Mödling

Mödling has had a turbulent history, but during the Biedermeier period (1815-1848), it was a favourite destination for painters, poets, and composers. Ludwig van Beethoven also enjoyed the city and spent some time here.

Mödling is the capital of the Austrian district of the same name located approximately 14 km south of Vienna.

Mödling lies in Lower Austria‘s industrial zone. The Mödlingbach, a brook which rises in the Vienna Woods, flows through the town. Near Achau it joins with the Schwechat. Woodland occupies a large part of the municipality, part of the Föhrenberge (‘Pine Mountains’).

Located immediately south of Vienna, and within the boundaries of the district of Mödling, is one of the largest shopping centres in Europe: Shopping City Süd (SCS).

Economy

In the old days, because of the rail-connection to the north/Vienna and to the south, several large industries had their plants here. Today most of the firms are SMEs. The larger ones have moved to Wiener Neudorf into the ‘Industriezentrum Niederösterreich Süd’.

Castles

The Mödling area in the Vienna Forest contains many old castles (German: Burgen) and ruins. Castle Liechtenstein is the most famous and biggest castle. It was owned by the wealthy family who later founded the country of the same name. Burgruine Mödling also stands nearby and is one of the oldest ruins in the area. It dates back to the 11th century. In addition, Black Tower (Schwarzer Turm) looks out over downtown Mödling from the Calendar mountains. It was built over 200 years ago, but is still privately occupied to this day. Lastly, on the walk between Black Tower and Castle Liechtenstein, one will come across a 200-year-old amphitheatre nearly buried in the woods. It was built in the same time frame as the Black Tower and served as an important cultural centre for the local Mödling population.

Culture and sights

Mödling’s pedestrian zone Marian and Holy Trinity column in Mödling Organ of St. Othmar church

The well-preserved and revitalized Old City is protected by the Hague Convention. The town hall holds the registry office. Because of its lovely environment many couples choose to marry here. Schrannenplatz and Kaiserin-Elisabeth-Strasse were pedestrianised at the very early date of 1976, the first time a ‘Bundesstraße’ had been declared a pedestrian area.

Nearby is the Eichkogel Nature Reserve, with rare flora, like ‘Knollen-Brandkraut’ (Phlomoides tuberosa) and others, on ‘Halbtrockenrasen’. Among the rocks in the Klausen rare plants grow, like the ‘Mödlinger Federnelke’ (Dianthus plumarius subsp. neilreichii), which was discovered as late as the middle of the 19th century by the botanist August Neilreich, or the ‘Deutsche Alant’ (Inula germanica).

Buildings

St. Othmar church and charnel
Spitalkirche
Ruins of the Mödling castle
Husarentempel on the top of the ‘Kleine Anninger’
Schwarzer Turm
Amphitheater

Museums

Museum Mödling
Volkskundemuseum
Stadtverkehrsmuseum
Essinger-Haus (where a famous painter used to live)
Beethoven-Gedenkstätte
Schönberg-Haus

Theatres

Stadttheater
Bühne Mayer
Mödlinger Puppenkiste (MÖP)
Theater im Bunker (in a former air-raid shelter in Vorderbrühl)
Komödienspiele (summer plays in the Stadttheater)

Schools

Elementary and secondary schools
Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Franz-Keim-Gasse
Bundesgymnasium und wirtschaftskundliches Bundesrealgymnasium Untere Bachgasse
Höhere Technische Bundeslehr- und Versuchsanstalt
Vienna Business School Mödling, Handelsakademie der Wiener Kaufmannschaft
Höhere Lehranstalt für Mode & Bekleidungstechnik oder Produktmanagement & Präsentation
Beethoven Musikschule
Chorschule der Sängerknaben vom Wienerwald
Volkshochschule
Polytechnische Schule

Institutions

Bezirkshauptmannschaft
Finanzamt
Bezirksgericht
Veteranärmedizinisches Institut, which has importance beyond the area of Mödling

See

1 Parish Church of St Othmar (Othmarkirche), Pfarrgasse 18, ☏ +43 2236-22380, ✉ pfarrkanzlei@othmar.at. Daily 08:00-19:00. The foundations of this fortified church date back to the 12th century; following successive attacks by the Magyars and Ottomans the church has been rebuilt a number of times, with the current structure dating to the late Gothic period. The Baroque roof is one of the largest surviving timbre roofs in Austria.

