Perchtoldsdorf: Keep Tower, Wine and Culture

Perchtoldsdorf can be explored through four specific interests: medieval defensive architecture, events at the castle, wine tradition and hiking. When choosing a hotel, you can first decide which of these themes you want to shape your stay. The cultural life brings together enduring architectural history and recurring events.

Keep Tower and Castle

The 60-meter-high, free-standing keep tower is Perchtoldsdorf’s landmark and a masterpiece of late medieval fortress architecture; it was built between 1450 and 1521. Perchtoldsdorf Castle belonged to a chain of fortifications built in the 11th century along the eastern edge of the Vienna Woods. The tower’s construction period and the establishment of the fortifications refer to different historical contexts.

Culture in the Castle Courtyard

Since its heritage-sensitive restoration between 1964 and 1967, the castle has been used for concerts, theater performances, exhibitions, fairs, conferences and celebrations. The Perchtoldsdorf Summer Festival is an annual theater festival that has taken place in the castle courtyard every July since 1976. This means a broad range of events is complemented by a theater event scheduled during a specific season. If you are planning to attend a particular play or event, check the current cultural calendar.

Museums and Visits

The local history museum is located in the keep tower’s tower keeper’s chamber; the floor above houses the Perchtoldsdorf Archaeological Museum. Visits to the keep tower are available as part of a local or museum tour by appointment with the InfoCenter; arrange your visit at least three days in advance. The climb from St. Nicholas Chapel to the gallery comprises 148 steps. Plan your tour well in advance and take the climb into account when planning your visit.

Wine and Recurring Events

Perchtoldsdorf’s Heurigen taverns serve estate-grown wine, complemented by generous buffets. A green pine bough serves as a sign indicating that wine is being served. Guided vineyard walks are offered every year in late October and early November; check the current cultural calendar for the exact dates. This makes it easy to distinguish a visit to a Heuriger from a walk scheduled for a specific time: the former focuses on wine and a buffet, while the latter offers a guided experience in the vineyard.

Another annual event is the Hiataeinzug, the harvest festival of the Perchtoldsdorf winegrowers’ year. It takes place every year on the first Sunday after the feast of Saint Leonard, November 6. A 2022 article by the museum management reported that hundreds of people had gathered for the event in the market square that year. Since the exact date changes every year, check it before your trip.

Hiking Trail and Getting There

The Wr. Wallfahrerweg begins at the parish church in Perchtoldsdorf and follows the Pfarrer-Karl-Seemann-Promenade into Föhrenberge Nature Park, ending at Parapluieberg. The starting point, promenade and destination are clearly named to help you find your way along the route. Those who choose hiking as their main focus will find it offers a different experience from the castle’s cultural program.

Perchtoldsdorf railway station is a useful landmark for getting there. It is unstaffed and has covered seating, ticket machines and a park-and-ride facility for more than 60 cars and more than 50 bicycles. It is served by the S2, S3 and S4 suburban railway lines; there is also a bus stop with several bus routes nearby. This means you can take train and bus connections into account, as well as parking for cars and bicycles.

Discover more destinations: Hennersdorf Near Vienna, Brunn Am Gebirge, Grub, Sittendorf Near Vienna, Wiener Neudorf, Gruberau, Achau, Breitenfurt.

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