schlossORTH National Park Centre

Gateway to the Wetlands

Schloss Orth has a long and lively history. Originally built in the 12th century as a medieval moated castle, and once serving as Crown Prince Rudolph’s hunting lodge, it has been a museum open to the public since 1950. Its grand opening as the schlossORTH National Park Centre took place in 2005, after a period of extensive renovation and refurbishment. The information and visitor centre of the Donau-Auen National Park are now located here. Individual guests, groups, kindergartens and schools are welcome. Only 15 km outside the Vienna city limits, you will find here under one roof

• Tourism and National Park information point with booking and shop

• Exhibition DonAUräume and National Park Lounge

• Schlossinsel outdoor area with underwater observation station

• Observation tower with annual exhibitions

• Tournament Courtyard with the plant presentation "Pannonian Gardens"

• the museumORTH, which focuses on the history of the Danube municipality of Orth

Contact

schlossORTH National Park Centre
A-2304 Orth/Donau
Tel. +43 2212/3555
e-mail: schlossorth@donauauen.at

Opening Hours

21 March - 30 September: Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
1 October - 1 November: Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
2 November - 20 March: closed for the winter. Telephone enquiries and bookings only, Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Directions

Please note:

The information point area and the shop can be visited for free, the other offers are subject to a charge.

The DonAUräume exhibition and event area, museumORTH, Schlossinsel area, shop, National Park Lounge and the restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Cycling on the Schlossinsel area is not permitted.

Dogs are not allowed in the schlossORTH National Park Centre including the Schlossinsel area.

The Schlossinsel area

Here you can discover characteristic habitats, animals and plants of the river landscape on a tour.

A tracking station shows footprints, skins, antlers and other clues to animals such as beavers, deer, roe deer and foxes. Several play areas await children.

European pond turtles, several native snake species, amphibians and interesting insects ranging from wild bees, beetles and dragonflies to butterflies are at home on the Schlossinsel area. Once typical representatives of the national park region, European ground squirrels are shown in an enclosure. Sometimes kingfishers or various species of herons can be seen at the waters.
Tip: Every Tuesday at 12 noon, the European pond turtles are fed in the enclosure - you are welcome to watch!

The walk-in underwater observation station provides a view of the diversity of aquatic life in the Danube tributaries - like a dive! Here you can observe various fish such as rudd, bream, tench etc. in their largely natural behaviour. In addition, an aquarium shows fish species of the plant-rich small waters like the Mudminnow as well as mussels and snails.

Aquatic plants such as pond lily and water milfoil, native flower species, various climbing plants such as wild grapevine or hops and imposing trees of the floodplain thrive on the Schlossinsel.

Several idyllic observation and resting places have been set up. Take plenty of time to enjoy this compact piece of floodplain landscape, there is much to explore.

For barrier-free environmental education for people with special needs, there are tactile overview plans and rotating information boards with 3D animal models at several stations. Audio texts provide descriptions of the creatures and background knowledge via special QR codes.

As part of the schlossORTH National Park Centre, the Schlossinsel area can only be visited with a paid admission ticket.

The construction of the outdoor adventure area was funded by the European Union. Also the ongoing development of the visitor infrastructure in the schlossORTH National Park Centre and the optimisation of the visitor infrastructure on the Schlossinsel area were carried out with funding from the Rural Development Programme with support from the federal government and the European Commission.

Further offers in the schlossORTH National Park Center

The exhibition DonAUräume

During guided tours with national park rangers you can explore the history and development of the wild water forest and the national park in the DonAUräume. Participation is the order of the day: clear the stage for the floodplain landscape! Become a creator of this habitat. The faun of the Danube wetlands is your cheeky companion.

Travel through time! What did the area look like 100 years ago, 1,000 or even 10,000 years ago? What could be tomorrow? A bird's eye view of the region from Vienna to Bratislava, or would you rather go in search of your own place of residence? All options are open to you on a walk-through aerial photograph. Finally immerse yourself in the world of the Danube wetlands. Take a seat and experience this ecosystem with its fauna and flora, as well as its offerings for young and old in atmospheric images.

The National Park Lounge and the Tournament Court

Go on a journey of discovery in the National Park Lounge in the foyer: This is where we extend a warm welcome to guests. Admission is free and there is a lot to discover from new perspectives. Would you have known, for example, that huge gravel dunes move along the bottom of the Danube? Dive below the surface of the stream and encounter the rare nose: a fish that loves the stream and the gravel, making it a flagship species for our vision of a free-flowing river. Or simply make yourself comfortable and let yourself be inspired: for a guided tour or a dreamy day in the wetlands.

In the tournament courtyard of the castle you can take a break in between. Furthermore, you can explore the "Pannonian Gardens" in the metal ships, which present special plant communities of the national park region.

The observation tower with annual exhibitions

The observation tower offers a panoramic view of the Danube wetlands. In addition to various exhibitions, wild animals living in or near the castle are presented here: White storks, jackdaws, kestrels and several species of bats. Monitors even allow a live view into nesting boxes or nests.

Renaissance spiral staircase

As part of the Lower Austrian Provincial Exhibition 2022, a unique architectural jewel was made accessible to the public again - the spiral staircase, gallery and adjoining tower room in the north-western part of the castle. The hollow spiral staircase, which extends over three floors, was built around 1550 by court architect Johann Tscherte. It is one of originally only four identical staircases and the last one to have survived intact. It is now open to visitors.

museumORTH

This museum is located on the 2nd floor of the castle. The basic idea was to install a village community "photo album", as a reference book for all generations and a gateway to the past. The exhibition theme areas present the cultural history of the region with a focus on the Danube.

More about the museumORTH

Event hall

The schlossORTH National Park Center is also the event center of the market town of Orth/Donau. The premises can be rented privately: whether birthday party, wedding, lecture or company seminar - our event area offers an ideal setting for up to 180 guests.