Saturday 9 May 2009

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!

19 comments:

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi Maria:)

Excellent photos and an exciting trip. The place is beautiful and still retains its old world charm.

Wish you a wonderful day Maria:)
Joseph

Travis Erwin said...

Hope you don't mind, but I added a link to this post in my weekly collection of My Town Monday bloggers.

Ebie said...

Beautiful country, beautiful architecture, and free scenic tour. Thanks for the beautiful pictures.

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Lovely photos of beautiful scenery. Thanks for taking us with you on your day out!
Janice.

Arija said...

Maria, what an absolutely beautiful outing! Just perfect for May...thank you.

Lyzzydee said...

Fantastic photographs!!! I went to Autria for my honeymoon!!

Lyzzydee said...

And I went to Austria as well!!!!

DeniseinVA said...

Austria is a beautiful country and your photos are fantastic. When I was 23 and 24 I went to Seefeldt. The snow on the mountains and the blue of the sky were unlike anything I had ever seen. It was heavenly. Thank you for sharing.

mimi said...

great outing in the beautiful place. i love the pictures of garden flowers. happy mother's day.

debra said...

What beautiful photos! Another place I'd love to travel to some day.

antigoni said...

I'm sure you had great time. What a place! Your photos are awesome.

pattinase (abbott) said...

We were in Vienna two years ago but didn't get to see any of the more rural parts of Austria. THanks.

Lyndi Lamont said...

What a great day trip. I'd love to visit Vienna some day. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the lovely guided tour through a beautiful area I visited in the late 1960s but haven't seen since ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Inday said...

Awesome, breathtaking, wholesome and interesting Maria!

You do know how to solve problems, Maria. I'm happy to see all these beautiful things around Austria.

Thank you!

ayamlin said...

Hi Maria!
today I'm tired and sleepy.
I wanted to say hello to you.
tomorrow I'll come here again.
good night!

Danielle said...

This was so neat. Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

Deb said...

looks like a wonderful place to go for a walk! your photos were great as usual

Barbara Martin said...

Delightful photos, Maria.