Discover Neunkirchen: Culture, Nature and Cycling Routes

Neunkirchen combines a comprehensible urban history with a variety of options for active days. The Kneipp Trail begins in the city park and has 15 stations; it is considered the first certified Kneipp trail in Lower Austria. There are also historic buildings, a diverse museum, cultural events and landscapes that can be explored on foot or by bicycle. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, the key consideration is therefore which experiences you want to shape your stay.

Nature Experiences Among Trails, Forest and the Schwarza

The Sierningtal-Flatzer Wand Nature Park features a range of different habitats: calcareous pioneer grasslands, moist tall-herb meadows, nutrient-poor lowland hay meadows, vegetation in rock crevices, gorge forests and stands of Austrian black pine are characteristic of its landscape. The nature park has numerous hiking trails and mountain-biking routes; it also offers a via ferrata. Those who want to alternate between hiking, cycling and a sporting challenge when planning their day will find various options here without having to commit to just one activity.

The Schwarzatal Cycling Trail also has clearly defined dimensions: it is 43 kilometres long and has only 150 metres of elevation gain along the route. This may be of interest to travellers planning a longer bike tour with a comparatively small difference in elevation. The Föhrenwald forest near Sankt Egyden am Steinfeld in the Neunkirchen district also has extensive cycling and hiking trails. Gut Guntrams in the Neunkirchen district covers 3.6 hectares with traditional orchards, ancient oak trees and wild plants, providing another distinctive landscape feature.

Families with children who have different activity levels can also take a look at the specific recreational options: Neunkirchen Pumptrack is suitable for mountain bikes, BMX bikes, regular bicycles and children's bikes. This makes it possible to combine an active day on holiday with an excursion into nature or a more relaxed cultural programme.

Urban History and Culture in the Neunkirchen District

Forty-two listed buildings, including the town hall, shape the townscape in the centre of Neunkirchen. The Roman Catholic parish church of the Assumption of Mary was first mentioned in a document in 1094. It was probably fortified in the 16th century and served as a safe refuge for citizens during the Ottoman wars. The Protestant parish church was built in 1862/63 and is one of the oldest purpose-built Protestant church buildings in Austria. On the historic main square, the Main Square Fountain, dating from 1895, commemorates the completion of the First Vienna Mountain Spring Pipeline.

A worthwhile in-depth stop is the Neunkirchen Municipal Museum. Its extensive collections range from archaeology and palaeontology to folklore, crafts and industry. They illustrate the historical development of the district capital and its surroundings. The outdoor area features experimental-archaeology reconstructions, including a Celtic warrior's grave. Those travelling with children or teenagers who want not only to view history but also to learn about archaeological work can plan the individually bookable half-day workshop „Mammoths, Celts, Romans“.

Further historic destinations are located in the Neunkirchen district: the listed Thomasberg castle ruins in the village of Thomasberg date from the 12th century. Strelzhof Palace in Willendorf also dates from the 12th century and has a large landscaped park and ponds. The chapel on the Schwarza was built in the first half of the 19th century, later moved to the right bank of the Schwarza at the Iron Bridge and renovated in 2013.

Music, Open-Air Programmes and Suitable Trip Planning

The cultural programme ranges from the summer stage to concerts and cabaret. The Neunkirchen Summer Stage is located directly on the historic main square, on an open-air stage. Its programme includes traditional music, pop, rock and evergreens. The Neunkirchen Chamber Music Days feature seven concerts every year at various venues in Neunkirchen, including a children's concert. The Neunkirchen Cultural Association organises cabaret and music events throughout the year.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore use your preferred travel rhythm as a guide: a holiday apartment or holiday home suits a plan that combines cultural events, museum visits and historic discoveries with days in nature. Gleißenfeld railway station is also of interest for planning your arrival and daily activities. Trains there stop at Wiener Neustadt main station; regional trains also run to Aspang Markt and Friedberg in Styria.

Further places for orientation: Feistritz Am Wechsel, Grafenbach, Grimmenstein, Enzenreith, Gemeinde Semmering, Gasteil, Gemeinde Raach am Hochgebirge, Greith, Breitenstein, Klamm, Breitenau, Kirchberg Am Wechsel, Bürg, Aspangberg Sankt Peter, Kranichberg, Puchberg Am Schneeberg, Mönichkirchen, Sankt Corona Am Wechsel, Trattenbach, Neuwald, Sankt Egyden Am Steinfeld, Payerbach, Neunkirchen, Prigglitz, Otterthal, Zöbern, Tratten, Warth, Reichenau An Der Rax, Wimpassing Im Schwarzatale, Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Pitten, Gloggnitz, Aspang-Markt and Edlitz.

For the overarching travel overview: Lower Austria.