Maria Enzersdorf lies in the southeastern Vienna Woods, just outside Vienna. Liechtenstein Castle, trails on Kalenderberg and a rich cultural heritage offer different perspectives on the town. The nature park, architecture, museums and religious history can each be explored as distinct themes.
Liechtenstein Castle and Kalenderberg
Liechtenstein Castle is now considered one of the most significant castle buildings of the Historicist period. It is the ancestral seat of the House of Liechtenstein and is closely linked to its nearly 900-year history. Tours of the rooms have been offered since 1812; today, the castle can be visited almost all year round and is open to all curious visitors.
Kalenderberg, usually simply called “Liechtenstein,” is part of the extensive Föhrenberge Nature Park. Numerous circular and hiking trails, with rest areas, lead to viewpoints and sights. These include Liechtenstein Castle and Palace, artificial ruins, the amphitheatre, Pfefferbüchsel and the Black Tower. The entrance to the amphitheatre has been walled off for safety reasons.
The amphitheatre is an artificial ruin in the pine forest on Kalenderberg. Prince Johann I of Liechtenstein had it built in 1810 as a lookout point. Pfefferbüchsel consists of the remains of the walls of the so-called Chapel of St. John, or Pilgrims’ Chapel, which the same prince had built in the pine forest on Kalenderberg in 1818. The two structures offer different historical points of interest along a walk.
Palaces, Art and Architecture
Hunyadi Palace is a late Baroque, three-winged palace complex with notable stucco work and paintings. A park with mature trees surrounds the building. Today, Hunyadi Palace serves as a venue for concerts and theatrical performances. If you plan to attend a performance, check the dates in advance.
The small palace on the meadow features Baroque and early Austrian Rococo elements both inside and out. A special detail can be found in the Marble Hall: the ceiling fresco is by Johann Georg Schmidt (1694–1765), known as the “Viennese Schmidt.” It depicts the “Triumph of Art and Commerce”; the year 1730 appears beside the signature. The architecture and fresco offer two different ways of experiencing the building: through the design of its rooms and through a clearly identified pictorial subject.
Museums, Poetry and Local History
At the Missionary Ethnographic Museum in St. Gabriel Mission House, numerous valuable exhibits illustrate the distinctive features of various cultures and the order’s missionary work. Check current opening hours before visiting.
The Maria Enzersdorf Fire Brigade Museum displays historic equipment and documents, alarm systems, and mementos and keepsakes from the operations of the Maria Enzersdorf Volunteer Fire Brigade. The collection includes the founding minutes with crew photos, a fire brigade bicycle and two rare vehicles: a 1948 Dodge Canada and a 1967 Opel Blitz. Alongside the equipment, documents and keepsakes from the history of the local fire brigade are also in focus.
Since autumn 2020, the town hall park has been home to the Poetry Park. It presents poems from various periods, from the Middle Ages to the present day; the Poetry Park is considered unique in the German-speaking world. The Romantic Cemetery has a different historical focus: because it contains the graves of numerous members of the Viennese Romantic circle around Clemens Maria Hofbauer (1751–1820), who was later canonised, it soon gained significance beyond the region. Josef Penkler, the owner of the Liechtenstein estate at the time, had the cemetery chapel built in 1785. The burial place of the Franciscans has been located on the east side of the chapel since 1870.
Walks, Nature and Activity
For a shorter outing, there are two different options: Route 1 of the “Tut Gut!” Maria Enzersdorf Steps Trail is a relaxing loop through the forest and past Liechtenstein Castle. Route 2 is a short tour through the industrial area of Maria Enzersdorf. The routes described therefore differ above all in their surroundings: forest and castle on one route, the industrial area on the other.
The leisure area in Maria Enzersdorf offers another focus. It has been available to the public for sports, play and recreation since 1988. Its facilities include a beach volleyball court, two football pitches and a pump track. For visitors interested in religion and history, the Franciscan monastery in Maria Enzersdorf, the first stop on the Via Sacra from Vienna to Mariazell, and the pilgrimage to “Mary, Health of the Sick,” which has existed since 1730, are also important points of interest. The interior of the Maria Enzersdorf parish church features Rococo elements.
Plan Your Journey
The recommended bus route to Liechtenstein Castle is bus 262 from Mödling towards Gießhübl. Get off at the Maria Enzersdorf Siedlungsstraße stop. Maria Enzersdorf Südstadt station is on the Wiener Lokalbahn, commonly known as the Badner Bahn. Trains there run towards Vienna Opera, as well as Wiener Neudorf and Baden. As travel information can change, check the current timetable before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Münchendorf, Grub, Gumpoldskirchen, Sittendorf Bei Wien, Achau, Gruberau, Mödling, Gaaden
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