Maria Enzersdorf: Castle, Culture and Kalenderberg

Maria Enzersdorf lies in the southeastern Vienna Woods, right on the outskirts of Vienna. For exploring the area, there are several options to choose from: Liechtenstein Castle and the trails on Kalenderberg, Baroque buildings and museums, as well as places with a history of pilgrimage and burials.

Liechtenstein Castle and Kalenderberg

Liechtenstein Castle is now considered one of the most significant castle structures of the Historicist period. It is the ancestral seat of the House of Liechtenstein and is closely connected with its nearly nine-hundred-year history. Tours of the rooms have been offered since 1812; today, the castle is open to visitors almost all year round. To get to the castle, it is best to take bus route 262 from Mödling towards Gießhübl and get off at the Maria Enzersdorf Siedlungsstraße stop. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Kalenderberg, usually simply called “Liechtenstein,” is part of the extensive Föhrenberge Nature Park. Maria Enzersdorf is also one of the nature park communities that include some of its land. Numerous circular and hiking trails on Kalenderberg, with resting places, lead to viewpoints and sights. These include Liechtenstein Castle and Palace, artificial ruins, the amphitheatre, Pfefferbüchsel and the Black Tower.

Two walking routes showcase different surroundings: Route 1 is a relaxed circular walk through the forest and past Liechtenstein Castle. Route 2 is a short tour through Maria Enzersdorf’s industrial area. On Kalenderberg, the amphitheatre is an artificial ruin in the Föhrenwald forest, built in 1810 by Prince Johann I of Liechtenstein as a lookout point. Please note: The access to the amphitheatre has been bricked up for safety reasons. Pfefferbüchsel consists of the remaining walls of the Chapel of St. John, also known as the Pilgrims’ Chapel, which the prince had built in the Föhrenwald forest on Kalenderberg in 1818.

Palaces, Art and Museums

Hunyadi Palace is a late Baroque, three-winged palace complex. Remarkable stucco work and paintings define the building, which is framed by a park with mature trees. Today, the palace serves as an event venue for concerts and theatre performances. The small palace on the meadow offers a different architectural accent: both inside and out, it features elements of the Baroque and early Austrian Rococo styles. In the Marble Hall, a ceiling fresco by Johann Georg Schmidt (1694–1765), known as the “Vienna Schmidt,” depicts the “Triumph of Art and Trade.” Alongside his signature, the fresco bears the year 1730.

The Maria Enzersdorf Fire Brigade Museum displays historic equipment and documents, alarm systems, and memorabilia from the volunteer fire brigade’s operations. Exhibits include the founding record with team photographs and a fire brigade bicycle. The collection also includes two rare vehicles: a 1948 Dodge Canada and a 1967 Opel Blitz. The Missionary Ethnographic Museum at the St. Gabriel Mission House illustrates cultural characteristics and the order’s missionary work through numerous valuable exhibits. Check the current opening arrangements before visiting.

Since autumn 2020, the Poetry Park in Rathauspark has displayed poems from different eras, from the Middle Ages to the present day. The park is considered unique in the German-speaking world. For activities beyond the cultural attractions, there is also the Maria Enzersdorf recreation area. Open to the public for play, sports and relaxation since 1988, it includes, among other facilities, a beach volleyball court, two football pitches and a pump track.

Pilgrimage Sites and Cemetery History

The Franciscan monastery in Maria Enzersdorf is the first stop on the Via Sacra pilgrimage route from Vienna to Mariazell. Pilgrimages to “Mary, Health of the Sick” have been made since 1730; the interior of the parish church features Rococo characteristics. The Romantic Cemetery also tells a story of religious and literary history. The graves of numerous members of the Viennese Romantic circle around Clemens Maria Hofbauer (1751–1820), the Redemptorist priest who was later canonised, soon gave the cemetery significance beyond the region. Josef Penkler, then owner of the Liechtenstein estate, had the cemetery chapel built in 1785. The burial place of the Franciscans has been located on its east side since 1870.

Getting There by Public Transport

Maria Enzersdorf Südstadt station is on the Wiener Lokalbahn line, commonly known as the Badner Bahn. Trains stop there for services towards Vienna Opera and towards Wiener Neudorf and Baden. Timetables may change; check your connection before departure. For a visit to the castle, bus route 262, getting off at Siedlungsstraße, is another useful option.

Discover more destinations: Gaaden, Brunn Am Gebirge, Breitenfurt, Hinterbrühl, Gruberau, Perchtoldsdorf, Vösendorf

Return to the main travel overview: Mödling.