Discover wild Vienna in 10,000 steps

From Breitenlee to Dehnepark: A new book shows wild, green places in Vienna, another wants to make people want to walk along new routes through well-known districts.

It is well known that Vienna has a lot of green spaces and recreation areas for a big city. Gabriele Hasmann and Sabine Wolfgang want to raise awareness of how many different animal and plant species live in the city – researchers recently discovered, among other things, seven endangered butterfly species around Vienna’s underground and tram tracks.

In their recently published book “Das wilde Wien” (Styria Verlag), the authors present 29 green places in the city, their flora, fauna and special features. Some of them are probably still insider tips for many Viennese – like the Kuchelauer Hafen, a hotspot not only for rowers but also for numerous waterfowl. One of the “lost places” recommended by the authors is the former Breitenlee marshalling yard, which is now wildly overgrown and which nature has reclaimed. A Gstetten – at least 90 hectares in size – where you can discover partridges, lizards and grass snakes.

Other of the presented places of “wild Vienna” are well known – Alte Donau, Lobau, Prater, for example – but you sometimes learn facts that you didn’t know before. For example, that Vienna’s Prater is twice as big as New York’s Central Park. Or that red-eared sliders live in the Dehnepark in Penzing, which were once illegally released here but have adapted.

There are not only numerous pictures for all the presented green and mostly family-friendly places, but also a detailed service section, in which the (public) arrival is described as well as rest stops, opening times or information on whether dogs are allowed or not.

keep pace. Inge Fasan also wants to tempt people to walk in her book “10,000 steps in Vienna” (Kneipp Verlag), which was published in March. Not only because Vienna offers endless opportunities for walking, but also to motivate its readers to be more physically and mentally well-being. The 15 walking routes presented across Vienna are intended to help hikers to reach the recommended daily amount of steps without any effort.

Many of the tour destinations are well known to passionate walkers, such as the wine towns of Nussdorf, Salmannsdorf or Stammersdorf. Nevertheless, the author has included details that may remain hidden from the usual city hiking trail walker and invite you to discover them. For each route, the “Top 5” sights are marked with historical and cultural information. Numerous photos taken in the evening light also make you want to.

Other tours follow more unusual paths. You can follow in the footsteps of the workers and Victor Adler from the brick to the cable works in Favoriten and Meidling, find out on the way from the Donaupark to Kaisermühlen where the heron colony is at home or, for once, leave the Lainzer Tiergarten on the left on the tour through Hietzing lie.

Each route is marked with a rating for character (nature or city) as well as suitability for children, buggies and dogs. In between, the author gives a few tips for relaxed walking.