Oberpullendorf: Culture, Castles and Cycling Routes

Oberpullendorf and Central Burgenland offer various opportunities to include culture, crafts and outdoor activities in your travel plans. Historic buildings, museums and cycling routes provide different points of focus. Which destinations you combine depends on whether you are more interested in history, music, wine or exercise.

Plan trips and dates

The Sonnenland Draisinentour covers 23 kilometres under pedal power along a railway line through the landscapes of Central Burgenland. On even-numbered days, the rail bikes run from Horitschon or Neckenmarkt to Oberpullendorf; on odd-numbered days, they travel in the opposite direction. Public transport or a paid shuttle are options for the return journey. As operating arrangements may change, check the direction of travel and return options in advance.

Oberpullendorf’s Genussmarkt can also be planned around its season: it takes place almost every week from April to October, though individual dates may vary. Plan your visit around the market days you want to attend. This lets you include a market visit as a separate item on your itinerary, rather than assuming fixed dates throughout the entire period.

Castles, museums and music

The Roman Catholic Church of St Francis is the oldest building in the town of Oberpullendorf. In Stoob, the Pottery Museum is devoted to a centuries-old craft tradition that is still practised there today. During group tours, Stoob master potters demonstrate how ceramic goods are made; the items are also available to buy. This combines an insight into the craft with the opportunity to see finished pieces.

The MUBA offers a different way to explore regional history. Exhibits include historic tools and equipment, pictures and video clips, mock masonry and a replica industrial chimney. The exhibition brings together different kinds of material, rather than focusing on individual objects alone.

In Raiding, the birthplace of Franz Liszt, the Liszt Museum and Liszt Centre presents a three-part permanent exhibition about his life, his music and his ideas. The concert hall beside his birthplace also hosts the Liszt Festival Raiding. Its programme includes piano and orchestral concerts, song and choir evenings, as well as cross-border performances featuring premieres and improvisations on Liszt’s work. The exhibition and concert programme thus offer different perspectives on the composer.

KUGA Großwarasdorf was founded in 1982 by young activists from the Burgenland Croatian ethnic group to preserve their language and culture. Its programme ranges from concerts, readings and theatre to cabaret and dance, as well as exhibitions, workshops and courses. Those interested in Burgenland Croatian culture can find a variety of events and topics here.

The Landsee Castle ruins are another historic attraction and are among the largest castle ruins in Central Europe. Lockenhaus Castle was built around 1200 as a stronghold to defend against attacks from the east. Visitors can explore medieval architecture and take tours about the Knights Templar, Elisabeth Báthory and the large colony of greater mouse-eared bats. The castle also features a castle-themed puzzle rally and the exhibition “From Squire to Knight”.

Landscape, cycling routes and activities

Landseer Berge Nature Park covers approximately 6,500 hectares and is a protected landscape area. Its varied cultural landscape includes hiking, cycling and riding trails. The routes cater to different ways of getting active, while the area and protected status also give an idea of the nature park’s size and character.

In Central Burgenland, the Roman Amber Road passes through Oberpullendorf District and connects the Roman towns of Savaria, now Szombathely, and Scarbantia, now Sopron. The route is developed as the B47 cycle trail between Strebersdorf and Deutschkreutz. Information boards along the way describe Roman trade, the military, architecture and everyday culture. This means you can also explore different aspects of Roman history while cycling.

In Lockenhaus, the Bee Educational Trail follows a circular route around the castle lake, with stops about the lives of bees and an observation hive. Public showers, toilets and bicycle-washing stations are available by the lake. The Skillpark Burgsee Lockenhaus has a blue, a red and a black line, as well as an uphill trail for bike handling, jumps and balance exercises.

The Sonnenland high ropes course includes a low ropes area, a motor skills course, high ropes courses and a two-level flying fox, with different difficulty levels. Tailored programmes for birthdays, school classes, company outings and stag or hen parties can be booked. If you are planning a group visit, this is a separate activity you can arrange in advance.

Wine and crafts

You can book guided tours of the Blaufränkisch Trail with a local winemaker; wine tasting is included. Check current booking options when planning the tour as part of your trip. In Steinberg, tours of the Koó family’s blue-dye workshop can be arranged with the family. Contact them in advance to coordinate your visit. This lets you plan both experiences, each of which offers a different perspective on the region’s craft and culinary culture.

The Weaving Museum documents the traditional basket weaving of Piringsdorf and is located in the showrooms of Böhm-Korbwaren. It complements the insights into pottery and blue-dyeing with another traditional craft. Along with the museums, castles, music and trails, these attractions let you tailor your trip to your interests and choose a hotel in Oberpullendorf as your search destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Ritzing, Deutschkreutz, Lutzmannsburg, Frankenau-Unterpullendorf, Kroatisch Minihof, Stoob, Strebersdorf, Raiding, Oberloisdorf, Neckenmarkt, Mannersdorf An Der Rabnitz, Nikitsch, Rattersdorf, Markt Sankt Martin, Karl, Großmutschen, Steinberg, Nebersdorf, Oberpullendorf, Draßmarkt, Horitschon, Haschendorf, Lackenbach, Neutal, Weppersdorf.

See the overarching travel overview: Burgenland.