Bad Pirawarth combines the history of a former spa town with a pilgrimage route and trails through the Weinviertel countryside. This gives your trip a range of possible focuses: you can explore the town’s history or set aside time to walk in the surrounding area.
Spa History and Local Culture
The Dependance is the last remaining building of the old spa house. Guided tours documenting the former spa take place there every 14 days. Its history has been documented as far back as 1303. If you would like to join a tour, check the exact date before your trip.
The parish church is another stop on a tour of the town’s history. It stands on a rise above the town and is dedicated to Saint Barbara and Saint Agatha. Its present appearance dates from the second half of the 18th century. The elevated setting and the spa’s long history offer different points of interest: the church, with its Baroque appearance, and the memory of the former spa operations.
The Bad Pirawarth Stadel Museum displays historic agricultural equipment, household items, old machinery and tractors, as well as objects related to winegrowing. The collection therefore ranges from items from everyday domestic and farming life to exhibits about winegrowing.
Art in the Town
The sculpture park at the Prof. Knesl Open-Air Museum presents the life’s work of sculptor Prof. Hans Knesl, complemented by works by local artist Mag. Walfrid Huber. If you are planning a winter visit, note that the sculptures are wrapped up during this season.
Prof.-Knesl-Platz is in the heart of Bad Pirawarth. As a landscaped meeting place, it combines the spa town’s quiet elegance with the charm of the Weinviertel. The square and the sculpture park each add a different character to the townscape.
The Francis Way and Trails Through the Countryside
Bad Pirawarth lies directly on the Francis Way Weinviertel. The pilgrimage route is around 135 kilometres long and leads through the diverse, cultivated hill country of the Southern Weinviertel. It can be walked in sections of varying lengths, and you can start or finish in any of the region’s 26 participating towns. This means you can plan a section rather than treating the entire route as a single hike.
In Bad Pirawarth, two signposted trails are another way to spend time outdoors. The “tut gut” hiking trail Route 2 starts at the Bad Pirawarth Clinic, passes through the spa park towards the sports ground and crosses the Mitterberg. From there, the view stretches across the entire region. The route continues via Plassel and Köberl to the flood-protection facility on the Harras Bach, then returns to the clinic.
The Weinberg.Walking.Weinviertel trail starts at the bridge over the Harrasser Bach. It follows a marked path and, after one kilometre, runs alongside the railway line on its way back to the clinic. Unlike Route 2, its specific length is given; Route 2 is described mainly in terms of its course and the views it offers. The surrounding landscape includes gentle hills, fields, vineyards and the adjoining Hochleithen Forest.
Planning Your Journey and Stay
Bad Pirawarth is accessible via the road network from the Hochleiten exit on the A5, as well as via the B7 and B220. The town is also connected to the rail network by a rapid-transit feeder service. If you are planning to travel by train, check the current connections in advance.
When choosing a holiday apartment in Bad Pirawarth, you could start by considering what you would like to focus on during your stay: the history of the former spa, art and local culture, or time on one of the described routes. If you want to join a tour of the Dependance, plan around the 14-day schedule; the Francis Way offers sections of varying lengths.
Discover more destinations: Mannsdorf An Der Donau, Groß-Enzersdorf, Hauskirchen, Groß-Schweinbarth, Ebenthal, Dürnkrut, Angern An Der March, Ringelsdorf-Niederabsdorf.
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