Geography Of Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien is situated in the southern portion of the state of Lower Austria in northeastern Austria. Situated on the easternmost point of the Vienna Basin, a sizable depression spanning from the Alps to the Carpathians. Baden bei Wien has a 26.89 square kilometer area with an average elevation of 230 meters above sea level. Nine districts make up the town: Baden-Zentrum, Braiten, Doblhoffpark, Gutenbrunn, Helenental, Leesdorf, Mitterberg, Rauhenstein and Weikersdorf.
The towns of Alland, Heiligenkreuz, Gaaden, Mödling, Traiskirchen, Pfaffstätten, Sooß, and Berndorf abut Baden bei Wien. Furthermore, the town is near to the federal capital of Vienna, which is situated around 26 kilometers north of Baden bei Wien, and the state capital of St. Pölten, which is situated around 60 kilometers west of Baden bei Wien.
Baden bei Wien has good connections by several means of transportation to the rest of Austria and Europe. Both a tram line that links Baden bei Wien to Vienna and a railway station that serves both regional and long-distance trains are located in the town. Being situated on the A2 motorway, which connects Vienna and Klagenfurt, and the B210 highway, which connects Vienna and Graz, the town is very easily reached by car. About 35 km northeast of Baden bei Wien is the Vienna International Airport, the closest airport.
Physical Geography
Landforms in Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien has a varied terrain with many landforms. Part of the Northern Limestone Alps, the town is located on the eastern slopes of the Vienna Woods, a modest mountain range. Together with offering the town a picturesque backdrop, the Vienna Woods are a natural recreational area perfect for skiing, riding, and hiking. The town lies also on the westernmost point of the Thermenlinie, a geological fault zone dividing the Alpine Foreland from the Vienna Basin. The thermal springs giving Baden bei Wien its name and notoriety are the result of the Thermenlinie. Fourteen hot springs in the town have temperatures between 22 and 36 degrees Celsius. Rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, the water is therapeutic for a variety of illnesses.
Rivers and Lakes
Schwechat and Helenenbach rivers cross Baden bei Wien. A Danube tributary, the Schwechat passes through the town from west to east. The 62-kilometer river drains a 720 square kilometer catchment area. One uses the river for water supply, boating, and fishing. A lesser brook named Helenenbach rises in the Vienna Woods and runs through the town from south to north. Twelve kilometers long, the creek covers forty square kilometers of watershed area. The stream is employed in power generating, drainage, and irrigation. Along with various man-made lakes, Baden bei Wien is home to the Rauhenecksee, Doblhoffteich, and Schlossparkteich. Conservation of animals and enjoyment are two uses for these lakes.
Mountain Ranges Nearby
Several mountain ranges encircling Baden bei Wien provide breathtaking vistas and outdoor pursuits. The Vienna Woods are the nearest mountain range; in the Schöpfl, they reach a height of 893 meters. Located between the Danube and the Salzach, the Vienna Woods are a component of the Northern Limestone Alps. Karst characteristics including springs, sinkholes, and caverns are what define the Northern Limestone Alps. At its highest point at the Hohe Wand, the Wienerwald is the next mountain range. Including the Wienerwald, the Eastern Alps go from the Salzach to the Pannonian Basin. Among the several rock types that make up the Eastern Alps are schist, gneiss and granite. With its highest point at the Grossglockner, 3,798 meters, the Central Alps are the furthest mountain range. Part of the Western Alps, the Central Alps run from the Pannonian Basin to the Mediterranean Sea. The crystalline and sedimentary rocks that dominate the Western Alps were created when the African and European plates collided.
Natural Attractions
Parks and Green Spaces
Plenty of parks and other green areas in Baden bei Wien improve the town’s ecology and quality of life. There are 120 hectares of green land in all, or 4.5% of the town’s total size. Historical, recreational, botanical, and natural parks are only a few of the park and green space categories in the town. Notable parks and green areas in the town include:
- The Kurpark: The 34 acre Kurpark is the town’s oldest and biggest park. The park was founded around the eighteenth century.
- The Doblhoffpark: The eight acre Doblhoffpark is a botanical park in the town. During the 1800s, the Doblhoff family—notable politicians and aristocrats—founded the park. Along with a pond, a fountain, and a greenhouse, the park has a wide range of plants, flowers and trees.
- The Helenental: Comprising ten hectares, the Helenental is a town natural park. Nestled in the Helenenbach valley, the park bears the name Maria Helena, after the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. Along with walking paths, seats, and bridges, the park provides a serene and picturesque setting. The ruins of Rauhenstein Castle, a mediaeval stronghold that the Turks demolished in the sixteenth century, are also part of the park.
- The Schlosspark: The 15 hectare Schlosspark is the town’s historical park. The Habsburgs created the park in the 19th century, when they constructed the neoclassical Schloss Weilburg there. Together with a museum, a theater, and a casino, the park has a range of plants, statues, and monuments.
- The Rosarium: Encompassing two hectares, the Rosarium is a town botanical garden. The local government created the park throughout the 20th century and planted more than 20,000 roses of various varieties and hues there. Rose enthusiasts frequent the park, which also serves as a setting for cultural activities and exhibitions.
