Laxenburg Park | Castle & Royal Gardens South of Vienna

In this article, we have compiled the most important information about Laxenburg.

The Special Buildings in Laxenburg
What Can You Do in Laxenburg?
How to Get to Laxenburg by Public Transport from Vienna?
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

The Special Buildings in Laxenburg Park

The Laxenburg castles (Schloss Laxenburg) are undoubtedly the heart of the village. The impressive castles and the royal gardens surrounding them make the area one of the most beautiful in all of Europe. The royal gardens, designed by Maria Theresa and her grandson Franz, exude an atmosphere of luxury and wealth, and are filled with trees, vast lawns, and a huge, lively lake.

As soon as you arrive at the entrance plaza to the park, you can be impressed by the large, paved square surrounded by old buildings.

In the square, near the entrance to the large park that surrounds the castles, is a building known as the Blue Palace (Blauer Hof). For centuries, the building passed through many hands among different noble families until it was bought by Maria Theresa. After purchasing the building, Maria Theresa ordered its renovation and expansion. For this purpose, she hired the services of the architect Nicolò Pacassi. The talented architect added several wings to the building, such as the dining area and the theater. All parts of the building were decorated with impressive wall carvings and ceiling paintings.

Opposite the Blue Palace is the village’s impressive church (Katholische Kirche Laxenburg), which was built at the beginning of the 18th century on the site of an older church that was destroyed by the Turks. The church is closed most of the time, but sometimes events and Christian masses are held there. Next to the church is the Town Hall (Rathaus), which was once a simple farmhouse that was renovated at the beginning of the 12th century and became a beautiful and well-kept building.

As you begin to enter the park, you can stop and see the Old Castle (Altes Schloss), which was built as early as the 13th century when the area was used only for hunting and fishing. During the reign of Emperor Albert III, the hunting area was expanded, and the old castle was also enlarged. In the 17th century, the castle fell into the hands of the Turkish invaders who destroyed parts of it, but after they left Vienna, the castle was restored and rebuilt.

For a long time, the castle served as the spring residence of the Habsburgs, even after a new castle was built in the park at the end of the 18th century. Between the world wars, from 1925-1938, this building was used as an international school for music and physical education.

The New Castle in the park is the most famous and impressive in the Laxenburg complex. The castle was built at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century, and its construction took about 35 years. Emperor Franz II was responsible for its construction, and he demanded that the castle be built in the style that was common for medieval knights’ castles. In addition, the castle was built on an artificial island in the middle of the lake, so it is surrounded by water and isolated from the rest of the park. Ultimately, after its construction, the castle was named after Emperor Franz (Franzensburg). The main use of the castle was for storing treasures collected by the emperor, and today these treasures are displayed in the castle as part of the museum’s exhibitions.

Since Laxenburg was such a beloved place for the Habsburg family, important events took place there, such as the honeymoon of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Sisi, and also the birth of the heir to the throne, Prince Rudolf.

Watch Laxenburg Park from a bird’s eye view:

What Can You Do in Laxenburg Park?

In the vast Laxenburg Park, there are a variety of fun activities for the whole family. You can easily spend 3 hours on a relaxed walk along the park’s paths or stop by the lake for a picnic. If you want to enrich your visit to Laxenburg, you can choose from several other fun activities:

1. Guided Tour of the historic Franzensburg Castle

In the heart of the park, on an artificial island, lies the picturesque castle containing the treasures of Emperor Franz II. You can visit the castle only as part of a guided tour. The tours take place from April to November 1st. The tours are suitable for the whole family, including children.

Castle Museum Tour Times: Every day at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Tour Cost:

Adult: €11
Child: €7
Family ticket (2 adults + 3 children): €28

Castle Towers and Viewpoint Tour Times: Every day at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Tour Cost:

Adult: €11
Child: €7
Family ticket (2 adults + 3 children): €28

Tickets can be purchased at the castle’s museum shop. The shop is open during the season from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Please note! To get to the castle, you need to take a small ferry to cross the lake. The ferry costs extra and is separate from the tour.

Ferry Operating Times (from April to November 1st):

Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM

Ferry Cost:

Adult: €0.90
Child (from age 3): €0.80
Child (up to age 3): Free

2. Boat Rental and Boating on the Lake

Around the impressive castle, there is a huge lake (the size of 50 football fields) where you can boat peacefully and enjoy the views of the castle. You can rent pedal boats, rowboats, or electric boats.

Boat rental is available between April and October on days with good weather (not too rainy). Boat rental is possible every day during these months. On weekdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on weekends from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

You can contact the company directly for more information and to book a boat in advance (not required, but it can save waiting time if there are many people). Contact phone: 0676/9308625.

3. Playground

About a 10-minute walk from the main entrance is a nice, large playground. The playground has a variety of equipment such as “the castle,” a miniature train, swings, slides, and more.

4. The Park Train

Join a ride through the park on the old train – the Laxenburg Express. The train operates between April and November 1st from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The train has three pick-up and drop-off stops: the main entrance, the lake, and the ferry station to the castle. You can get on and off at any stop.

5. The Recreation Area in the South of the Park

In the southern part of the park, there is a complex with a restaurant called Flieger und Flieger, a swimming pool, and a mini-golf course for children. The mini-golf course is open during the restaurant’s opening hours.

Address: Erholungszentrum Laxenburg, Müchendorfer Straße 7, 2361 Laxenburg

How to Get to Laxenburg by Public Transport from Vienna?

The most convenient way to get to the park is from the bus platform located next to Vienna’s main train station (Wien Hauptbahnhof). You can reach the main train station via the U1 red underground line. Get off at the Südtirolerplatz-Hauptbahnhof station.

The bus platform is located under the bridge to the right of the main station building. From there, take bus line 200, operated by Postbus. The bus departs every half hour, and the journey takes about half an hour. Get off at the Laxenburg Franz-Josephs-Platz stop, and from there it’s about a 3-minute walk to the park entrance.

The cost of the trip each way is about €4.50. You can buy a ticket on the bus.

Detailed bus schedule.

Additional Essential Information for Visiting Laxenburg Park

There is an entrance fee for Laxenburg Park. The gardens are open all year round, but you can only rent boats or take a tour of the old castle between March and November.

Entrance fee for the gardens only: