The Lobau – Vienna's jungle

A jungle in the city? That's right! Part of the Donau-Auen National Park is located in Vienna and allows unspoiled nature to be experienced up close. Welcome to the Lobau, the "jungle" of the Viennese.

The Lobau, the "water world", lies to the east of Vienna, has an area of 2,300 hectares, and makes up almost a quarter of the entire area of the Donau-Auen National Park. It is one of six Austrian national parks and protects one of the last major floodplain landscapes in Central Europe.

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Danube floodplain national park — Floodplain landscape – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

The Josefsteg leads through a reed bed — Josefsteg – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Meadowland — Floodplain landscape – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Bridge over reed bed — Bridge over the Körber Furt waterway – © MA29/Wurscher

Banks of the Danube in the Lobau — Floodplain landscape – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

The Lobau truly enriches Vienna's diverse flora and fauna. An excursion here is especially worthwhile for birdwatchers and animal lovers: the area is home to more than 800 types of plant, 30 mammalian and 100 breeding bird species, as well as 8 reptile, 13 amphibian and 60 fish species. Beaver, white-tailed eagle, praying mantis, gray heron, small emperor moth, and little ringed plover populate this secretive world. The kingfisher, the "flying jewel", is also at home here and is the symbol of the national park.

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Praying mantis – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Pond Turtle — Terrapin – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Kingfisher in the Lobau — The kingfisher is the symbol of the national park – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Biber in the national park — Beaver – © Cosmos Factory

Young birds — Young white-tailed eagle – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Woodpecker — Middle spotted woodpecker – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

A well-signed network of hiking and cycle routes criss-crosses the Lobau.

If you'd like to hike along historic trails in the Lobau, then the ten kilometer-long Napoleon loop trail comes highly recommended. Archduke Carl gave Napoleon his first taste of defeat in the battle at Aspern and Essling in 1809. As a memorial to this, stone obelisks were erected at all the main sites of the event and two museums were built. The hiking trail, which can be freely accessed all year round and lies entirely in the Lobau, leads to battle sites as well as to Napoleon's headquarters and the French Cemetery.

Fancy even more hiking in Vienna? Vienna's hiking routes are a true delight.

Or do you prefer cycling? The best bike tours through the entire city.

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National park house — National Park House – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Vienna National Park boat in the Lobau — National Park Boat – © Magistratsabteilung Wiener Gewässer/Christian Houdek

Natural bathing area in the Lobau — Natural bathing spot, Dechantlacke pond – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien/Houdek

Bathing in the Dechantlacke — Swimming in the Dechantlacke pond – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien/Christian Houdek

Cooling off in the Lobau — Floodplain landscape – © Forst- und Landwirtschaftsbetrieb der Stadt Wien

Nature and architecture can be experienced in harmony in the National Park House. On offer are exhibitions, informational events and a shop on the topic of the alluvial forest. The guided adventure hikes, which present the special features of the alluvial forest ecosystem, are also worth recommending. For the Viennese, the Lobau is not just a green oasis but also offers an extensive range of activities. From the adventure hike to an excursion with the National Park Boat or a hiking trip – everything is possible here. Some bodies of water can even be used for swimming. Like the Dechantlacke pond, for example, one of the most natural of Vienna's natural bathing areas.