The Hamersky family from the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria are a rarity – they are the only breeders of Texas Longhorn cattle in the country. “We are a young, down-to-earth, innovative family with our …
Continue readingCategory: Lower Austria
Lower Austria
Find out more about Lower Austria, from the last peaks of the Alps in the south of the state and the forests of the Waldviertel in the north through to the towns and abbeys along the banks of the Danube river and the fertile plains and vineyards towards the Austrian border.
The Danube region and its famous sights splits Lower Austria in two.
To the north is the Waldviertel, a mixture of vineyards, forests and lakes leading up to the border with the Czech Republic.
As the river descends out of the eastern Alps into the Vienna basin the vineyards become more prominent as this is now the Weinviertel (the ‘wine quarter’ of the region).
Heading back west to the south of the river is the Mostviertel, named for the alcoholic drink, a type of cider, produced from the apples and pears which grow in the orchards around this region.
The famous abbeys of Melk and Göttweig and the state capital St Pölten are part of this region.
Further east and still south of the Danube is the Industrieviertel. As its name suggests this was once the industrial heartland south of Vienna.
Although that does not sound too attractive for a visit, this area also includes the Vienna Woods (the renowned ‘Wienerwald’) as well as the Vienna Alps, which offer a small ski resort or two for the inhabitants of the capital city.
The list below shows all of the published articles on AustriaDirect about Lower Austria. Readers may also be interested in our longer guides to various regions and locations:
Sankt Pölten | Wachau Valley | Mostviertel
Springtime in the Wachau
Last updated on April 21st, 2022 at 10:26 pmA spring hike through the blossoms of the Wachau valley in Lower Austria almost makes you want to pick up a paintbrush yourself. The Wachau valley is …
Continue readingThree Lakes in the Waldviertel
Last updated on October 16th, 2020 at 07:52 amThe three artificial lakes in the Kamp valley of Lower Austria are popular destinations for day trips in the warmer seasons of the year. Stand-up paddlers, fishermen …
Continue readingThe Mariazell Scenic Railway
Last updated on September 27th, 2020 at 08:14 amThe Mariazellerbahn mountain railway, opened in 1907, connects the Lower Austrian capital St. Pölten with the Styrian town of Mariazell. For the first few kilometres, the narrow-gauge …
Continue readingZwettl Abbey
Zwettl Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the banks of the Kamp river in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria. The abbey is in a relatively isolated location around three kilometres to the northeast of …
Continue readingSchloss Rosenburg
The castle above the village of Rosenburg is a Renaissance jewel built on the remains of a medieval fortress in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria. The original fortifications above the Kamp river date back …
Continue readingGöttweig Abbey
Last updated on April 22nd, 2022 at 09:33 amGöttweig Abbey may not be as well known as Melk Abbey, its fellow religious institution at the other end of the Wachau, but this Benedictine monastery near …
Continue readingSt. Pölten – Capital of Lower Austria
Last updated on April 27th, 2022 at 07:26 pmAnswers to some of the questions visitors may have when travelling to the state capital of Lower Austria… Who? Who founded St. Pölten? A settlement on the …
Continue readingThe Thaya Valley National Park
Last updated on April 21st, 2022 at 10:32 pmThe Thaya Valley National Park is the smallest of Austria’s six national parks, with an area of only 13 square kilometres. It is located in the north …
Continue readingThree Peaceful Lakes in Lower Austria
Last updated on October 14th, 2020 at 07:54 pmThe peaceful landscape around three quiet reservoirs in the Waldviertel region of Lower Austria is impressive. The artificial lakes are situated between Zwettl monastery and the town …
Continue reading