Danube-Auen National Park

Danube-Auen National Park is a protected floodplain landscape along the Danube in Lower Austria and the city of Vienna, established to conserve one of Central Europe’s last near-natural riverside forests. The park covers roughly 93 square kilometres and protects river channels, oxbow lakes and alluvial forest habitats.

The park offers a network of walking and cycling trails, wildlife watching - especially birdlife - and guided nature programs. Important visible features include braided river channels, reedbeds and old-growth floodplain forest stands; access points provide short educational trails and viewing hides for wildlife observation.

Protection began following modern conservation initiatives in the late 20th century; the area has been shaped by traditional river use, floodplain management and more recently by formal designation and restoration work. Management focuses on restoring natural flood regimes and protecting native flora and fauna.

The park lies along the Danube between Vienna and the Slovak border, with parts inside the Vienna city boundary (the Lobau) and larger sections downstream in Lower Austria. The landscape is flat river plain with wetlands and scattered agricultural land around the protected zones.

• Best season: Best visited between late spring and early autumn when walking and cycling trails are open and bird activity is highest.
• Access note: Many sections are reached by bicycle or short boat trips from Vienna; some core areas are seasonally flooded so wear appropriate footwear.

What to See #

• Major floodplain areas: The park's main floodplain areas include the **Lobau** - a forested wetland inside Vienna's city limits - and the lower Marchfeld floodplains downstream, which together form the park's core protected habitats.
• Access and interpretation areas: Schloss Orth and adjacent riverside meadows serve as access points and interpretive areas where visitors can learn about the park's ecology and conservation programs.