Wiener Neustadt, situated some 30km/19mi from the city on the southern edge of the Vienna basin, was founded by the Babenbergs in 1194 as a frontier stronghold directed against the Hungarians. It was granted its municipal charter in 1277, and from 1452 to 1493 was an Imperial residence. Later it acquired importance as the seat of a military academy, in which Austrian officers are again being trained. Although mainly an industrial town (metal goods and textiles), Wiener Neustadt also has a number of fine old buildings in the older districts.
St George's Church reveals an impressive Late Gothic interior with beautiful 15th and 16th C stained glass windows. The remains of Emperor Maximilian I rest below the steps of the altar.
To the north of the Wiener Neustadt old town, a former Jesuit College (1737-43) at Wiener Strasse 63 is now the home of the well-stocked Municipal Museum. Here can be seen a replica of the artistically worked Corvinusbecher (1487), a gilt goblet bearing the monograms of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and Frederick III (the original is in the Rathaus). Still farther north lies the Walther-von-der- Vogelweide-Platz, with a Gothic monument, the "Spinnerin am Kreuz" ("Woman spinning by the Cross"; 1382-84), 8m/25ft high.
Proceeding northward from the Wiener Neustadt Propsthof along Petersgasse we come to the former Dominican friary, now housing the Municipal Archives. The church of St Peter in der Sperr is used as an exhibition hall; concerts are held in the friary courtyard. The old Carmelite church on Grazer Strasse is also used for art exhibitions.
On a limestone plateau west of Wiener Neustadt lies the Hohe Wand Nature Park (alt. 800- 1,000m/2,600-3,300ft), reached along a winding road. Many inns and Alpine Club huts provide good bases for walks on the plateau (from one to six hours) - e.g. to the Grosse Kanzel (1,043m/3,422ft; extensive views) or the Kleine Kanzel (1,065m/3,494ft).
Address: Hohe Wand Naturpark, Maiersdorf 33, A-2724 Hohe Wand, Austria
On the eastern side of the Wiener Neustadt old town stands the Cistercian house of Neukloster (rebuilt in the 18th C.). The Gothic church (14th C.) has a rich Baroque interior; note the tomb of Eleanor of Portugal (d. 1467), wife of the Emperor Frederick III and mother of Maximilian I. Mozart's "Requiem" was performed for the first time in this church in 1793.
To the northwest of the Burg in Wiener Neustadt stretches the Old Town, in the form of a regular rectangle some 600 by 700m/650 by 760yds. In the Hauptplatz, surrounded by handsome arcaded buildings, stands a Baroque Mariensäule (column bearing a figure of Our Lady; 1678). There are market days every week. On the southwest of the square stands the Rathaus, a 16th C. edifice with a Neo-Classical facade. The modern pedestrian zone here is very inviting to would-be shoppers.
The Propsthof to the north of the Liebfrauenkirche in Wiener Neustadt is believed originally to have been a Babenberg residence, and was later (until 1784) the bishop's palace; it has a beautiful doorway of 1714.
The market town of Puchberg (578m/1,896ft; pop. 3,300) nestles at the foot of the Schneeberg (2,075m/6,808ft), the highest peak in Lower Austria, with views extending from the Alps to the puszta. A cog railroad climbs in 1.25 hours to the Hochschneeberg station (1,795m/5,889ft), from where it is a 1.5 hours' climb to the summit. There is also a chairlift from Puchberg up the Himberg (948m/3,110ft).
Address: Puchberg Tourist Office, Sticklergasse 3, A-2734 Puchberg, Austria
To the south of Wiener Neustadt lies Seebenstein (348m/1,142ft), dominated by a fine castle (11th and 17th C.), the finest in the Pittental, with a valuable art collection, including a figure of the Virgin by Tilman Riemenschneider (20 minutes' climb up from the village).
Address: Seebenstein Tourist Office, Hauptstrasse 1, A-2824 Seebenstein, Austria
One of the symbols of Wiener Neustadt is the Water Tower (Wasserturm, 1909-10), to the south of the Burg; nearby stands the "Europabrunnen" (in 1975, as a result of its efforts to bring about a united Europe, Wiener Neustadt was honored by being given the European flag).
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St George's Church
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Grunbach - Mining Museum, Austria
