A Sunday trip to Baden bei Wien

The hot springs of Baden near Vienna were already known to the Romans,

and Baden is a health resort still today.

After a blaze, the town was rebuilt in a Biedermeier style
in the period between the years 1815 (the end of the Napoleonic Wars) and 1848 (the year of the European bourgeois revolutions).

In the spa gardens, the "Kurpark", visitors are entertained with open air concerts and stage plays.

We walk up the lovely hill towards the Vienna Woods.

Pavilions offer lovely lookouts over the town.

We decide to walk to Ruine Rauhenstein which is only about 3 miles away.

Burgruine Rauhenstein was built in the 12th century by the famous Babenbergers.
It decayed in the course of the 18th century
when taxes on roofs were imposed and concequently the roofs of the castle were removed.

The pine trees smell pleasantly in the warm sun on the southern side of the hill.

Soon we see the ruins of Rauhenstein in the distance.

The old caste is situated in the middle of the woods,
with a mighty old tower overlooking the valley and the plains.

The scenery is so romantic,

old chestnut trees grow in the former courtyards

reaching high up to get some light

and throwing splendid shadows on old stone walls.

On top of the tower we can see how big the building once was.

In the distance you can also see the aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks (above),
Wiener Hochquellwasserleitung,
supplying Vienna with delicious fresh water from the Pre-Alps since 1910.

After a last look back at the ruins of Rauhenstein,
we walk back to Baden,
following the river Schwechat through the romantic "Helenental".

Thank you for joining us on our Sunday trip again!