Envision yourself transported back to 1561. Emperor Ferdinand I has just created the Lainzer Tiergarten. This wasn’t just any park. It was his family’s private hunting ground.
The Lainzer Tiergarten you see today started as a fenced-in area. Ferdinand I wanted a place for royal hunts. The name “Tiergarten” means “animal garden”. It originally meant an enclosure with wild animals for hunting. Think fallow deer and pheasants.
In 1781, a stone wall replaced the old wooden fence. Most of that wall still surrounds the Lainzer Tiergarten. It stretches for about 22 kilometers.
After the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell, the Tiergarten became a public nature preserve. There was a brief closure from 1940 to 1955. Until 1973, visitors had to pay to enter. Now, it is free for everyone.
Part of the Lainzer Tiergarten was lost after World War I. The Friedenstadt neighborhood was built on its eastern side. You can still see the old wall in the Hördlwald woods.
Even highway construction in the 1960s took a corner of the preserve. The Lainzer Tiergarten gained a portion of the Laaber Wald. This compensated for the loss.
Today, the Lainzer Tiergarten is home to many animals. There are 800 to 1,000 wild boars. You might spot 200 to 250 fallow deer. About 700 European mouflons also live here. Red deer number around 80 to 100.
Seven gates allow access. The Lainzer Tor is the main gate. It is open year-round. It houses a visitor center.
The Lainzer Tor marks the start of a 2.2 km walk to the Hermesvilla. You can even take a horse carriage. Public restrooms and a water fountain are near the gate.
Other gates include the Gütenbachtor, Laaber Tor, and Pulverstampftor. The Nikolaitor is near the Hütteldorf railway station. The Sankt Veiter Tor is also an option.
Inside the Lainzer Tiergarten, you will find restaurants. There are scenic viewpoints. The Hohenauer Teich is a lake within the grounds. The Hermesvilla houses a museum.
Emperor Franz Joseph I commissioned the Hermesvilla. It was completed in 1886. It served as a getaway mansion for his wife, Elisabeth. Today, it is a museum with a restaurant and café.
Other dining options include the Hirschgstemm and Rohrhaus restaurants. They are located deeper inside the preserve.
The Hubertuswarte is an observation tower. It was built in 1927. It stands on the Kaltbründel Berg. This is the highest point in the preserve at 508 meters. You can enjoy a 360-degree view from the top.
The Wiener Blick offers another viewpoint. It is closer to the city side. It sits at 434 meters.
The Lainzer Tiergarten is not just a park. It is a journey through Viennese history and nature. It offers something for everyone. From wild boars to imperial villas it is a unique experience.