parties and celebrations. There is also a restroom facility available near the playground.
Directly above is an observation platform where you can observe mouflons and fallow deer.
The hiking routes in detail:
Along the five hiking routes, you can experience a variety of highlights:
Small animal enclosure, nature park house, adventure playground, wild growth gallery, Johannstein Castle ruins from the 12th century, triumphal arch Dianawiese, Köhlerhaus ruins, gallery of wildlife, freely roaming wild boars, over 200-year-old giant trees, and more.
All hiking routes start from the visitor center.
Route 1 – Barrier-Free
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 2.25 km
Elevation difference: 45 m
Duration: 0:45 min
A perfectly suitable short hike for families, passing by many of the nature park’s highlights. This route is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
Route description:
Visitor center – Lenauteich – Detour to the gallery of wildlife – Johannstein Castle rest area – Wild growth gallery – Leopoldmühle – Visitor center
Route 2 – Family Hike (our photos are from this route)
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 4.26 km
Elevation difference: 109 m
Duration: 1:30 min
A varied and special hike for families, passing by numerous highlights of Naturpark Sparbach.
Route description:
Visitor center – Lenauteich – Leopoldmühle – Schacherplatz – Johannstein Castle ruins – Giant trees – Johannstein Castle rest area – Adventure playground – Detour to the gallery of wildlife – Lenauteich – Visitor center
Route 3 – Biedermeier Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6.40 km
Elevation difference: 219 m
Duration: 2:30 min
The Biedermeier Hike in Naturpark Sparbach is a very diverse hike and promises to discover many of the nature park’s highlights.
Route description:
Visitor center – Lenauteich – Leopoldmühle – Schacherplatz – Today for Tomorrow area – Dianawiese – Diana spring – Köhlerhaus – Johannstein Castle ruins – Giant trees – Johannstein Castle rest area – Adventure playground – Detour to the gallery of wildlife – Lenauteich – Visitor center
Route 4 – Kaisersteig Circuit
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.21 km
Elevation difference: 224 m
Duration: 3:00 min
The beautiful hike along the Kaisersteig promises pure nature in the idyllic Wienerwald! This route leads to the quietest part of the nature park, and the trail requires good footwear and sure-footedness.
Route description:
Visitor center – Lenauteich – Johannstein Castle rest area – Hiking trail to Köhlerhaus (Kaisersteig) – Dianawiese – Today for Tomorrow area – Schacherplatz – Leopoldmühle – Lenauteich – Visitor center
Route 5 – Sparbach Nature Park Circular Hike
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 7.67 km
Elevation difference: 221 m
Duration: 3:00 min
Explore the wonderful Sparbach Nature Park and its animals on this circular hike.
Route description:
Visitor center – Lenauteich – Johannstein Castle rest area – Dianawiese (via Schacherplatz direction) – Around Dianawiese – Detour to Köhlerhaus – Schacherplatz – Leopoldmühle – Visitor center
Our Conclusion
Naturpark Sparbach is an excellent choice for a family outing. Children especially love the animals and the adventure playground. If you’re coming here solely for hiking and animal sightings, we recommend the Wienerwald or the Lainzer Tiergarten instead. Unlike Sparbach, there is no admission fee in those places, and the chances of seeing wild boars are equally high.