Within 24 hours, Vienna and its surrounding was covered in 50cm of white powder. A true paradise for snow lovers and a pain in the butt for everyone else. For me, this only meant one thing: it was time for some hardcore cross-country-skiing!

So I packed my gear and was on my wait out to the Vienna Woods, where you’ll find lots of cross-country skiing slopes. Through to the temperature change the area was totally in fog and the ice crystals on the vegetation brought a real surreal look. It was almost a spooky atmosphere while skiing through the Vienna Woods because such weather phenomenon only occurs very seldom; the whole forest was covered with ice crystals. Everything was frozen, but still very fragile. The right temperature produced ice crystals on all the vegetation and it really looked like a winter wonderland…

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Cross-Country-Skiing in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Ice Crystals in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Me shooting among Giants in the Vienna Woods, Austria.

Castle lovers, prepare yourself!

It took us a little longer than expected to get to Leobendorf but due to our anticipation, we didn’t mind. We came from the West and therefore already saw the castle in the distance. Seemingly lifted from the pages of a Germanic fairy tale, Burg Kreuzenstein, bristling with storybook turrets and towers, might have even made Gustav Klimt drop his sketch book. It so looked like a castle out of a Disney movie.

After arriving at the parking lot, I was so exited to see the castle closer since it already made such an impression from far away. And I wasn’t disappointed: This gigantic medieval castle looked absolutely stunning! I’ve never seen anything like it before (in real life).

From far away, Burg Kreuzenstein looks a bit like Disneyland.

Burg Kreuzenstein from the outside – also a bit like from a Disney movie.

You have to know, I’m usually not one of these people, who goes on guided tours but this time was different. The outside looked so amazing that I just had to see the inside. So Ines and I bought a ticket for a guided tour – and that was a very wise decision! The castles inside is just as impressive as the outer parts. The entire building is so well restored and therefore it was easy to imagine how living there must have been. BUT, the interesting part about Burg Kreuzenstein is that it’s actually just a “show castle”. It was never built the way it looks today…

It almost felt like Ned Stark could ride by any minute…

Occupying the site of a previously destroyed fort, the enormous structure was built by Count Wilczek in the 19th century. Burg Kreuzenstein was constructed out of sections of medieval structures purchased by the family Wilczek from all over Europe to form an authentic-looking castle. Count Wilczek wanted a place to house his collection of late-Gothic art objects and armour … and Burg Kreuznstein was just the place for this.

Burg Kreuzenstein is one of the best renovated castles in Europe.

Inside the castle, the medieval thrills continue with rooms full of armaments, a festival and banquet hall, a library, a stained-glass chapel, vassal kitchens with a 3.000 year old wooden table and a room devoted to hunting trophies including a “Narwalzahn” (if you’ve ever wanted to see a “unicorn horn,” here’s your chance). By the way, Count Wilczek was not only obsessed with building Burg Kreuzenstein … Count Wilczek was the main sponsor of the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition from 1872 to 1874. Wilczek Land and Wilczek Island, two islands in Franz Josef Land, were named after this Austrian Count. He has accomplished to much that it almost seems like he lived the life of three men…

The inside of Burg Kreuzenstein is just as beautiful as the outside.

Lots of fine details make Burg Kreuzenstein so special.

The chapel is the most magnificent building of Kreuzenstein castle and also a gem of sacral medieval craftsmanship, exemplifying the great collector’s passion and the art-historical expertise of the castle’s rebuilder.

Even though knights never lived here, it’s interesting simply imagining it…

Trees are also grow inside of Burg Kreuzenstein.

So what else can I say? Other than that the trip to Burg Kreuzenstein left quite an impression, not that much. What I really enjoyed was the fact that I actually learned quite a lot on the tour. Like for example heaps of typical German expressions and their origin. Interesting stuff, I tell you!
Oh and I almost forgot one important fact: The castle is sometimes used as a location for films, most notably “Season of the Witch” with Nicolas Cage in 2011.

Contact Information

• Address: Leobendorf bei Korneuburg, A-2100 Leobendorf
• Entry Cost: 10 €
• Opening Hours: April – October / daily from 10am – 4pm
• Website: www.kreuzenstein.com

Here are a couple of impressions:

When spring in Austria arrives, the sheep and cows are put onto the fields.

In the countryside of Austria, fences are still built the old-school way, by wood.

The Austrian landscape around Vienna is flat with thousands of fields.

Fresh lush landscapes cover the Austrian land durign spring.

Clear lines show the fields around Vienna.

The colours of the leaves in the Vienna woods change again in the spring time.

The observatory in Buchberg is a great spot to see the surrounding landscape from above.

