How about a hill climb, anyone? The Exelberg is more than just a hill. It’s a place where the past races into the present.
The Exelberg stands at 516 meters near Vienna’s city limits. It lies in the northern Wienerwald, part of Klosterneuburg. A country road winds over the Exelberg connecting Tulbing and the Wiener Höhenstraße.
Once, the Exelberg echoed with the roar of engines. The Exelbergrennen was Austria-Hungary’s oldest motorcar race. It started on May 21, 1899. Imagine those early automobiles battling for supremacy. The races continued as car races until 1904. A motorcycle race took place once more in 1910.
Today, the road is still a popular route but for motorcyclists. They come to experience the thrill of the curves. The spirit of racing lives on at the Exelberg.
A prominent feature on the Exelberg is the telecommunication tower. It stretches 109 meters into the sky. This tower serves directional radio services.
The Exelberg is also the source of several streams. The Eckbach flows as a tributary of the Als. The Halterbach becomes a tributary of the Wien river.
Hikers and bikers can explore trails around the Exelberg. The Scheiblingstein-Trail is a mountain bike tour through beech forests. It runs from the Exelberg to Steinriegl. It takes about 30 minutes. The Wilhelminenberg-Strecke is another mountain bike tour. It starts at the Sportzentrum Marswiese and crosses the Exelberg. Allow around 90 minutes for this route.
However, there’s another side to the Exelberg. A shooting range exists here. The Wiener Polizei uses this open-air range for practice. Nearby residents have protested the noise from this facility. The sounds of gunfire sometimes disrupt the peace.
So, the Exelberg offers a mix of experiences. There are scenic routes, historical echoes, and modern infrastructure. It is a place of recreation and work. It is a natural escape close to the city. Next time you are near Vienna, remember the Exelberg. It is a hill with stories to tell.