Discover nature, wine and history in Rechnitz

Rechnitz lies on the Austrian side of the Geschriebenstein-Írottkő Nature Park. If you want to plan your stay around landscapes, wine culture or history, the town offers several starting points: extensive forests begin north of the town, Galgenberg lies to the west, and the centre is home to a former palace park and museums. When choosing a hotel in Rechnitz, the focus you want for your stay can be a useful starting point.

Forest, dry grassland and lake

The forests north of the town cover more than 2,000 hectares and offer numerous varied hiking routes. West of Rechnitz lies Galgenberg, at around 9 hectares the largest dry grassland area in southern Burgenland. The landscapes offer contrasting features: extensive woodland on one side and a smaller, clearly defined natural area on the other. Galgenberg is a habitat for numerous endangered animal species and a refuge for insects that thrive in warm conditions, including butterflies, grasshoppers and praying mantises.

Erlebnis.See Rechnitz is around 300 metres long, 100 metres wide and up to 7 metres deep. It is fed by springs on the southern slope of Geschriebenstein, and its water quality is described as excellent. The lake and dry grassland thus add further distinct landscape features to the extensive woodland.

Hiking and geology on the GeschriebenSTEINweg

The family-friendly GeschriebenSTEINweg leads to a viewing tower and includes a geology trail. At the start of the trail, 16 rock types from the Geschriebenstein region are on display; nine large specimens are positioned along the route. You will therefore encounter the rocks in two different places: first in the display at the entrance, then as large examples along the trail. The geology trail is freely accessible at all times.

Castle ruins, remembrance and museums

Above the bathing lake are the medieval ruins of the former Rechnitz Castle, “Ödes Schloss”, which can be reached via a footpath. Their history dates back to 1289: after a lengthy siege, the castle had to be surrendered during Count Iwan’s Güssing Feud against Duke Albrecht I of Austria and Styria.

At the southern edge of town, the Kreuzstadl memorial commemorates all the victims of the construction of the South-East Wall in the final phase of the Second World War. It consists of the historic Kreuzstadl building and an information area built in 2012. In the centre of Rechnitz is the former palace park, with old giant trees, chestnut avenues and a fountain at its centre.

The museums also explore different aspects of local history. The Bootmaker Museum is the only museum of its kind in Austria and highlights the important history of the Rechnitz bootmakers’ guild up to the Second World War. The Wurlitzer Museum displays jukeboxes, Wurlitzers and other audio equipment from the past 130 years.

Wine culture and wine trail

There are numerous wine cellars and cellar cottages in the Rechnitz wine-growing area. Some have been converted into traditional wine taverns, serving Rechnitz wines along with Burgenland snacks and hot meals. For a themed introduction to local viticulture, take the Rechnitz Wine Trail: the approximately 1.5-kilometre circular route starts at the Reichermühle wine shop and returns there via Tiefen Weg after passing seven information boards. The boards share interesting facts about local viticulture.

Discover more destinations: Pinkafeld, Stadtschlaining, Rumpersdorf, Edlitz in Burgenland, Badersdorf, Großpetersdorf, Hannersdorf, Oberdorf in Burgenland.

For the broader travel overview: Oberwart.