2 St Pantaleon Charnel House (Karner St. Pantaleon) (next to St Othmar Church), ☏ +43 2236 22380, ✉ pfarrkanzlei@othmar.at. By prior arrangement only. This round, late Romanesque ossuary was built in the 12th and 13th centuries, while Baroque bell tower and onion-domed roof were added in the late 17th century. Particularly notable are the fine carvings around the main entrance. The interior of the building was once richly decorated with Romanesque frescoes which during later centuries were completely covered by whitewash and other paintings; through careful restoration work however fragments of several of the original frescoes have been preserved.

3 Hospital Church (Spitalskirche), Brühler Straße 1 (entrance through the front door of the former hospital). Daily 07:30-18:00. A late Gothic church built in the mid-15th century next to a former hospital (hence the name), noted for its spacious interior vault. Free.

4 Schönberg-Haus, Bernhardgasse 6, ☏ +43 1 712 18 88-31, ✉ office@schoenberg.at. Th 10:00-15:00 and by appt. Arnold Schönberg lived in this house from 1918-1925, and the building is often referred to as the ‘birthplace of 12-tone music’ as this is where the composer developed his radically new musical system. The museum has a permanent exhibit with photographs and recordings as well as many of Schönberg’s original furnishings and instruments, lending insight to the life and times of the composer. €3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (children under 12).

5 Museum Mödling (Thonet-Schlössel), Josef-Deutsch-Platz 2, ☏ +43 2236-24 159, ✉ museum.moedling@tele2.at. M-Th 09:00-13:00, Sa 10:00-14:00, Su and holidays 14:00-18:00. The museum houses a collection of historic artifacts, from prehistoric until modern times. Along with the permanent exhibit there are special thematic exhibits. A small gift shop is onsite. €3 (adults), €2 (concessions), €1.50 (children), free (NÖ Card); includes admission for the Beethoven House and Volkskundemuseum.

6 Beethoven Memorial House (Beethoven-Gedenkstätte), Hauptstraße 79, ☏ +43 2236 24159. M Th mornings (arranged through Museum Mödling). Beethoven spent the summer months of 1818 and 1819 in the ‘Hafner House’, which was built in the late 16th century. During his time here he composed the Missa Solemnis (op. 123), Sonata for Pianoforte in B-flat major (op. 106), and the Mödlinger Tänze. Included with admission for Museum Mödling.

7 Volkskundemuseum (European Ethnology Museum), Klostergasse 16 (in the Hauerhaus), ☏ +43 2236-24 159. Easter – 6 Jan: Sa 10:00-14:00, Su and holidays 14:00-18:00. Operated by the Museum Mödling, this 15th-16th century building houses a collection of objects used in daily life prior to the 20th century. Included with admission for Museum Mödling.

8 Liechtenstein Castle (Burg Liechtenstein), Am Hausberg 2 (Naturpark Föhrenberge), ☏ +43 650 680 3901, ✉ office@burgliechtenstein.eu. Mar-Oct: daily 10:00-16:00 (last tour at 16:00), Sa Su and holidays 10:00-17:00 (last tour at 17:00); 3-15 Nov: daily 10:00-15:00 (last tour at 15:00), 16-30 Nov F-Su 10:00-15:00 (last tour at 15:00); 1-19 Dec: F-Su 10:00-15:00 (by appt. only; last tour at 15:00); Jan-Feb: by appt. only. Located on the southern fringe of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), the castle was first built in the 12th century and besieged twice by Ottoman forces; it sustained heavy damage during the Russian occupation following WWII. The castle is owned by the ruling family of Liechtenstein. The castle is open by tour only (in German and English); tours last 40-50 minutes and begin at the top of the hour. €8 (adults), €6 (students/soldiers/seniors), €5 (children).

9 Mödling Castle ruins (Burgruine Mödling) (Naturpark Föhrenberge). The castle was built at the beginning of the 11th century. In the early 13th century, the poet Walther von der Vogelweide visited the castle, which was then the residence of a side-line of the Babenbergers. It sustained heavy damage during the first Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529, and was completely burned down following a lightning strike in 1556; since then it has lain in ruins. The castle is a popular hiking destination for locals. Free.

Do

1 City Pool (Stadtbad), Badstraße 25, ☏ +43 2236 2233522. Has indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, and an ice rink.

2 Föhrenberge Nature Park (Naturpark Föhrenberge), ☏ +43 2236-22 335, ✉ markus.wildeis@noel.gv.at. Daylight hours. This extensive park is part of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), and encompasses the Liechtenstein Castle and Mödling Castle ruins (listed above). Popular recreational activities in the park include hiking and mountain biking. Free.

3 Husaren Temple (Husarentempel). Built in the 19th century.

4 Black Tower (Schwarzer Turm). An artificial ruined castle from the early 19th century.

5 Josefswarte. A 12-m-high viewing platform built in the late 19th century which provides excellent views over the area.