Laa an der Thaya
Laa a der Thaya is a town in the northern Weinviertel area of Lower Austria, next to the Thaya river, which defines the boundary with South Moravia in the Czech Republic. With a population of around 6,200 the town spans an area of 72.91 km^2. Comprising the Weinviertel-Nordost regional cooperation, it is the headquarters of the Mistelbach District.
Laa a der Thaya was a key site near the boundary between the Austrian and Bohemian territories, so it has a long and interesting past. The town first was mentioned in 1186, when it was known as “Laha,” which means “ford,” or “crossing”. About 1230, the Babenberg dukes of Austria established the town building a wall and a fortress to guard against Bohemian invasions. In the 13th century Duke Leopold VI of Austria and King Ottokar II of Bohemia bestowed upon the town market rights and municipal privileges. As the Romanesque parish church of St Vitus was constructed about 1240, the town also developed as a significant ecclesiastical center. With a spectacular fresco cycle from the 14th century and among the biggest and best-preserved Romanesque monuments in Lower Austria, the church is one of
During the Middle Ages, the town was often attacked and devastated, particularly by the Bohemian and Moravian soldiers who destroyed and looted it multiple times. Additionally influencing the town were the Thirty Years’ War, the Hussite Wars, and the Turkish invasions. Since the residents were allowed to make beer in 1454, the town’s economy revolved around farming, winery, and brewing. Particularly with Moravia, the town also enjoyed a thriving commerce with its neighbors.
When the town linked itself to the railway system in 1869, its fortunes transformed in the 19th century. The town’s close proximity to the Czech border made it a crucial stop for trade and travel. Given the discovery of thermal springs in 1907, the town also established its health and spa business. Opening in 1912, the first spa hotel in the area drew plenty of guests from Vienna and beyond. Modern thermal spa resort, Therme Laa – Hotel & Silent Spa, which provides a range of treatments, pools, saunas, and leisure spaces, now the town has a state-of- the-modern thermal spa resort, the Therme Laa – Hotel & Silent Spa, which modernized and enlarged in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Various museums, monuments, and celebrations highlight the rich cultural and historical legacy of the town. Rebuilding and renovating many times, the town’s castle contains the town museum with exhibitions on local history, art, and handicaps. Historic buildings including the town hall, ancient pharmacy, and former hospital circle the Rathausplatz, the main square of the town. Along with cathedrals, sculptures, and fountains honoring significant events and local figures from the past, the town boasts Later becoming Pope Pius II, Enea Silvio Piccolomini is the most well-known son of the town. Legend has it that he was a priest at the Laa parish church in 1442, prior to rising as a humanist, diplomat, and author. With a monument, a street name, and an annual Piccolomini Festspiele—a dramatic and musical celebration—the town celebrates his legacy.
Currency
Country
Area code
Population
Area
Official language
Elevation
Time zone
Geography Of Laa an der Thaya
Upper Weinviertel center Laa a der Thaya lies in Lower Austria’s northern Weinviertel area. Forests cover just 2.87 percent of the 72.89 km² municipality. After being regulated in the 19th century, the Thaya River no longer flows through the city, creating Thayamühlbach.
Hanfthal, Kottingneusiedl, Laa a der Thaya, Ruhhof, Ungerndorf, and Wulzeshofen are the municipality’s six settlements with fluctuating populations. The municipality has many cadastral communities.
Laa a der Thaya lies at 48°43′N 16°23′E, 183 meters above sea level. The municipality covers 72.91 square kilometers, with 13.3% wooded and 75.8% agricultural. In northeastern Lower Austria, the Weinviertel district is known for its wine production and undulating hills. The municipality lies 70 km north of Vienna and 20 km south of old Znojmo, Czech Republic. It is also near Hungary and Slovakia.
The community borders many South Moravian and Lower Austrian municipalities. Vienna International Airport, an Eastern Railway station, and road, rail, and air access are nearby. Additionally, it is connected to Austrian motorways.
