News
Our nature park and the Rudolfswarte tower are open all year round. There is free access with no entry fees.
Walking in the forest is an ideal way to leave behind the stressful everyday life.
The Nature Park is freely accessible all year round...
...but please observe our nature park rules...
Faciclities opened until end of October
The Wienerwaldhaus Museum and the WC at the nature park center are opend until the end of October 2023. The two "dry" porta-potties at the western edge of the Kellerwiese are available throughout.
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Forest Fire Ordinance
Since 13 July 2023, a forest fire ordinance has been in force throughout Lower Austria. Both in forest areas and in the vicinity of forests, it is forbidden to light fires, smoke, barbecue, use pyrotechnic objects or throw away smoldering or fire-causing objects; this also includes glass bottles and broken glass, which can start fires due to their burning glass effect. Violations are punishable by the authorities with fines of up to 7,270 euros or substitute imprisonment of up to four weeks.
Please help us: if you take glass bottles or shards out of the forest and dispose of them in the bottle bank, you will protect the environment and the forest.
Help needed for translation of web pages into English
Our English skills need improvement! Any support for translation of our German texts into proper English and for corrections of existing English pages is very welcome. If you can help, please send us a short mail: info@naturpark-purkersdorf.at
Label design competition for nature park honey 2023
On 20 May, the "World Bee Day", we started our third label design competition for our nature park honey.
Participation exclusively for young artists up to 15 years.
Theme: "Bees climate heroines & nature park ambassadors".
Deadline for submission: September 3, 2023
More information
Drone flights over the wild boar and red deer enclosure
The nature park supports the research project BAMBI of the FH Hagenberg from mid-March until the end of 2023. The aim is to find a method to record and count wild animals through an automated evaluation of drone infrared images in a wide variety of ecosystems. The Purkersdorf Nature Park is particularly well suited for this research project because there are a known number of animals in our enclosures with which the drone data can be calibrated.
Award-winning educational work in the nature park
This year, our project "Learning Space Nature Park Forest is Class" was awarded the "Hans-Czettel-Förderungspreis", which is awarded by the Lower Austria "Friends of Nature and Environmental Protection" for special achievements.
On the occasion of the Day of Biodiversity at the end of may, the students of the nature park School ASO Purkersdorf together with local elementary schools dealt with the topic "Landscapes full of superheroes" at a soil workshop.
With the nature park partner-elementary school Gablitz and the market town of Gablitz, the project of the outdoor class could be extended in June 2023 with the school year 2023/24 for another 4 years.
New deer enclosure
At the end of January our roebuck and the doe have moved to a new enclosure, which is about twice as big. Now they have more retreat possibilities and can better shield from barking dogs. Now we hope for offspring soon.
The enclosure was built with the support of the Lower Austrian Landscape Fund and sponsorship from Rechberger Immobilien GmbH.
Unique: The antlers of our roebuck have grown back asymmetrically this year due to a small injury during the winter, which means that only one antler is fully formed. Next year we expect a normal even antlers again.
The three dwarf goats, which were previously used as "bodyguards" of the deer against martens and foxes, have moved back to the animal enclosure on the Kellerwiese. Here is a report in the daily newspaper "Heute" (in German).
No squeakers in the current season
Unfortunately, for the first time this year, due to the absence of a male wild boar during the roaring season last fall, there are no squeakers in the enclosure. However, in order to secure future squeakers for next spring, the nature park is happy about the addition of a young male and female wild boar thanks to a donation from the Bugl family.
Species of the year 2023
Every year, the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union presents the "Species of the Year". These are animals and plants that are special in their way of life, perhaps threatened and/or particularly important for Austria.
Together with the Purkersdorf City Library, we will feature one of these species every month from January to December. Every month, the library will present information or books about the species. Occasionally, between April and October, we plan several accompanying events in the nature park, which we will announce in time.
Hiking in summer
The forest has its own special charm at any time of the year and in any weather. In summer, when the dense canopy of leaves shields the heat, it is especially good to relax in the forest. Look for yourself a special place in the forest this summer (on hot or rainy days) and let the environment and the atmosphere take effect on you with all your senses. The forest air, which is enriched with terpenes (especially in coniferous trees after a downpour), reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, improves sleep and the ability to concentrate, and helps to lower high blood pressure and sugar levels.
Please note:
- Make sure you are well dressed. An onion jacket compensates for different air temperatures and weather situations.
- Our hiking trails can be slippery in places. Sturdy shoes with sufficient tread ensure good footing on the sometimes slushy-slippery forest floor and prevent injuries.
- Find out about the length & duration of the planned hike as well as the weather conditions. For example, a leisurely walk from the Kellerwiese along the nature trail to the Deutschwald animal enclosures takes about 30 minutes in each direction (for other walks, see also Hiking in the nature park)
Discover the forest with pleasure...
... a suitable recipe can be found in our brochure "Genussvolles aus dem Naturpark", for which we received an Energy Globe award 2020.
Last offer: special edition of Nature Park Honey
Our nature park honey not only sweetens tea or many dishes, but also keeps you healthy. In the Nature Park office you can buy jars (250g and 500g) of the delicious honey from last season with the especially pretty winner label of our 2022 competition.
Clean empty jars without lids can be dropped off at any time at Wiener Straße 12 in front of the door to the Nature Park office.
"How forests make us happy and keep us healthy".
In the daily newspaper "Der Standard" of March 21, 2023, Anna Tratter reports on a scientifically based report by the Global Forest Expert Panel (GFEP) on the topic of forests and health. The research report assesses effects of forests on people's physical, mental, and social well-being.
The results are clear: forests reduce risk factors such as air pollution, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Forests also have a therapeutic effect on mental illnesses such as anxiety, depressive disorders, or ADHD. The lead author of the report Dr Cecil Konijnendijk says: "We know from previous studies that seeing trees and being in the forest is good for our health. We are less stressed and more creative. Problems can be solved better."
Read the full article here
Book tip for kids (in German): How a forest grows
Come with us on a walk through the forest and learn how a small plant can grow into a whole forest! Awarded by the German Academy for Children's and Youth Literature.
From 4 years
Available at naturseiten.at