Standing on the south slope of the Wienerberg, Hennersdorf is more than just a quaint village. Its history echoes with the whispers of centuries, its name a testament to the resilience of its people.
Hennersdorf was founded around 1050, though it wasn’t until 1114 that its name was officially recorded as “Honinesdorf”. Through the centuries, its name morphed from “Honesdorf” to “Honigsdorf,” finally settling on Hennersdorf in 1528, a name derived from the male first name Hono or Honí.
The village was a patchwork of small estates until the late 15th century, when Hans Rechwein, a man whose gravestone now sits in Vienna’s Stephansdom, took ownership of its land. This historical artifact serves as a tangible reminder of the history of Hennersdorf.
In the 16th century, a pivotal moment arrived for Hennersdorf. In 1535, the Leopoldsdorf castle owner, Marx Beck, acquired 31 out of 32 houses in Hennersdorf, further solidifying his control over the village. The year 1530 saw the creation of the Hennersdorf Banntaiding, a legal document outlining the rights and obligations of the village’s lord and its residents.
Hennersdorf endured turbulent times. The village was devastated during the Turkish invasions of 1529 and 1683, barely making it out alive. In 1809, Napoleon’s soldiers looted Hennersdorf, another brutal chapter in its past. Despite these hardships, the village thrived. By the second half of the 19th century, the population soared from just 248 in 1850 to 1,406 in 1890, largely due to the establishment of several brickworks in 1862.
The arrival of the Pottendorfer Railway in 1874 connected Hennersdorf to the wider world, making it easier to transport goods and people, bringing Hennersdorf into the modern era. While Hennersdorf was incorporated into Vienna during the years 1938 to 1954, it became an independent municipality again on September 1 1954.
Today, Hennersdorf is a thriving village. It showcases its rich past and vibrant present through its impressive Pfarrkirche zum heiligen Andreas, a testament to the spirit of Hennersdorf, a place where history, resilience and life continue to intertwine.