The enjoyable Amethyst World (Amethyst Welt) attraction is located in the village of Maissau, an hour’s drive from Vienna. The activities on site include the Amethyst Tunnel, the Gemstone House, and the Amethyst hunting grounds.
The Amethyst Tunnel
Today, the mine in the village of Maissau is considered to have the largest amethyst deposit in Europe. An interesting and enjoyable park has been built around the mine where you can learn about the world of mining and gemstones. This park is called “Amethyst Welt” (Amethyst World) and it attracts visitors from all over the region.
As part of the park, there is an impressive display of amethysts in their natural environment. You can see them in a 40-meter-long tunnel filled with these beautiful stones. The tunnel is located at a depth of 12 meters and can only be visited as part of a guided tour. The tour lasts about an hour, during which you will hear interesting stories and information about the history of the place, the origin of the amethyst stone, and its importance in the world of gemstones.
The Gemstone House
As part of the attraction, there is a comprehensive exhibition of various gemstones and minerals. The exhibition shows all the stages of turning gemstones into luxury jewelry. In addition, there is a room with a meteorite exhibition featuring various stones that have come from outer space. A visit to this exhibition is only possible as part of a guided tour.
Treasure Hunt
In this place, you won’t have to solve riddles to get a real treasure. This is the place where you can search for shiny and beautiful stones in the sand yourself. Join the search for amethysts and maybe you can find beautiful stones as a souvenir. Don’t worry! Even if you don’t find anything, you will receive an unpolished amethyst stone as a gift and souvenir.
The Playground and Petting Zoo
If the three previous activities were not enough, you can spend time in the playground in the attraction’s garden. In addition, there is a petting zoo with goats, sheep, and rabbits.
Essential Information for Visiting – Amethyst World
Opening Hours:
Open from February to August. Every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. In the months of June to August, open until 6:00 PM.
Entrance Fee:
Amethyst Tunnel OR Gemstone House:
- Adult: €18
- Student, Senior: €14.50
- Child (6-15): €11
- Child up to age 6: Free
- Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children): €36
Amethyst Tunnel, Gemstone House, and 10% discount on purchases in the attraction’s shop:
- Adult: €31.50
- Student, Senior: €27
- Child (6-15): €14
- Child up to age 6: Free
- Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children): €63
Treasure Hunt (includes the necessary digging equipment):
- Adult: €17
- Child (6-15): €11.50
- Child up to age 6: Free
- Family Ticket (2 adults + 2 children): €39
Address: The attraction is called Amethyst Welt. Horner Strasse 36, 3712 Maissau
How to get there from Vienna?
You can reach the attraction by public transport. From the Praterstern station in Vienna, take the regional bus of the Oebb Postbus company. The bus number is 1026 and it goes towards Horn NÖ Hauptplatz. You need to get off at the Maissau Landgasthaus Zum Naderer stop and from there walk about 10 minutes to the attraction. The total travel time is about an hour and 45 minutes.
You can plan your route on the bus and train website
Map:
If you are arriving by car, you can combine the attraction with an enjoyable trip in the nearby Wachau Valley. You can read detailed information about the valley and all its activities.
