History Of Bad Vöslau
Prehistoric and Roman times
Traces of colonization discovered nearby show that the Bad Vöslau area has been populated since the Neolithic era. The natural riches of the region, particularly the thermal springs, most likely drew the first residents.
Bad Vöslau was a part of the province of Pannonia in the Roman Empire, which included much of what is now Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Austria. Building baths and villas around the thermal springs, the Romans also took use of them. Aqueduct that provided water to the baths is one of the Roman ruins that is still visible today.
Medieval and early modern times
The name “Vöslau” first appeared in writing in 1136 when Adololdus de Veselove, a nobleman, gave the Klosterneuburg Monastery some territory. When that happened, Vöslau was only a little village with a ditch around its castle. Local lords eventually restored the fortress after Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus destroyed it in 1483 during his conquest of Austria.
Being among the few locations in Lower Austria to adopt the Protestant faith, Vöslau was significant to the Reformation movement. Preaching to the local populace, some well-known reformers, including Wolfgang Capito and Johannes Brenz, came or remained in Vöslau. But the Counter-Reformation swiftly followed, and Vöslau was compelled to convert to Catholicism again. The Protestant church was destroyed and the parish of Vöslau combined with the neighboring parish of Gainfarn.
The Vöslau estate was acquired by the powerful and affluent Fries family of merchants and bankers in the eighteenth century. First to grow red wine extensively in the area was Count Johann von Fries, who had vines close to Vöslau. He also created a stunning palace by enlarging and renovating the castle in the Baroque manner. He supported Vöslau, which developed into a hub of culture and commerce drawing intellectuals, artists, and nobility.
But early in the 19th century, the Napoleonic wars and the 1825 financial crisis caused the Fries family’s riches to plummet. When Count Moritz von Fries went bankrupt in 1826, the Greek diplomat and trader Giorgios Sinas had to buy the Vöslau estate. However, Sinas left Vöslau quickly and sold it to Swiss banker Johann Heinrich von Geymüller the Younger in 1827.
Industrial and modern times
Vöslau worsted wool factory was founded in 1833 by Geymüller. Employing hundreds of people from Vöslau and the neighboring communities, the plant was among the biggest and most advanced in Austria. High-quality woolen textiles made at the plant were sent to several European and other nations. In addition, the factory helped to build roads, railroads, schools, and hospitals, among other social amenities in Vöslau.
Opening in 1841, the Southern Railway connected Vienna and Neunkirchen with Vöslau. This increased the accessibility to and appeal of Vöslau to tourists, particularly the affluent and noble families looking for leisure and rest in the spa town. Popular as a summer vacation spot, Vöslau saw the construction of several opulent hotels and villas on the hillsides west of the town center. First inaugurated in 1822, the thermal baths were also expanded and refurbished between 1869 and 1873 by renowned architect Theophil Hansen.
Another noteworthy diplomatic occasion took place at Vöslau in 1867 when the Principality of Serbia and the Kingdom of Greece signed the Treaty of Vöslau. The two Balkan republics’ disagreements over their borders and their ties with the Ottoman Empire were to be settled by the treaty, which Austria mediated.
Vöslau was proclaimed a spa town formally in 1904, and in 1928 it was renamed Bad Vöslau, which translates to “bath Vöslau.” The Austrian president Michael Hainisch was present when the hot baths were once again renovated and reopened in 1926. Even now, the baths provide guests with a range of health and wellness services.
Under the trademark Vöslauer Mineralwasser, the hot water was bottled and sold by a firm established in 1936. Still in business today, the company is among Austria’s top mineral water manufacturers.
An additional significant feature of Bad Vöslau’s economy and culture is winemaking. The French winemaker Robert Schlumberger, who moved to Vöslau in the 19th century, made the red and sparkling wines from the region famous all over the world. Introducing the technique for making champagne-like wine, he dubbed it “sparkling Vöslau.” In his old Vöslau home, he also established the first wine museum in Austria.
Bad Vöslau was proclaimed a city in 1954 and included the nearby towns of Großau and Gainfarn in 1972. At around 12,000 people, Bad Vöslau is a quaint and energetic city that blends historical legacy, stunning scenery, and contemporary conveniences.
