The Wachau is the landscape in and around the valley of the Danube between Melk and Krems an der Donau in Lower Austria, about 80 kilometers west of the federal capital Vienna. In 2000 it was included in the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage as the Wachau Cultural Landscape with the Melk and Göttweig monasteries and the old town of Krems.
Top excursion destinations
The most important excursion destinations in the Wachau include:
- Dürnstein – with the famous blue church
- Pointed
- Krems at the Donau
- Benedictine monastery Göttweig
- Melk Abbey
- Winegrowers Association and Wine Adventure World Sandgrube 13
- Brandner Danube Shipping
World Heritage Trail and Danube Cycle Path
Two well-known paths lead through the Wachau.
- The Danube Cycle Path is a long-distance cycle path that leads from the source of the Danube to its mouth in the Black Sea. A very popular section of the route is the section through the Wachau.
- With its 180 km distance, the Wachau World Heritage Trail is considered a long-distance hiking trail. This path connects the 13 municipalities of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wachau and leads through a scenic landscape. The start and end point is Krems an der Donau.
Castles and ruins
In addition to the two outlying historical urban regions of Melk and Krems with their monasteries, there are also castle ruins:
- The Aggstein ruin was made more attractive in 2005 during its largest renovation since 1620. In addition to modern teaching methods (audio tours), it now also offers the possibility of weddings in the re-consecrated castle chapel.
- You can visit the Hinterhaus ruins in Spitz and the Dürnstein ruins without paying a high entrance fee
- The Oberrannain Mühldorf Castle can also be visited.
The Dürnstein Castle, Nieder Rannain Mühldorf Castle and Schönbühel Castle in Schönbühel-Aggsbach cannot be visited.
Viewing Points
As early as the first half of the 19th century, the first towers or waiting areas were built on prominent mountain peaks or lookout points. Most of the control rooms, however, were opened in the late 19th century. But observation towers are still being built today (e.g. Gruberwarte, Seekopfwarte).
- Dachberg-Warte near Emmersdorf an der Donau
- Jauerling lookout point at Maria Laach am Jauerling
- Gruberwarte near Weißenkirchen in the Wachau
- Weiglwarte near Dürnstein
- Seekopfturm near Rossatz-Arnsdorf
- Starhembergwarte in Dürnstein
- Ferdinandswarte in Bergern in the Dunkelsteinerwald
- Donauwarte in Krems an der Donau
Social events
- Wachau Wine Spring – widespread wine tasting by the Vinea Wachau member companies on the first weekend in May
- Apricot day
- Apricot blossom
- Riesling Festival
- Fireworks for the summer solstice
- Grape harvest
- Wine autumn
- Baptism of tears
- Wachau marathon
are strong crowd pullers
Cultural events
- Wachaufestival in Weissenkirchen: theater performances in the Teisenhoferhof
- Summer Games Melk
Tourist shipping
In tourism shipping, the Wachau is one of the busiest sections of the Danube (see DDSG Blue Danube and Brandner Schiffahrt). Smaller ships offer individual trips for events, meetings, family celebrations, especially the civil wedding on board or the “Weinriedenfahrt” of the Nostalgie-Tours Wachau.