Attractions & Landmarks In Bad Vöslau
Some 35 kilometers south of Vienna lies the town of Bad Vöslau in Lower Austria. Wine making, thermal springs, and historic buildings are its most well-known features. Bad Vöslau offers plenty for a leisurely and cultural vacation. These are a few sights and places you should see in this little town.
Catholic parish church Bad Vöslau
Pilgrim patron saint St. James the Elder is honored in the Catholic parish church in Bad Vöslau. The Romanesque-Gothic church was constructed in 1870 with the kind bequest of Imperial Count Moritz II von Fries and his wife Flora, née Freifrau von Pereira. Rich inside with stained glass windows, frescoes, and an organ, the church has a remarkable exterior with a rose window and two towers. 2011 saw a full restoration of the church, which is now open to worshippers.
Catholic Parish Church of Gainfarn St. John the Baptist
Gainfarn is a neighborhood of Bad Vöslau with a St. John the Baptist parish church. The Gothic nave and Baroque choir of the church, which was built in the twelfth century. Remarkable altar paintings depicting the baptism of Christ by renowned late Baroque Austrian painter Johann Michael Rottmayr are also housed in the church. A chapel and an old cemetery with tombstones encircling the church.
Evangelical Christ Church
Contrary to Bad Vöslau’s traditional churches is the sleek, contemporary Evangelical Christ Church. Constructed in 1964, the church features a flat roof and a basic rectangular design. The focal point of the church is a metal sculpture of the benevolent Christ by local sculptor Mathias Hietz. A tower rising to a height of 22 meters houses three bells that chime every hour. All denominations are welcomed to the church, which also organizes a number of events and activities.
Islamic cultural center
The integration and variety of Bad Vöslau are symbolized by the Islamic cultural center. The local community had a protracted and contentious discussion before the center was opened in 2007. One of the two little Islamic prayer halls in the town was replaced with the center. The center is not built in the conventional eastern manner with minarets; rather, it is designed modern with open glass fronts and subdued glass roof structures. Offering services including German classes, social counselling, and interfaith discussions, the center seeks to encourage cultural and religious interchange between the Muslim and non-Muslim inhabitants of Bad Vöslau.
Vöslau Castle with Castle Park
Magnificently dominating the Bad Vöslau town center is Vöslau Castle. Built in the sixteenth century, the castle was formerly possessed by the Schönborn, the Fries, and the Harrach noble families. The castle contains a courtyard and a four-winged design typical of the Renaissance. Along with the castle is a lovely park with pond, fountains, statues, and old trees. Presently serving as Bad Vöslau’s municipal hall, the castle houses the town hall, library, and music school. Public guided tours and cultural events are offered at the castle and park.
Thermalbad Bad Vöslau
The town’s principal attraction and the cause of its notoriety is Thermalbad Bad Vöslau. The thermal bath is a sizable facility including many pools and cottages. Natural springs used since Roman times provide the thermal water. The skin, muscles and circulation all benefit from the water’s therapeutic qualities. Founded in 1822, the thermal bath was a favorite haunt of 19th- and 20th-century aristocrats and stars. Many times rebuilt and updated, the thermal bath provides a range of services and facilities including playgrounds, saunas, massages, and restaurants. Year-round open, the thermal bath is the ideal spot to unwind and take in the surroundings.
Hotel Stefanie
Seated on the square in front of the thermal bath is the ancient Hotel Stefanie. Constructed in 1896, the hotel bears the name of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi, a frequent visitor. A clock tower and balconies grace the hotel’s sophisticated façade. There is also a warm interior of the hotel with chandeliers, paintings, and antique furniture. Complementary to the hotel are a restaurant, a bar, and a terrace. For everyone who wish to discover Bad Vöslau’s charm and past, the hotel is a fantastic choice.
Jubilee Watch or Harzberg Tower
Perched atop the highest hill in Bad Vöslau, the Harzberg, is the Jubilee Watch or Harzberg Tower, a lookout tower. In 1898, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria celebrated his 50th year of reign with the construction of the tower. Standing 27 metres tall, the tower provides a broad perspective of the town and its environs. One may reach the tower by cable car or trekking walk. Lover of hang and paragliding also frequent the tower.
Bellevue
Sloped on the Harzberg, Bellevue is a former hotel situated above the thermal bath. Rich politician and businessman Bernhard Back inaugurated the hotel in 1867. Neoclassical in design, the hotel features a green roof and a white façade. The magnificent view of the town and valley that the hotel has earned it the name Bellevue. Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms, and Johann Strauss were only a few of the well-known guests that stayed at this opulent hotel. Once the hotel closed in 1974, it was turned into a residential building. For its architecture and past, the hotel is still worthwhile to visit.
Merkenstein Castle
English Tudor Gothic in design, Merkenstein Castle is a charming structure constructed in 1843. The Napoleon Bonaparte grandson Count Franz von Meran constructed the castle as a summer home. The castle’s pointed roofs, turrets, and red brick façade give it a fairy-tale feel. A fountain and pond are features of the beautiful landscape at the castle. Although the castle is privately owned, visitors are welcome to view it from the outside.
Hansybach snail reserve
Three kinds of water snails that have endured since the Tertiary era are protected in the special Hansybach snail reserve. Only in Bad Vöslau and the nearby Bad Fischau hot springs are the snails found. The snails are spirally shelled and quite little. Living in a little creek that runs through the town is the Hansybach snails. Together with a wetland and a woodland, the stream is a component of the Hansybach natural monument. The reserve is a priceless and uncommon representation of the local geology and fauna.
The City Museum
Displaying Bad Vöslau’s history and culture is the City Museum. The museum has a number of objects and information about the manufacturing of wine and sparkling wine, worsted yarn, resin, and thermal baths. A specific area of the museum is devoted to Linda, a fossilized manatee discovered near Bad Vöslau in 2008. The fossil is from a time when Bad Vöslau was a part of an ancient sea, 13 million years ago. The thermal baths and the castle belonged to the well-known and affluent Fries family, whose old mansion now houses the museum. Open weekends and holidays, the museum provides workshops and guided tours.
Austrian Aviation Museum
Displaying the background and evolution of aviation in Austria is the Austrian Aviation Museum. Situated in the oldest civil airport in Austria, Bad Vöslau/Kottingbrunn Airport, lies the museum. The museum displays a wide range of military, civil, sport, and experimental aircrafts, engines, models, uniforms, records, and memorabilia from many aviation eras and fields. A shop, library, and simulator are further features of the museum. Open on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the museum provides guided tours and flight demonstrations.
