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Vienna Woods and Mayerling Tour

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Activity Schedule

  • When does it run?

    Wed

  • Duration

    4.5 hours approx.

  • Start time

    9:15am

  • Meeting Point
    Opposite to Operngasse 8, 1010 Vienna (next to the fountain)
    Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before the start time.
  • Ending Point

    Tour ends at Operngasse 8, 1010 Vienna.

Key Highlights

  • Learn the romantic and deeply tragic story of Mayerling
  • Take a unique boat trip on Europe’s largest subterranean lake
  • Stunning scenery and fantastic photo-opportunities
  • Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned coach

Overview

The countryside around Vienna with its glorious cliff-top castles and deep green woods is the stuff of fairy-tales. Explore this enchanting landscape on a delightful half-day tour.

Visit Mayerling, site of a 19th century scandal and tragedy that rocked the Austrian Empire. Learn about the terrible events of 30 January 1889 and the theories surrounding them.

Visit one of the oldest and loveliest Cistercian monasteries in the world. See the magnificent Romanesque and Gothic architecture and the medieval stained glass.

Finish your tour with a boat trip on the largest subterranean lake in Europe. It’s a cruise like no other. Theme parks worldwide try to imitate this unique experience but they cannot match the real thing!

Itinerary

After you have made to the meeting point at the designated time, you will drive the past Roman City of Baden, famous for its thermal springs and through the romantic wooded valley of Helenental until you reach the former Mayerling Hunting Lodge.

Mayerling was the scene of a grim royal tragedy in 1889. On 30 January that year, the bodies of the Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (heir to the Emperor of Austria) and his lover Baroness Mary Vetsera were discovered at the Lodge. Was it a murder- suicide or an assassination? No one knows, but numerous movies and TV productions have explored the theme.

The grief-stricken Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the hunting lodge to be torn down and a Carmelite Abbey (Karmeliten Kloster Mayerling) put up in its place. You will visit the Abbey and hear more of the haunting story of the lovers.

Next you will visit the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz (Abbey of the Holy Cross), peacefully situated in the ‘Wienerwald’ (the Vienna woods). Founded in the 12th century, this is the second-oldest Cistercian monastery in the world. The Abbey has more relics of the Holy Cross than any church in Europe outside Rome.

You will see the Romanesque nave, impressive Gothic choir, medieval stained glass and the tombs of the Babenberg dukes – including Leopold V who captured Richard the Lionheart of England.

Leaving Heiligenkreuz you will drive past the Höldrichsmühle, a famous country inn. Legend says that a tree outside the inn inspired composer Franz Schubert’s song ‘The Linden Tree’.

Next you will visit the largest subterranean lake in Europe – the Seegrotte – formed when a former gypsum mine flooded in 1912. The Seegrotte is now a premier tourist attraction. You will enjoy the amazing thrill of a 45-minute boat trip through the grotto.

After leaving the Seegrotte you will board the coach for the return to Vienna. At the end of the tour you will be dropped off at the drop off location.

Inclusions

  • Transfers in air conditioned coach
  • Multilingual Guide (English, German & Spanish speaking)
  • Entrance fees to Mayerling and Heiligenkreuz
  • 45 minute boat trip at the Seegrotte

Exclusions

  • Hotel Pick up & drop-off

Please note

Voucher Information: Sorry, but we will need you to print a paper version of your booking voucher (we're working on changing this ). At this time no refund can be given for customers without a printed copy of their voucher.

Please call the activity operator at least 24 hours prior to start of the tour to confirm all details

Additional info

Contact details for the local activity operator will be found on your confirmation voucher.Via Subway:The lines U1, U2 and U4 stop in the station "Karlsplatz". Follow the exit "Oper" and walk left along the Vienna State Opera to the Operngasse. Our on-site staff wears yellow Vienna Sightseeing uniforms and will help to find the correct bus.

Customer Reviews

  • MRS WINONA MITCHELL
    A visit to the Vienna woods

    We thoroughly enjoyed this excursion. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, speaking 5 languages and able to provide insight to the three sights visited. Much better than...

    Australia 06/08/2014
  • KONSTANTIN ZEPPOS
    CRITICS FOR VIENNA WOODS, MAYERLING AND SEEGROTE TOUR

    very organized and helpfull!they picked up us from the hotel just in time they told us.the guide was very experient and he had exellent sense of humor!we had fun and this trip in...

    Greece 01/07/2014
  • Jennifer Muscat
    satisfied with the tour

    Pick up was on time. Guide was very knowledgeable and was very good in all languages. Places visited were interesting. So were happy with the tour....

    Malta 10/16/2013

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