The best walks and hikes around Wieselburg

In one of his addresses in October 2017, Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen stated a “deep longing for peace”. In front of this memorial cross at the camp cemetery, which is not only a testament to past wars, but also a constant reminder – renewed by every generation – to preserve peace, I would like to briefly quote him: »Sometimes a look back helps. People have a deep longing for peace. And this longing in Europe was probably never stronger in the recent past than after the Second World War with its hundreds of millions of dead and the civilizational abyss of “Auschwitz”. Never again war! Peace at last!«

„But perhaps the time is not yet ripe for it (...) so that they do not one day bring each other and their peoples into misfortune. And if they should do so nonetheless, may the dear Lord in his wisdom arrange it so that at least afterwards, when the misfortune has already befallen them all, they find their way to each other and make peace once and for all in this world.“ This is written by Otfried Preußler (born 1923 in Bohemian Reichenberg), who is primarily known as a children's book author, in his work „Die Flucht nach Ägypten. Königlich–Böhmischer Teil“. Although his lines in the context of the narrative are about the German and Czech inhabitants of the Kingdom of Bohemia, this statement by him is actually universally and timelessly valid.

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In the well-stocked delicacy shop on the main square you will find high-quality and sustainable food from regional farmers and small international food manufacturers. If you get hungry, you can satisfy it in the adjoining restaurant. The shop is open every day, you can find more information at https://www.wieselburger-schmankerlladen.at/.

A comprehensive restoration took place in 1994. Since then, the castle has mainly consisted of apartments and business premises. Since 1983, a side wing of the city's Protestant community has served as a religious center. The prehistoric collection of the city museum is housed in another side building. Today the market castle and the castle park are the heart of the city center.

A real insider tip for coffee lovers.

In 1241, the area north of the Erlaufzwiesel came into the possession of the diocese of Passau, and on the left bank of the Erlauf in the course of the 13th century, the settlement of Wieselburg was built around a large square with a manor as the administrative center of the Passau people. By the 15th century at the latest, the castle-like building and its rule passed into secular hands. After frequent changes of ownership, Emperor Franz I acquired the castle in 1823 and had it redesigned in the Josephine style and the castle park built based on French models. After the Habsburgs were expropriated by the Republic of Austria in 1919, the castle remained in federal ownership until it was purchased by the city in 1976 in order to use it for various functions today. It houses the Museum of Prehistory and Early History, a chapel, a few shops and several apartments. Today it forms the core of the city with the castle park.

My highlight is the Reschinsky in Wieselburg, where you can get very good coffee, good pastries, he is famous for his cream rolls, delicious ice cream, friendly service. He also has a coffee house in Scheibbs.