Geography Of Laa an der Thaya
The municipal area as of January 1, 2023 comprises six towns with different populations:
- Hanfthal (567 residents)
- Kottingneusiedl (300 residents)
- Laa an der Thaya (4783 residents)
- Ruhhof (2 residents)
- Ungerndorf (129 residents), including Ungerndorfer Hof
- Wulzeshofen (494 residents), including Blaustaudenhof and Geiselbrechthof
The cadastral communities comprising the municipality are Blaustaudnerhof, Geiselbrechthof, Hanfthal, Kottingneusiedl, Laa a der Thaya, Laer Herrengute, Laer Klafter, Pernhofen, Ruhhof, Ungerndorf, and Wulzeshofen.
Location
Laa an der Thaya is a town in the Weinviertel district, located in northeastern Lower Austria. It rises 183 meters above sea level, at 48°43′N 16°23′E, covering an area of 72.91 square kilometers. The town’s land use consists of 75.8% for agriculture and 13.3% covered in forests.
Situated about 20 kilometers south of Znojmo, a historical city in the Czech Republic, and roughly 70 kilometers north of Vienna, the capital of Austria, Laa an der Thaya is positioned near the borders with Slovakia and Hungary.
In Lower Austria, Laa an der Thaya is bordered by Wildendürnbach, Altlichtenwarth, Neudorf bei Staatz, Staatz, Fallbach, Unterstinkenbrunn, and Gnadendorf. It also shares borders with South Moravia’s municipalities including Hevlín, Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou, Chvalovice, and Hnanice.
The town is easily accessible by air, train, and road. The A5 expressway links Vienna to the Czech border, integrating the town into the Austrian motorway system. Laa an der Thaya also has a railway station on the Eastern Railway line, connecting Vienna with Brno and Prague. Furthermore, Vienna International Airport, the closest international airport, is approximately eighty kilometers away.
Terrain and Topography
Mountain Ranges
The surroundings of Laa a der Thaya are flat or gently sloping with a few small hills and valleys. The Walkenhügel at 232m is the highest point of the town; the lowest point is about 160m along the Thaya River. Laa a der Thaya is inside the Thaya Basin, part of the Pannonian Basin in Central Europe.
Valleys and Basins
In the Laa a der Thaya area the main valley is the Thaya Valley which is the Thaya River and its side arms. With an area of over 4.000 km² and an average height of about 200m this is a sub-basin of the Pannonian Basin within the Thaya Basin. Rich soil, moderate climate and varied flora and fauna is the Thaya Basin.
Geological Features
The Pannonian Basin, a big sedimentary basin created during the Miocene epoch, from 23 to 5 million years ago, shapes Laa a der Thaya’s geological characteristics. The extension and subsidence of the Earth’s crust produced a basin that resulted in the construction of many smaller basins including the Thaya Basin. The Pannonian Basin boasts sediments ranging in source from marine, lacustrine, fluvial, aeolian, and other types. Sandstones, clays, marls, and conglomerates define the most often occurring rocks in the basin.
Flora and Fauna
Laa a der Thaya’s mild temperature, soil, and water quality help to produce a varied and rich flora and fauna. Situated in the Pannonian biogeographical area, the town features Eastern European, Mediterranean, and Central European species mixed together. In the town, deciduous forests, grasslands, marshes, and vineyards predominate as the vegetation kinds. While roses, lilies, irises, and orchids are the most often occurring flowers in the town, oaks, beeches, maples, ashes, and poplars are the most common trees there are. Wheat, barley, corn, sunflowers, and grapes predominate among the town’s crops.
Wild as well as household animals abound at Laa a der Thaya. In the town, the most often occurring mammals include deer, hares, foxes, badgers, and hedgehogs. Among the most often occurring birds are sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, magpies, and woodpeckers. The village also boasts several reptiles and amphibians including lizards, snakes, frogs, and salamanders. The town boasts carp, pike, perch, and trout as among the most often occurring fish species.
Bodies of Water
Principal body of water in the area is the Thaya River, a tributary of the Morava and Danube rivers. About 235 kilometers long, the Thaya River boasts a 13,000 square kilometer drainage basin. Rising in the Bohemian-Moravian Highland, the Thaya River defines the borders between Austria and the Czech Republic as it flows. For the area, the Thaya River provides a major supply of water, electricity, and leisure activities.
Scenic Views
Laa a der Thaya’s town offers some amazing views of the surrounding landscape and the Thaya River. Among the best spots to appreciate the views are:
- Rising as the highest point in town, the Walkenhügel offers a panoramic perspective over the Czech Republic, the Thaya River, and the town.
- Originally built in the 13th century, Laa fortification is today a museum and cultural center. One can see the town and the St Vitus Cathedral from the tower of the castle.
- Among the most prominent Romanesque churches still in Lower Austria is St Vitus Church, built in the 13th century. Along with a Baroque altar and a Gothic choir, the cathedral boasts the tomb of Renaissance humanist and pope Pius II.
- One of Austria’s first breweries, Hubertus Bräu opened its doors in 1454 Among the several beers the brewery makes are lager, wheat, bock, and pilsener. Along with a beer garden and café where visitors may sip their beer while appreciating the beauty of the town and the Thaya River, the brewery also has
- Attached to Therme Laa, a thermal bath and wellness center, Thermenhotel Laa has four stars. Massages, treatments, indoor and outdoor pools, saunas—the hotel and spa offer a luxurious and tranquil experience. Furthermore offering views of the town and the Thaya River are the hotel and spa.
- Rising 248 meters, the Laer Berg hill is around 10 kilometers south of town. Popular for hiking, bicycling, and skiing, the Laer Berg boasts various pathways, a ski lift, and a viewing tower. The Laer Berg also offers perspectives of the Leitha Mountains and the Weinviertel region.
