Winegrowing, cellar lanes and several layers of history give Alberndorf Im Pulkautal a distinct character. The municipality lies in the heart of the Pulkautal valley in the northern Weinviertel region. When choosing a destination, you can consider whether you are especially interested in wine culture and local history or would like to plan a cycling route in the region.
Wine Country and a Long History
Alberndorf is a wine-growing municipality. Its wine culture is also evident in the cellar lane: vaulted cellars and sand cellars line the press houses, some of which still contain filled wine barrels. The cellars are therefore not only part of winegrowing, but also distinctive architectural features of the village.
The area’s history extends far beyond its winegrowing tradition. Among the oldest evidence of human culture in Alberndorf is a hunter station from the Upper Paleolithic, dating back about 28,000 years. Ice Age finds include the bones of mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses. The landscape also bears traces of a much older geological history: finds from the range of hills south of Alberndorf point to the shoreline of a Tertiary sea that existed here 70 million years ago.
In connection with a grant of a fief to Adeloloth, who called himself Adelberndorfer, an estate named Adalberno-Villa in Alberndorf was mentioned in 1100. In 1974, the Council of Europe named Alberndorf the first European Village. These historical references span everything from early traces of settlement to an award from the 20th century.
Church, Monuments and Border History
The parish church of St. Laurentius also preserves a history of its own. Its original furnishings came from the deconsecrated pilgrimage church of St. Peter am Stein near Grund. The original altarpiece, “Laurentius with the Gridiron,” was restored in 1978 and returned to the high altar.
In the Federal Monuments Authority’s register dated June 23, 2026, the Pietà Maria Dreieichen and the statue of St. John of Nepomuk are listed as protected monuments under the relevant ordinance. The statue stands at Kellergasse 22. There is also a tabernacle pillar at the entrance to Kellertrift, which is protected as a monument.
The Heidberg lookout tower offers a different historical perspective. It is a remnant of the time when the free world ended at the nearby Austrian-Czech border. From the lookout, views extend across the area’s vineyards; on a clear day, they reach as far as the Danube and the Czech Republic.
Cellar Lane, Cycling and Activities
The Rain cellar, about 100 years old, has been restored and opened to visitors, cyclists and hikers. At the cellar, visitors can enjoy refreshing drinks while taking in the cellar lane typical of the Pulkautal valley. Seasonal opening details may change, so check in advance whether a visit fits your travel dates.
For a longer cycling trip, the Polt cycle route makes a good addition to your plans: this easy, 51.56-kilometre circular route runs through the Pulkautal valley and passes filming locations from the Polt film series. The Pulkautal Wine Experience Tour also passes through Alberndorf. This gives you two different tour options: a circular route with a stated distance and a wine experience tour whose route passes through the village. Conditions on the Polt cycle route may change, so check them before setting off.
For recreation in the village, a fenced beach volleyball court was built for adults, teenagers and children; the court is suitable for tournaments. There is an outdoor shower and a drinking-water tap next to the court. The adjoining youth center in the old milk house also has a toilet and additional showers. Check locally whether these facilities are accessible during your visit.
Discover more destinations: Retz, Oberthern, Gumping, Pernersdorf, Ebersbrunn, Rohrendorf An Der Pulkau, Wullersdorf, Limberg.
Go to the overview of destinations: Hollabrunn.