Nature Reserves
Numerous nature reserves in Baden bei Wien safeguard the local ecosystem and biodiversity. Several environmental groups, the state government, and the municipal council oversee the nature reserves. Notable natural reserves in the town include:
- The Rauheneck-Rauhenstein Nature Reserve: The forty acre Rauheneck-Rauhenstein Nature Reserve is a nature reserve located in the town. The nature reserve, which is situated in the Vienna Woods, includes the remains of the medieval fortifications known as Rauhenstein Castle and Rauheneck Castle, which were demolished by the Turks in the sixteenth century. A range of plants and animals including beech and oak trees, ferns, orchids, deer, foxes, badgers, and bats call the nature reserve home. Hiking, climbing and sightseeing are among popular activities in the nature reserve.
- The Helenental Nature Reserve: The thirty hectares that make up the Helenental Nature Reserve are a part of the municipality. Nestled in the Helenenbach valley, the natural reserve bears the name Maria Helena, after the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. There are meadows, woodlands, cliffs and waterfalls in the rich and varied terrain of the natural reserve. Among the many plants and animals found in the nature reserve are willow and alder trees, lilies, roses, butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, and fish. Furthermore well-liked for walking, cycling, and picnicking are the nature reserves.
- The Thermenlinie Nature Reserve: The 20 hectares of the Thermenlinie Nature Reserve are a part of the town. Nestled on the westernmost point of the Thermenlinie, a geological fault zone dividing the Alpine Foreland from the Vienna Basin, is the nature reserve. With hot springs, wetlands, and dry grasslands, the nature reserve boasts an uncommon and distinctive ecology. Reed plants, cattails, orchids, snails, crabs, and birds are just a few of the flora and fauna that call the natural reserve home. Additionally well-liked for birdwatching, photography, and education are the natural reserve.
Scenic Points of Interest
Many picturesque locations in Baden bei Wien provide breathtaking vistas and viewpoints of the town and its surrounds. One can get to the scenic locations by vehicle, bus, tram, bike, or foot. Among the town’s most noteworthy picturesque locations are:
- The Jubiläumswarte: The 25-meter Jubiläumswarte is a lookout tower in the town. In 1898, the tower was erected to mark Emperor Franz Joseph I’s 50th year of reign. From the top, one can see the town, the Vienna Woods, the Vienna Basin, and the Alps. Accessible by a short walk from the town center, the tower is open to the public from April to October.
- The Harzberg: The town’s hill, the Harzberg, rises to a height of 282 meters. Part of the Vienna Woods, the hill is covered with vineyards and mixed woodlands. The town, the Thermenlinie and the Schneeberg, the tallest mountain in Lower Austria, are all picturesquely seen from the hill. At the summit of the hill are a restaurant and a playground; it may be reached by vehicle, bus, or bike.
- The Beethoven Temple: The Ludwig van Beethoven Temple is a monument in the town honoring the composer who spent several years living and working in Baden bei Wien. Situated on the Mitterberg, a town hill, the monument was constructed in 1927 by architect Clemens Holzmeister. From the monument, one may see the town, the Kurpark, and the Schloss Weilburg. A museum and a concert theater are housed within the monument, which is walkable.
Administrative Divisions
There are nine districts in Baden bei Wien, and each district is further divided into 36 communities. Districts are:
- Baden-Zentrum: The town’s core area housing the primary facilities, services, and attractions. 6.543 people live in the 2.63 square kilometer district. The districts comprise the subdivisions of Baden, Beethovenviertel, Grabengasse, Josefsplatz, Pfarrplatz, and Theaterplatz.
- Braiten: The residential and industrial districts of the town are found in this northern section. 2.971 people live in the 3.01 square kilometer district. The districts comprise the communities of Braiten, Gutenbrunn, Harzberg, Leobersdorf, and Rauheneck.
- Doblhoffpark: The botanical and recreational gardens are situated in the eastern part of the town. 2.027 people live in the 1.67 square kilometer district. Rosarium, Helenenstraße and Doblhoffpark are parts of the district.
- The natural and historical areas are situated in Gutenbrunn, the western part of the town. 2.352 people live in the 3.41 square kilometer district. The districts comprise Gutenbrunn, Helenental, Rauhenstein, and Weilburg.
- Helenental is the town’s southern sector, home of the spa and cultural institutions. The population of the 2.71 square kilometer district is 3,128. Helenental, Kaiser-Franz-Ring, Kurpark, and Römertherme are its neighborhoods.
- Leesdorf: The business and educational districts of the town are situated in this northeastern section. The population of the 2.69 square kilometer district is 3,215. The districts comprise the localities of Schlossgasse, Rathausgasse, Mühlgasse, and Leesdorf.
- Mitterberg: The residential and agricultural parts of the town are found in this southeast section. 2.496 people live in the 3.95 square kilometer district. Mitterberg, Oberwaltersdorf and Sooß are neighborhoods that make up the district.
- Rauhenstein: The agricultural and wooded sections of the town are situated in the southwest part. Population of the 4.32 square kilometer district is 1,474. In the district are the communities of Heiligenkreuz, Alland, and Rauhenstein.
- Weikersdorf: The residential and recreational areas are situated in this northwest part of the town. The population of the 2.5 square kilometer district is 2,002. The districts comprise the communities of Berndorf, Pfaffstätten, and Weikersdorf.
