Gmünd

Gmünd town square

The multifaceted municipality of Gmünd is considered the center of the Upper Waldviertel - both economically and culturally. As the seat of the district of the same name, its municipal area includes Gmünd together with Böhmzeil, Haid and Neustadt. It also includes the villages of Breitensee, Großeibenstein, Kleineibenstein and Grillenstein.

Gmünd is known among excursionists and holidaymakers for the Blockheide Nature Park, sprawling pond landscapes and the popular Sole Felsen Welt - as well as for several great museums. Gmünd also plays an important role as a rail and road crossing on the border with the Czech Republic. Keyword train: The Franz-Josefs-Bahn is a comfortable and sustainable tip for a direct journey from Vienna to Gmünd station.

Gmünd: Wild wobbly stones & creative fun for children

Gmünd offers outdoor fans and active vacationers the most beautiful hiking trails and cycle routes. The extensive Blockheide Nature Park is particularly popular with nature lovers of all ages: wild forests and rolling meadows present imaginative granite giants and stone formations. Biotopes and creative themed trails can also be explored. The Malerwinkel natural monument in a mountain stream-like river landscape is also worth a hike. Excursion destinations in Gmünd also include the 1st Waldviertel Children's Workshop - with craft workshops for children aged four and over - and the Waldviertel Railway, which takes you on a nostalgic narrow-gauge journey through the beautiful landscape on steam and diesel locomotives.

Sightseeing & sleeping in Gmünd

Museums such as the Glass and Stone Museum, Elisabeth Burger's glass studio, the show forge and the Gmünd House of Contemporary History offer exhibitions for explorers of all ages. The historic buildings in the town also invite you to look and marvel: e.g. the listed castle, the churches and the famous sgraffito houses. The best restaurateurs and producers - such as the traditional Stadtwirtshaus Hopferl in Gmünd's old town - take care of your physical well-being during your excursion. You can sleep wonderfully in excellent accommodation such as the Romantik Hotel & Restaurant Stern.

Gmünd family highlights

An animal excursion tip is the water buffalo pasture. Since 2018, the Lainsitzniederung nature reserve has been inhabited by these exotic cattle. The Sole Felsen Welt is a visitor magnet for water lovers: the extensive bathing and sauna area is a hit with the whole family - for swimming, relaxing and wellness. And speaking of swimming: In summer, the wonderful Gmünd lido with its sandy beach invites you to do just that.

Tip: The Iron Curtain Trail cycle route and the Granittrail mountain bike route also start in Gmünd.