Ever felt the tug of a forgotten river? Right here in Vienna’s Donaustadt district lies the Schillerwasser a hidden gem whispering tales of the Danube’s past.
The Schillerwasser isn’t just any body of water. It’s a 1400-meter-long former arm of the mighty Danube. Imagine the river’s relentless flow before the 1870s when Vienna’s ambitious Danube regulation project reshaped the landscape. The Schillerwasser became isolated a relic of the old river’s course.
This wasn’t always a quiet backwater. During the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 a defensive line of 30 fortifications stood guard near its eastern end. Werk 30 the final bastion of this line once stood here. The construction of the Biberhaufenweg a road now separating the Schillerwasser from the Alte Naufahrt further altered the landscape.
For a time the Schillerwasser even separated into two parts. The western section known as the Große Schilloch became disconnected due to silting. Only extensive dredging in the latter half of the 20th century reunited the waterbodies. Even then the Schillerwasser needed help. In the 1980s a project diverted water from the Neue Donau to boost the water levels and raise the groundwater.
Today the Schillerwasser is a designated natural bathing spot in Vienna. Though its steep banks and reed-choked shores attract more anglers than swimmers. Water quality monitoring ended in 2016 because of its low usage. Still in 2015 it boasted excellent water quality with a visibility of 1.2 meters.
And the name Schillerwasser? It comes from the zander a fish also called Schill abundant in these waters. The name’s evolution from Schillwasser to Schillerwasser remains a mystery. This tranquil stretch of water a testament to nature’s resilience and Vienna’s ever-changing riverbanks is a wonderful reminder of the Danube’s enduring legacy. Enjoy the serenity of the Schillerwasser a piece of Vienna’s hidden history.