Weather & Climate In Laa an der Thaya
Laa a der Thaya’s weather is impacted by its elevation of 184.07 meters (603.9 feet) and location in the Thaya river valley. The village is protected from east and north winds by hills and trees. The Atlantic Ocean and eastern continental climate make Laa a der Thaya’s weather unpredictable.
In Laa a der Thaya, spring brings weather change and rebirth. Temperatures rise to 5°C (41°F) in March and 15°C (59°F) in May. Spring has the most rain in Laa a der Thaya, averaging 140 mm (5.5 inches). Warm and lovely or gloomy and damp.
The warmest and sunniest season in Laa a der Thaya is July. The weather is normally calm and dry, however showers and heat waves occur sometimes. Summer days here average 18°C (64°F) in June and 21°C (70°F) in August. Summer, the second wettest season, averages 132 mm (5.2 inches) of rain.
Laa a der Thaya looks different in autumn. Cooler season brings vibrant colors and abundant harvests after a scorching summer. Average temperatures are 16°C (61°F) in September and 6°C (43°F) in November. Fall is the third wettest season, averaging 114 mm (4.5 inches).
Winter at Laa a der Thaya is chilly and gloomy. Weather is mostly cloudy and wet with occasional snow and frost. February might be 0°C (32°F) and December 1°C (34°F). Winter is the driest season in Laa a der Thaya, which averages 98 mm (3.9 inches) of rain.
Demographics Of Laa an der Thaya
In January 2021, Laa a der Thaya had 6,246 residents.The population peaked in 1939 at 7,993 and has been dropping since. It stabilized lately.Austrians made up 94.1% of the population in 2018, while 0.8% were emigrants from pre-2004 EU member states and 2.7% from new EU members.1.5% were from Turkey or the former Yugoslavia (excluding Slovenia and Croatia), 0.9% were from other nations.In 2001, 89% were Roman Catholic, 2.5% Lutheran, 1.8% Muslim, and 5.3% non-denominational.Four Hungarians lived in the city, while Germans (96.1%), Czechs, and Croats (1% each) dominated.
Like Lower Austria, Laa a der Thaya has fewer newborns and adolescents and more elders. The 2011 census showed Laa a der Thaya’s age distribution:
- Children and adolescents (0-19 years): 18.9% (Lower Austria: 20.4%)
- Adults (20-64 years): 60.3% (Lower Austria: 60.2%)
- Seniors (65 years and over): 20.8% (Lower Austria: 19.4%)
Laa a der Thaya had a median age of 43.5 years, somewhat higher than the Lower Austrian average of 42.4.
Economy Of Laa an der Thaya
Laa a der Thaya is in Lower Austria. Located in Mistelbach. About 70 kilometers north of Vienna, near the Czech Republic. About 6,300 people live in the 29.63 km2 city. Laa a der Thaya, noted for its old brewery, citric acid industry, and thermal resort, offers several business opportunities.
The city has 2,708 workers in 2001, a 45.13% employment rate. 146 agriculture and forestry enterprises existed in 1999, whereas 294 non-agricultural jobs existed in 2001. Laa produces no wine despite being in Weinviertel.
Laa’s main industries include commerce, industry, services, and agriculture. Its importance comes from the fact that over half of its businesses are in agriculture and forestry. Cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, and oilseeds are grown alongside pigs and cattle.
Laa is home to several manufacturing and industrial companies, including Hans Brantner, Western Europe’s largest agricultural dump truck manufacturer. Department shops, medium-sized companies, and artisan firms are in the city. Jungbunzlauer Austria AG, the world’s largest citric acid manufacturer, situated near Pernhofen.
History Of Laa an der Thaya
Laa, a settlement, whispers stories of a legendary past among the rich embrace of the Thayan lowlands. Rising as a sentinel, a protective barrier guarding a vital artery—the channel connecting the great Danube to the heart of Bohemia—it developed as Laa’s baptism by fire in the 13th century, caught in a sequence of major military engagements, attests to its strategic relevance.
