Kottingbrunn can be explored through several cultural and historical themes: the moated castle, the castle park and traces of a former horse-racing track. You can choose different areas of focus—from architectural and local history to garden design and the site’s historic uses. The castle museum’s collections and the park offer different perspectives.

The Moated Castle and Museum: History in Several Layers

The castle museum is housed in the grand rooms on the first floor of the moated castle. The oldest known structural remains of the moated castle date from the first half of the 13th century. This early date provides a historical context for the castle without limiting the museum’s other themes to the building itself.

The collections cover the history of the castle, the horse-racing track, the Wiener Neustädter Canal and the airfield, as well as Kottingbrunn’s economic development. They also include Roman finds and collections on prehistory, fossils and minerals. This brings local history, archaeological finds and natural history together. The breadth of the collection helps place Kottingbrunn in context not only through its castle, but also through developments and finds from a range of fields.

The castle chapel is also part of the history of the castle complex. It was built as early as the 1660s and was partly furnished to a high standard by the Lamberg family. Alongside the oldest known structural remains, it represents another historical period that adds to the picture of the castle’s development.

The Castle Park: Garden Design and Horse-Racing History

The castle park is home to plane trees that are over 200 years old. The grounds also reflect the Renaissance, Baroque and romantic landscape garden styles. These three influences make the park a cultural and historical subject in its own right: in addition to individual trees, different periods of garden design shape how the grounds are understood. In 1985, the castle park was declared a natural monument—another aspect of its importance that goes beyond its design.

The history of the horse-racing track is also present in the park. Ruins of the flat and steeplechase courses remain there; the track operated from 1896 to 1914. The ruins link the park to a clearly defined period of historic use. Those interested in the site’s former uses will find another perspective alongside the castle and garden design.

A Regional Aviation Theme

The Austrian-Aviation-Museum (AAM) is based in a hangar on the grounds of Bad Vöslau airfield. Exhibits include motor aircraft, gliders and an autogyro. The museum adds a distinct aviation perspective to the region’s cultural and historical themes. To help choose your focus: the castle museum brings together local history, archaeological finds and natural history; the castle park combines garden design with traces of the racecourse. The AAM adds a range of aircraft types to these options.

Discover More Destinations

Alland, Sooß, Tattendorf, Blumau, Bad Vöslau, Baden, Schönau An Der Triesting, Neuhaus.

For the main travel overview: Baden.