Laxenburg Castle is worth a visit at any time of the year
Any visitor to Vienna who has a little more time for more than merely the classic sightseeing tour should definitely take some time to explore the area surrounding Vienna. The area to the south of the capital, for example, offers great opportunities for a day trip. Laxenburg Castle, with its expansive gardens and park, is located here. At any time of the year, you only have to travel a little beyond Vienna’s city border in order to spend a wonderful day here. Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth, better known as Sissi, already knew this in 1854, when they spent their honeymoon at Laxenburg Castle.
The Gardens of Laxenburg Castle
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It is easy to spend time here – regardless of the season. Laxenburg Castle’s park is truly huge. The well-maintained gardens are the perfect setting for long walks. In autumn and winter, you can explore the park on foot. Everywhere you will discover something well worth seeing, be it the buildings or simply the wonderful landscape with its woods, meadows and waters
. In spring and summer, the generous green areas offer the perfect place for picnics or to while away some hours.
The Laxenburg Castles
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In general, one speaks of the “Laxenburg Castle”. However, in truth, one has to refer to castles, in the plural, because the old castle, the “blaue Hof” (literally, the blue court – also referred to as the new castle) as well as the Franzensburg (referred to as “the little treasure house of Austria”) are also situated in the castle gardens. The Franzensburg, the highlight of the park, is located almost exactly at the heart of the castle gardens and there is something fairy-tale like about it.
The castle is surrounded by a 25-hectare large palace pond and it can be reached on foot by an almost hidden path. However, we recommend that you take the ferry to get to Franzensburg, which, by the way, is named after the Habsburger Emperor, Franz II. This ferry offers a comfortable trip between the mainland and the castle island. The Franzensburg is also home to a restaurant that provides a wonderful chance for refreshment on the island. In summer, you can also hire boots and explore the pond from the water.
Highlights in the Castle Park
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The Castle Park in Laxenburg covers approximately 250 hectares and offers sufficient space for a wide range of activities. In addition to the castles, the large pond and the Franzensburg mentioned above, there are also numerous buildings and sightseeing attractions directly on the well signposted (walking) paths. It is worth mentioning – and visiting – the Grüne Lusthaus, the Concordia Temple, the tournament field, the Gothic bridges, the Haus der Laune, the stone grotto, the waterfall with its two sphinx busts, the knights’ tomb as well as the knights’ column, the court cold store, the immense bust of Emperor Franz I and the almost 200-year-old dovecote.
Travelling from Vienna to Laxenburg Castle
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Laxenburg Castle is located in Lower Austria, one of Austria’s nine provinces, which borders Vienna. It is approximately 25km from the centre of Vienna to Laxenburg. If you would like to travel by car, parking will not be a problem due to the 1,000 free parking spaces, which are available for visitors. But you can also easily reach Laxenburg by public transport. A bus will take you directly from Vienna’s Hauptbahnof (the main train station) to the castle. Another option would be to cycle to Laxenburg on the so-called “Spa Cycle Path” (EuroVelo9), which will lead you directly to Laxenburg,
Laxenburg Palace
Address: Schlossplatz 1, 2361 Laxenburg
Website: https://www.schloss-laxenburg.at
TripAdvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.at/Schlosspark_Laxenburg
If you are interested in discovering more about imperial Vienna, a trip to Laxenburg is a must. Here the spirit of the Habsburgers and the monarchy – from Empress Maria Theresia to Sisi and the last Austrian Emperor, Karl I – lives on.