Renowned in the annals of history, Ottokar II Přemysl started Laa on an era of supremacy. The community prospered as it became more well-known; its fortunes were closely entwined with the rule of this strong king. Still, the beginning of the Habsburg age had a long-lasting effect. During the 15th century Laa’s population was declining, its energy was sapping, and its economy was flat. Desperate to recover, the town was given a sought-after privilege: the right to sell its frothy beer, its food, outside of its own limits.
Laa carried the permanent mark of the Thirty Years’ War, a bloody inferno that tore over Europe. The presence of repeated waves of Bohemian and Swedish occupants, which caused a great wound, was linked with the economic difficulty and sad loss of historical documents. Like a phoenix rising from the rubble, Laa’s population gradually rebounded and by the late 17th century it was once more pre-war. Still, it was reduced to a mere footnote in the great story of Austria’s energetic cities.
Visionary leadership of Simon Scheiner marked the onset of the 19th-century winds of change in Laa. A flood of energizing projects defined the beginning of a transforming period. Once quiet markets were awakened and their vibrancy restored. The untamed waters of the Thaya River were channeled and its erratic character was muted. The sinews of the infrastructure snaking over the terrain helped Laa to connect with the earth. From sanctuaries of study to bastions of finance to bastions of health, the rich soil of development produced buildings necessary for the thriving of a civilization. Arriving in 1869, the iron snake Laa Eastern Railway came with a foreshadowing of a more linked future—a screech.
Laa had fresh difficulties as the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell apart and World War I unfolded. But the town showed remarkable adaptability, with a spirit as strong as its historic defenses. Another sad chapter in human history, World War II unleashed a fresh wave of devastation. Having suffered the most from aircraft bombardment, the conflagration above left Laa’s buildings scarred. Laa saw the ebb and flow of occupying troops as the tide of battle finally shifted, the Red Army arriving to pursue the German retreat. A chapel honoring the grandfather of Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska, who perished in a fighting at Laa, reminds us of this turbulent era.
Laa’s story is evidence of a site’s continuing personality. From its function as a strategic bastion to its times of hardship and rebirth, Laa’s past offers a fascinating view on the evolution of a town located in the heart of Central Europe.
Best Time To Visit Laa an der Thaya
Laa a der Thaya presents an amazing show of seasonal nature’s pirouettes. The soft tendrils of spring softly unfold to draw life from the winter’s sleep. Fragrant blossoms explode in a rainbow as the sun’s soft touch hugs the air. Although the odd storm might mar this picture-perfect sight, you can be sure that your trip will be fun with average temperatures between 6 and 18 degrees Celsius. Use this quiet respite from the tourist traffic to truly enjoy the laid-back appeal of the town.
A summer’s enticing tune invites with its burning sun. Popular tourist resort Laa a der Thaya attracts people with its pleasant temperature and interesting activities. Often exceeding 30°C, the mercury waves provide a nice and sunny surroundings. Laa a der Thaya has a drawback, though: during this wonderful season it turns into a crowded, quite spicy hotspot. Early booking of your hotel and highly sought-after event tickets will help you avoid missing anything. Must-haves in this summer are sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat; without these, the heat will be intolerable.
Fall arrives as summer fades, painting everything in an arresting tapestry of reds, ochre, and burnished golds. Though evenings can bring a cool breeze, the air is still somewhat mild—temps range from 9 to 18°C. People celebrate the harvest during this time of year by savoring a real cornucopia of locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as the seductive possibility of a new vintage. You might appreciate the town at your own pace and at less cost after the throngs of visitors go.
Laa a der Thaya welcomes the arrival of winter with a rejuvenation. As darkness sets, the days get shorter and the temperature decreases to between one and four degrees Celsius on average. The erratic weather brings chilly gusts and flurries. Still, there is one appealing feature. The town is lit festively, and the Christmas market is a swarm of happy activity. Perfect for escaping the chilly winter, the Therme Laa spa offers the revitalizing thermal pools and saunas. The off-season offers smart travellers hidden discoveries and tempting deals when the prime tourist season closes.
