Once an island. The Schwarze Lackenau stands before you, no longer defined by water but by history. This area was once an island formed by a side arm of the Danube. This side arm was known as the Schwarze Lacke.
Imagine the Schwarze Lacke. It was a semi-circular body of water. During floods, it transformed into a raging side arm of the Danube. It often caused floods in Jedlesee.
The Danube regulation changed everything. The Schwarze Lacke was separated from the main stream. After World War II, the area was filled with rubble from bombed-out Viennese houses. Industrial waste and oil byproducts were also used as fill until the 1970s. This infill caused the Schwarze Lackenau to lose its island character.
Today, the Marchfeldkanal borders the Schwarze Lackenau to the north since 1992. The Jedleseer Aupark marks the southwestern end of this green space near the Danube. It is a remnant of the Danube’s once extensive wetlands.
The Katastralgemeinde Schwarze Lackenau covers 518.62 hectares. Parts of it, 85.97 hectares, lie in Döbling. Another 30 hectares are in Brigittenau. These portions consist of Danube water surfaces. The Floridsdorf section of the Donauinsel up to the Nordbrücke belongs to the Schwarze Lackenau. The Kirschenhain is also located here. This cherry tree grove was created in 2002 by the Japanese artist group to the woods. It symbolizes the friendship between Austria and Japan.
Schwarze Lackenau lacks a traditional settlement core. Before the 1920s, only a few houses stood here. The Siedlung Schwarzlackenau II marked the beginning. It was built between 1922 and 1924 as part of the settlement movement. Karl Krist planned it.
Nowadays, the Schwarze Lackenau has a garden city character. Single-family houses with gardens dominate the area. These homes are only a few decades old. This district is unique. It is Vienna’s only district without municipal housing complexes.
The St. Antonius von Padua Church is one notable structure in the Schwarze Lackenau. It was first built as a wooden barrack in 1937. The current building dates back to 1964.
The Jedleseer Friedhof is located in Audorfgasse 47. It contains 8448 graves on approximately 55,994 m². It was established in 1873. Today, Friedhöfe Wien GmbH manages it.
The O’Brien Monument stands at the edge of the Jedleseer Aupark. This obelisk topped with an eagle commemorates the 100th anniversary of a battle. Generalmajor Johann von O’Brien prevented Napoleon’s army from crossing the Schwarze Lackenau on May 13, 1809. This battle preceded the Battle of Aspern. The monument is protected.
The Emmaus Chapel dates back to 1714. Originally, it stood on the Poststraße to Langenzersdorf. It was moved several times. It is now located on the eastern edge of the green space. Its location is at the corner of Tomaschekgasse and Schlossergasse. The chapel houses a statue of John of Nepomuk. He is the patron saint of bridges. The chapel is also under monument protection.
The Schwarze Lackenau shows Vienna’s ever-changing landscape. It evolved from a flood-prone island to a residential area. Its transformation reflects both natural forces and human intervention.