Wine, food & the “longest bar in the world”.
That’s how the so-called “Genussmeile” in the Vienna forest district likes to be known, itself both a #winelover & foodie stretch of about ten miles between the local towns of Baden & Gumpoldskirchen. Essentially, it is made up of all different kinds of stalls, selling local wines, beers, burgers, cold meats and more along a vineyard hiking trail. More than 50.000 visitors mingle among the stands on both weekends in early September, and wouldn’t you, too, rather take a seat (or a walk) here now ..?
Check out the official hashtag #Genussmeile17 for even more updates about your next trip out of Vienna, towards Baden & Gumpoldskirchen. Klaus Lorenz, our local host of the Baden Tourism Board, smiles by saying: “Well, you know, some people walk the entire 16 kilometres, while others only make it about a 100 metres – depending on where people strand.” And stranding is what you wish for, among all those lovely foodie options coupled with great local wine bars right inside the vineyards ..!
From left to right: Hanging out at the local “Genussmeile” with my friends & travel buddies Wolfgang Möller (Reiseblitz.com), Jeanette Fuchs (Follow-Your-Trolley.com), Claudia Schlager (Freets.at), Jessica Müller, Wolfgang’s wife, myself & Klaus Lorenz of the city of Baden.
Klaus and his friend Werner have organised a winesome welcome for us, filling us in on their passion for local wine growing, called “Trauben Handwerk”: https://www.traubenhandwerk.at.
Love being welcomed at the “Genussmeile” …
… they’ve even got a fire, and some BBQ going on here …
… and naturally, there’s lots of picture & tasting opportunities around …
… including myself in a typical Dirndl dress, as befits the motto of this local festival! Thanks for the great shot, dear Jeanette!
The town of Baden, however, offers a lot more beyond the “Genussmeile” festival. Healing spa, Yoga inside a rose garden, or many opportunities for outings into the Vienna woods …
… there’s even another festival I can recommend, the “Fête Blanche” of Baden which I absolutely loved. If you are still looking for accommodation options, including some more ideas for a foodie trip, then my second post about planning a city escape from Vienna to Baden, including famous Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf, will fill you in with more details.
This time, however, and partly because of the weather, we spent more time inside the Roman Spa of Baden (the Romans being the first to discover the healing, hot source waters around here), went to check out the local monks at the Abbey Heiligenkreuz as well as the hunting lodge Mayerling, where the former Austrian crown prince Rudolph is said to have shot himself and his lover during a tragic course of event in the late 19th century.
In case the weather is kind of meh, head over to the Roman Spa of Baden for a nice afternoon out with friends & family …
… you can, of course, still choose to explore, such as visiting the famous former hunting lodge Mayerling, now turned into a small convent and church …
… a little further, there’s the Cistercian Abbey Heiligenkreuz which goes back to the year 1133 …
… worth visiting is just before noon, when the local monks join up for their daily choir singing inside the abbey church!
And if all these trips leave you hungry, as they did with us, then check out Restaurant Edelsberger in Marchetstraße 30 …
… their food is great …
… I mean, really great ! It might pay to call in advance, as places fill up quickly around here.
Now back to the town of Baden, do not miss Beethoven’s house, nice little city walks, or a visit to the Casino, Austria’s oldest (and largest).
Oh, and by the way, did I tell you about the handmade (and hand-wrapped!) little Badener Kaffeebonbons (Baden coffee sweets)?! You can get them from the Café Konditorei Ullmann, and I daresay they easily compare with other sweets found in prestigious patisseries & chocolate factories around Belgium, Switzerland or France.
Imperial (and coffee sweet!) fame, that’s what you get in Baden: Christine Triebnig takes us out on an official foodlover city tour …
… and I really like the local market, too: “Drück mich nicht! Erst, bis ich Dir gehöre!” – “Don’t squeeze me until I’m yours!” Cute!
At the well renowned local museum of Beethoven in Baden …
… we follow in the footsteps of the well-known composer, who is said to have written his world-famous 9th Symphony here …
… Baden, I can assure you, will have you fall in love …
… no matter if during a walk among its many different parks and (rose) gardens …
… filled by the sweet scent of some 30.000 roses, of 800 different kinds (!) …
… the Roman Spa & Beach Bath, exuding an almost mediterranean flair …
… Baden is simply inspiring.
And yes, I did get lucky this time over “Dinner & Casino” , winning at least a little money (and more than I had before) !!!
Last but not least: Schloss Hotel Weikersdorf & Yoga at the (rose) gardens. Any time. All the time, please.
Imagine your naked feet touching the cool grass. The rising sun in the east, hinting at a new day and its many opportunities for adventure. Stretching and waking up your body during a morning yoga session, then enjoying a wonderful breakfast on the sunny estate terrace of your hotel, from where you’d simply never want to get up. Ever. Again. Asking for a second round of coffee, spending your time talking to your friends, smiles and giggles shared over what you’ve experienced during the weekend. The magic of a short holiday in Baden.
Schloss Hotel Weikersdorf, and its beautiful terrace for breakfast …
… that fairy tale tree right beside it …
… and our morning yoga at the park: Baden, no doubt, you’ll see us again and again!
Check out more images about the town of Baden, as well as our local foodie event #Genussmeile17 here:
- Wolfgang & Jessica, of Reiseblitz.com: “Baden bei Wien: Genuss und Kultur im Wienerwald“
- Jeanette Fuchs, of Follow-Your-Trolley.com: “8 Dinge, die man in Baden bei Wien getan haben muss“
- Claudia Höller, of Freets.at: “Unterwegs auf der Genussmeile im Wienerwald“, “Ein Besuch in Baden voller Genüsse und Gemütlichkeit” & “Beethoven verstehen im Beethoven-Haus von Baden“
Disclaimer: We have been invited by the city of Baden to join the #Genussmeile17 event, as well as all further activities. All opinions are my own.