Forests, dry grasslands and a spring-fed lake give Rechnitz a strong connection to nature; in the town, a castle park, museums and historic sites add to the picture. You can make nature, culture or winegrowing the focus of your stay.
Nature and landscape
On the Austrian side, Rechnitz is part of Geschriebenstein-Írottkő Nature Park. To the north of the town, forests covering more than 2,000 hectares invite you to enjoy a variety of hikes. West of Rechnitz lies the approximately 9-hectare Galgenberg, the largest dry grassland area in southern Burgenland.
Galgenberg is home to numerous endangered animal species and provides a refuge for warmth-loving insects, including butterflies, grasshoppers and praying mantises. This natural area is distinguished not only by its size, but also by its exceptional biodiversity.
Erlebnis.See Rechnitz is about 300 metres long, 100 metres wide and up to 7 metres deep. Springs on the southern slope of the Geschriebenstein feed the lake, whose water quality is excellent. Above the bathing lake lies the medieval ruin of the former Rechnitz Castle, known as Ă–de Schloss. It can be reached on foot.
Trails with different themes
The family-friendly GeschriebenSTEINweg leads to a viewing tower and includes a geological trail. At the entrance, 16 rock types from the Geschriebenstein region are presented; nine large display specimens are positioned along the trail. The geological trail is freely accessible at all times. The route combines a viewpoint with insights into the region’s rocks.
The Rechnitz Wine Trail has a different focus: this approximately 1.5-kilometre circular route starts at the ReichermĂĽhle wine shop. Seven information panels introduce local winegrowing, and the route returns to the wine shop via Tiefen Weg. For choosing a trail based on your interests, the distinction is clear: the GeschriebenSTEINweg focuses on rocks and the viewing tower, while the Wine Trail introduces local winegrowing.
Castle history and remembrance
After a lengthy siege, Öde Schloss had to be surrendered in 1289 during Count Ivan’s Güssing Feud against Duke Albert I of Austria and Styria. The ruin, the footpath and its position above the bathing lake give the site a tangible connection to the history of the former castle.
At the southern edge of town, the Kreuzstadl memorial commemorates all those who died during construction of the SĂĽdostwall in the final phase of the Second World War. It comprises the historic Kreuzstadl building and an information area established in 2012.
Town centre, museums and winegrowing tradition
In the centre of Rechnitz is the former castle park, with old, towering trees, chestnut avenues and a fountain in the middle. The park thus connects the former castle grounds with distinctive features of the town today.
The Shoemaker’s Museum is the only museum of its kind in Austria and looks back on the important history of the Rechnitz bootmakers’ guild up to the Second World War. The Wurlitzer Museum displays jukeboxes, Wurlitzers and other audio equipment from the past 130 years. The collections have different focuses: one on crafts and guild history, the other on music and audio technology.
The Rechnitz wine hills are home to numerous wine cellars and cellar cottages, some of which have been converted into traditional wine taverns. They serve Rechnitz wines as well as Burgenland snacks and hot dishes. Together with the Wine Trail, this landscape of cellars makes winegrowing a distinctive part of the town’s character.
Discover more destinations: Pinkafeld, Kohfidisch, Badersdorf, Oberwart, Oberdorf Im Burgenland, Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Edlitz im Burgenland, OberschĂĽtzen.
Go to the main travel overview: Oberwart.