Seasons are useless since Laa a der Thaya unveils its own tapestry.
How To Get To Laa an der Thaya
Vienna, Austria’s busiest city and the country’s capital and largest city, is located approximately 78 miles from Laa a der Thaya. From Vienna to Laa a der Thaya you can drive, take the train or take a taxi. Using the train is undoubtedly the most efficient, affordable and simple means of mobility. The direct train from Wien Mitte Station to Laa/Thaya Station takes around one hour and twenty minutes with hourly departures and prices ranging from €14 to €19. Although not the most cost-effective or environmentally friendly option, taxis can offer some flexibility and, in some situations, even be faster. The taxi ride takes over an hour and costs between €55 and €70. Driving is another option; it would take about an hour and cost between €13 and €20 (not including tolls and gas). Two other alternatives include a beautiful drive via the A5 and B6 motorways or the Weinviertel region.
Laa a der Thaya is almost 350 km from another Austrian city, Salzburg. Driving approximately 3.5 hours from Salzburg to Laa a der Thaya is the quickest and most flexible option. Although this is the most expensive option given the expected €55-85 in gas, tolls and parking fees. Using the E55 or E60 motorways will get you there quickest; they will pass through Linz, Amstetten, St. Pölten and Vienna. The Danube and the Bohemian Forest offer another, more beautiful, toll-free, longer and steeper path.
Taking the train from Salzburg to Laa a der Thaya is a pleasant and ecological alternative; However, this journey is slower and requires at least one change of trains. Depending on the price, tickets cost between €45 and €218. The journey takes approximately 4.5 hours. The high-speed train is the fastest way to get from Salzburg Hbf to Wien Westbahnhof. From there you can take a regional train to Laa/Thaya at Wien Handelskai. Another option is to change trains at Wien Meidling or Wien Praterstern.
Attractions & Landmarks In Laa an der Thaya
Nestled in Lower Austria near the Czech Republic, Laa a der Thaya is a medieval town. Its spa treatment, wine scene and rich heritage are well known. The city has several sites and monuments highlighting its appeal and its past.
Burg Laa, or Laa Castle, is one of the most famous sites in Laa a der Thaya. Built in the 13th century, this medieval fortification was designed more as a defensive castle than a residential one. It was privately owned until 2007, when the municipality purchased it; Over the years, several aristocratic families owned it. Considered the emblem of the ancient city, the castle houses Austria’s first beer museum.
The city also has the remains of its historic ramparts, which ensured its defense against attackers. These ruins illustrate the city’s violent past as well as its resilience.
Among the various Catholic parish churches found in Laa a der Thaya is St. Veit, one of the largest late Romanesque places of worship in the area. Featuring exceptional architecture, stained glass windows and frescoes, this church is dedicated to Saint Vitus. Another notable establishment is Maria Schutz, a pilgrimage and devotional church located in the hamlet of Kottingneusiedl. Dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the Wulzeshofen Church is a rural establishment reflecting the religious and creative customs of the region.
In addition to the Catholic churches, Laa a der Thaya has the Evangelical Christ Church, a Protestant church that reflects the variety and tolerance of the town.
Food & Drinks In Laa an der Thaya
Chef Josef Bsteh of the family-run restaurant and guesthouse Gasthaus mit Gästehaus Bsteh presents regional cuisine with a contemporary twist using fresh, seasonal foods from neighboring farmers and suppliers. In addition to a wine cellar, garden and playground, the restaurant offers cuisine such as steak tartare, roast lamb and apple strudel.
Combining traditional and foreign inspirations, Genusswirtschaft is a fine dining restaurant that offers a distinctive dining experience. It features dishes like chocolate raspberry cake, venison with cranberries and foie gras with figs. The restaurant also has a terrace, a store and a wine bar.
Specializing in local wines from the Weinviertel region, the Weindomizil Hagn wine hotel and restaurant offers information on their origin and production as well as tasting several wines by the glass or bottle. Offering cooking classes, wine tastings and events, Martin Weiler is a restaurant and inn showcasing award-winning regional cuisine with a modern twist.
