Purkersdorf: Nature Park, Trails and City History

Purkersdorf offers visitors a range of things to explore: the nature park brings together geology, animal enclosures and a sensory trail; the castle and city museum turn the spotlight on historical topics. There are also hiking options and a high ropes course.

Nature Park, Geology and Wildlife

The main entrance to Purkersdorf Nature Park at Kellerwiese is a few minutes from Purkersdorf-Zentrum station, served by the REX50/S50 trains, and right next to the Purkersdorf-Kellerwiese bus stop. The nature park has a large animal enclosure with sheep and donkeys, as well as three enclosures for wild animals. The “Blind Date” themed trail engages the senses with nature in every season.

The Wienerwaldhaus in Purkersdorf Nature Park is Austria’s first self-service showcase museum. It offers a glimpse into the living quarters of Wienerwald farmers and their way of life and work 100 years ago. The former Dambach sandstone quarry on the northeastern edge of Purkersdorf reveals another aspect of the landscape: the visible rock exposures show the Wienerwald Flysch Zone.

The Rudolfshöhe lookout tower is a timber-frame structure with a covered platform 26 metres above the ground. It stands within the municipality of Purkersdorf. The covered platform offers views of the surrounding area.

Hiking Trails and Activities

The first section of the Austrian Way of St. James west of Vienna begins at the gate of St. James’ Church and runs from Purkersdorf to Göttweig. The “Tut gut!” hiking trail in Purkersdorf begins at the Hochramalpe recreational inn. Since 2022, it has comprised three routes totalling 29.3 kilometres. The start and end points of the Way of St. James section provide a reference for planning your own hike; for the “Tut gut!” hiking trail, the number of routes and total distance are specified.

Another way to get active is at Purkersdorf High Ropes Course. It offers challenging obstacles, zip lines, and rope and bridge structures. The seven courses have different difficulty levels and are between 2 and 14 metres high. Since 2022, there have also been two trails exclusively for young children and three courses exclusively for zip lines. The activities mentioned therefore differ in their design: marked hiking trails alongside climbing and zip-line courses.

Castle and City History

Purkersdorf Castle dates back to the early Babenberg period and was originally built as a moated castle with sturdy walls. At the castle entrance, a post bus from the second half of the 19th century is on display in a showcase garage. It operated on the Vienna–Purkersdorf–Sieghartskirchen route, had 14 seats in three fare classes, and is considered the only surviving vehicle of its type in Europe.

Since 1986, the Purkersdorf City Museum has been housed on the ground floor of Purkersdorf Castle. It documents the city’s history and development. The museum is not open continuously; enquiries about visiting should be made by email, and visits are possible by appointment. So plan your museum visit in advance by making an enquiry and arranging an appointment.

The former Josef Hoffmann Sanatorium is a unique Art Nouveau building. The farmers’ and weekly market run by the Municipality of Purkersdorf takes place in Purkersdorf’s main square. These places complement the hiking and nature attractions with architectural history, city history and a market in the town centre.

Getting Around

As of September 2026, Purkersdorf Sanatorium station is one of the municipality’s four railway stations and the last stop before Vienna in the Lower Austrian Wienerwald region. This may change.

Discover more destinations: Klosterneuburg, Pressbaum, Tullnerbach-Lawies, Gerasdorf Bei Wien, Maria Lanzendorf, Fischamend Dorf, Untertullnerbach, Himberg

See the regional travel overview: Vienna Area.