The Falkensteinerhütte is about 25 minutes (driving) West of Vienna. Built in 1920, it is one of the oldest buildings in the “Schöpfl” area. Until this day, not that much has changed (except the obvious); it’s still furnished in a rustic way and the kitchen offers good (typical Austrian) comfort food. The heating consists of a wood-fired oven & there’s no internet connection. It’s a spot of which (nowadays) not many people know of and therefore not overrun (which is a good thing for us but bad for business). Back in the old days it was a well visited place but this changed in the last two decades. The owner told us that 20 years ago visitors from all over Austria & Germany came to the “Schöpfl” area to harvest mushrooms, or that families came in flocks to enjoy a nice day-trip. I guess today kids (and their parents) rather sit in front of the computer or TV than to take a nice str0ll outside…

So how come we knew about this secret getaway? Well, the Falkensteinerhütte used to be our weekend spot. From the ages of 7-10 we (& heaps of family friends) were there almost every month or so. Until one cold fall day (must have been in 1999 or 2000) when we arrived there and stood in front of closed doors. It really hit us hard that the Falkensteinerhütte had to lock its doors for good…

Since only June of this year, the Falkensteinerhütte re-opened and of course we had to check it out! It was almost like a trip back in time when we walked those 20 minutes through the forest. I could see myself & my friends fooling around while our parents were happy that we were occupied ;)

So if you’re looking for nature, tranquillity and an idea for your next weekend trip, the Falkensteinerhütte is the right spot for you!

Falkensteinerhütte Facts.

• Sea level: 642m
• Address: Schlottleiten 299, A-3033 Altlengbach
• How to get there: (There are a couple of ways but this one’s the fastest) Highway A21 “Wiener Außenring Autobahn” until the exit “Klausen-Leopoldsdorf”. From there the signs will lead you to “Gasthof Burda”. Park your car there and start walking. After 20-30 minutes you’ll arrive at the Falkensteinerhütte.
• Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and holidays
• Other infos: Accommodation (mattresses) for 22 people – call in advance if you’re planning an overnight stay.

The drive up to the point where you start walking to the Falkensteiner Hütte is already worth a visit.

To get to the Falkensteiner Hütte you have to walk through the Viennese woods.

On your way to the Falkeinsteiner Hütte you’ll also pass a wonderful clearing.

And if you’re not in a rush to get to the Falkensteiner Hütte, there’s always time to fool around a bit.

Wonderful huge trees will guide you towards the Falkeinsteiner Hütte.

Just before you reach the Falkensteiner Hütte, you’ll pass by this beautiful new wall.

And after a approx. 20 minute walk, the Falkensteiner Hütte emerges.

Walking through the Viennese woods is really relaxing.

On the way back home, we decided to skip the highway and took the scenic tour.

• Lainzer Tiergarten & Hermesvilla: The Lainzer Tiergarten used to be a hunting ground for the Habsburger. Today it’s a famous and well visited place for delightful excursions. What’s really lovely about this place is that your trip can either be topped with a yummy lunch/coffee at the café or a visit to the museum in the Hermesvilla (or both of course). Emperor Franz Josef I gave this chalet to his wife Empress Elisabeth (better known as “Sisi”) because she was a huge nature fan and wanted a place for her own. Not bad huh?
• A walk in the Viennese Woods: I’m also a big nature fan and since I’m lucky (to also have a huge chalet … haha) to live near the Viennese Woods, a walk through this colorful setting is one of my favourite autumn activities.

With free entrance and up to 500.000 visitors each year, the Lainzer Tiergarten is a famous excursion destination for runners, walkers and families.

If you’re lucky, boars or deers will pass you way while walking through the Lainzer Tiergarten. Today it’s home to about 900 wild boars, 220 fallow deer, approx. 700 mouflons, and 90 red deer.

I usually start my walk at the Lainzer Tor to the Hermesvilla. From here, you can continue up to the Hubertuswarte and Hirschgstemm, and from there to Pulverstampftor. The walk is about 10 km in long (2 – 2.5 hours) and a bit hilly.

The Lainzer Tiergarten was first created by Emperor Ferdinand I in 1561, when the area was fenced off by a wooden fence, to allow for a private hunting ground.

In 1781, the wooden fence was replaced by a stone wall. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the hunting grounds became a public nature preserve, and have remained so ever since, with the exception of the time period of 1940 to 1955, when the entire grounds were closed.

Amanita muscaria, commonly known as the fly agaric is a highly poisonous mushroom found all over the Vienna woods.

Walking through the Vienna woods will give you heaps of amazing photo opportunities.

Autumn at the Lainzer Tiergarten in Vienna, Austria.

We live in a little village just outside of western Vienna and are very lucky to have the Viennese woods right in front of our doorstep.

The farmers around Vienna are preparing the fields for winter…

…while the cows enjoy the last sun-rays.

As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is how the trees “know” to begin getting ready for winter. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. And this is why leaves change their colour.