Serving real Italian pizzas with thin, crispy crusts, Pizzeria Mercato also offers salads, spaghetti, desserts, Gasthaus Herbst features moderate prices and large quantities of robust Austrian cuisine. The Caritas Kräuter-Café, which employs people with disabilities, is a social business café offering fair trade products. Pizzeria Venezia serves excellent Italian pizzas, salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts at reasonable prices.
Things To Do In Laa an der Thaya
Among the city’s attractions is the Kutschenmuseum, a private museum featuring an astonishing collection of more than 130 well-preserved carriages and sleighs dating back to the 18th century. Here you can explore the history and manufacturing of these automobiles and perhaps arrange a tour personally guided by the owner.
A visit to the Laer Burg is absolutely essential for anyone who loves history. With its stunning architecture and stunning views from the tower, this 13th-century medieval castle offers a window into the past. In addition, the castle park offers several shows and activities throughout the year, offering a unique cultural encounter.
Take a slow stroll around the Rathaus und Stadtplatz, the town hall and the main square of Laa a der Thaya. Here you can admire the fountain, the old houses and the statue of Saint Catherine, patroness of the city. To really experience the local scene, the area also has plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Beer drinkers shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see Hubertus Bräu, a brewery that has been in operation since 1454. You can taste several kinds of local beer, learn about brewing technique and enjoy the friendly pub environment of this conventional business.
Climb the Reckturm, a 16th-century watchtower rising 35 meters high, for breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings. From the top you can appreciate the historical value of this monument, admire the panoramic perspective, admire the antique clock and bells located inside the tower.
Accommodations & Hotels In Laa an der Thaya
The 4-star Therme Laa – Hotel & Silent Spa offers direct access to the Laa thermal spa. Here you can enjoy several swimming pools, saunas and treatments. The hotel also has a garden, fitness center, restaurant and bar. The rooms are contemporary, spacious, air-conditioned, minibar, flat screen TV equipped.
frelich. Digitaler self check-in is a neat and fashionable hotel offering digital self check-in system for your convenience. In addition to free private parking, the hotel has a restaurant, a bar and a patio. The apartments are designed with touches of wood, bright and comfortable. They also have a smart TV, coffee maker and free Wi-Fi.
Scheinerhaus is a group of apartment hotels housed in a historic building from the 16th century. Located in the heart of Laa a der Thaya, it offers free bikes, free Wi-Fi and a sun terrace. The apartments feature original wooden beams, are attractive and spacious. They have private bathrooms, dining rooms and fully equipped kitchens.
A minute’s walk from the Laa thermal spa is the Appartementhaus Thermaneck. Additionally, within walking distance of the train station and city center, they are modern, tidy, well-equipped with kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms and balconies. The apartments are also accessible with free Wi-Fi and free private parking.
A ten-minute walk from Laa Thermal Spa and the town center is Pension Laa Natura, a bed and breakfast. Located next to a large garden with a playground and barbecue area, it offers free Wi-Fi, free private parking and free bicycle rental. The rooms are small, rustic and decorated with natural materials. They also include a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.
Laa an der Thaya Info Card
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Lower Austria, Austria, near the Czech border |
| Elevation | 183 m (600 ft) |
| Population | 6,280 (as of 2018) |
| Tourism office | Hauptplatz 19, 2136 Laa an der Thaya |
| Postal code | 2136 |
| Phone prefix | 02522 |
| Area | 72.91 km2 (28.15 sq mi) |
| Established | 1230 (as a town) |
| Language | German |
| License plate | MI (for Mistelbach District) |
| Districts & Neighborhoods | Hanfthal, Kottingneusiedl, Pernhofen, Ungerndorf, Wulzeshofen |
| Weather & Climate | Continental climate with cold winters and warm summers |
| Best Time To Visit | May to September for outdoor activities and spa treatments |
| Attractions & Landmarks | St Vitus Church, Laa Castle, Therme Laa Hotel & Silent Spa, Military Cemetery |
