Mödling

Mödling is a city of 20,500 people (2018) in Lower Austria, on the southern outskirts of Vienna.

Understand

Mödling sits in the middle of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), at the foot of Mt. Anninger (653 m above sea level). From 1938 to 1954 it was the 24th district of Vienna, and only since 1954 has it been an autonomous city.

Mödling has had a turbulent history, but during the Biedermeier period (1815-1848), it was a favourite destination for painters, poets, and composers. Ludwig van Beethoven also enjoyed the city and spent some time here.

• 1 Tourismusinformation, Kaiserin Elisabeth-Straße 2, ☏ +43 2236-26727, info.service@moedling.at. M-F 09:00-12:30, 13:30-17:00. 

Get in

By air

Vienna International Airport (VIE ^IATA) is 20 km away, however there is no longer a direct bus connection between the airport and Mödling, making it somewhat complicated to use public transportation. First you'll need to take the S-7 train to 2 Wien Rennweg, and from there take a regional train to Mödling. Both trains are timed to coordinate together and leave every 30 minutes. Use ÖBB's SCOTTY to look up train information online. The trip takes about 50 minutes and costs €7.80.

By train

• 1 Mödling Train Station (Bahnhof Mödling), Bahnhofplatz 10, ☏ +43 2236 225010. No international trains stop in Mödling. Travellers from the south will have to change trains in Wiener Neustadt; international connections can also be made at Wien Meidling or the main railway station in Vienna (Wien Hauptbahnhof). Connecting from Vienna's West train station (Westbahnhof) is more complicated, necessitating using Vienna's public transportation system to get to another train station (e.g. via U6 to Wien-Meidling station) offering service to Mödling. ÖBB's SCOTTY lists train information online. If you have a lot of luggage or don't want to travel at all by foot, the Mödling city bus (see listing below) leaves from directly in front of the train station.  

By bus

There are a number of bus routes into Mödling from the region and from Vienna. There are no international bus connections.

By car

The city is easily reachable by car. From the A2 expressway heading south take the exits Mödling SCS or Wr. Neudorf, and then follow the signs. When coming from the west via the A1 expressway, take A21 at the Steinhäusl interchange and then take the exit Hinterbrühl, then follow the signs.

Get around

By foot

If you're reasonably fit, Mödling can be seen easily by foot.

By bus and bicycle

• 2 Citybus, ☏ +43 810 22 23 24. M-Sa. There are three bus routes which cover the city area relatively well; all three routes start in front of the Mödling train station. A map with schedule and bus fares can be downloaded here (in German). €1 (single ticket), €2 (day ticket). 
• Nextbike (bicycle rental), ☏ +43 2742 22 99 01 (hotline). After registration (online or by mobile), pick up a bicycle at any Nextbike location, and drop it off at the same or any other Nextbike spot. A map of pickup and drop-off points can be found here; a brochure with map is available for download. €1/hr, €10/day; free for the first ½ hr. (updated Jan 2017)

By car

If you've come by car, it's better to park and avoid driving during rush hour, but otherwise it's easy to get around the city. There are plenty of paid parking spots in the centre, as well as a 3 parking garage on Lerchengasse; a helpful map showing all car parks and garages is available for download here. Outside of the city center there is generally plenty of free parking available.

See

Church of St Othmar

Romanesque carvings on the Charnel House (Karner)

Liechtenstein Castle (Burg Liechtenstein)

• 1 Parish Church of St Othmar (Othmarkirche), Pfarrgasse 18, ☏ +43 2236-22380, pfarrkanzlei@othmar.at. Daily 08:00-19:00. The foundations of this fortified church date back to the 12th century; following successive attacks by the Magyars and Ottomans the church has been rebuilt a number of times, with the current structure dating to the late Gothic period. The Baroque roof is one of the largest surviving timbre roofs in Austria. Free.  
• 2 St Pantaleon Charnel House (Karner St. Pantaleon) (next to St Othmar Church), ☏ +43 2236 22380, pfarrkanzlei@othmar.at. By prior arrangement only. This round, late Romanesque ossuary was built in the 12th and 13th centuries, while Baroque bell tower and onion-domed roof were added in the late 17th century. Particularly notable are the fine carvings around the main entrance. The interior of the building was once richly decorated with Romanesque frescoes which during later centuries were completely covered by whitewash and other paintings; through careful restoration work however fragments of several of the original frescoes have been preserved. Free.  
• 3 Hospital Church (Spitalskirche), Brühler Straße 1 (entrance through the front door of the former hospital). Daily 07:30-18:00. A late Gothic church built in the mid-15th century next to a former hospital (hence the name), noted for its spacious interior vault. Free.  
• 4 Schönberg-Haus, Bernhardgasse 6, ☏ +43 1 712 18 88-31, office@schoenberg.at. Th 10:00-15:00 and by appt. Arnold Schönberg lived in this house from 1918-1925, and the building is often referred to as the 'birthplace of 12-tone music' as this is where the composer developed his radically new musical system. The museum has a permanent exhibit with photographs and recordings as well as many of Schönberg's original furnishings and instruments, lending insight to the life and times of the composer. €3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (children under 12). (updated May 2016)
• 5 Museum Mödling (Thonet-Schlössel), Josef-Deutsch-Platz 2, ☏ +43 2236-24 159, museum.moedling@tele2.at. M-Th 09:00-13:00, Sa 10:00-14:00, Su and holidays 14:00-18:00. The museum houses a collection of historic artifacts, from prehistoric until modern times. Along with the permanent exhibit there are special thematic exhibits. A small gift shop is onsite. €3 (adults), €2 (concessions), €1.50 (children), free (NÖ Card); includes admission for the Beethoven House and Volkskundemuseum. (updated May 2016)
  • 6 Beethoven Memorial House (Beethoven-Gedenkstätte), Hauptstraße 79, ☏ +43 2236 24159. M Th mornings (arranged through Museum Mödling). Beethoven spent the summer months of 1818 and 1819 in the 'Hafner House', which was built in the late 16th century. During his time here he composed the Missa Solemnis (op. 123), Sonata for Pianoforte in B-flat major (op. 106), and the Mödlinger Tänze. Included with admission for Museum Mödling. (updated May 2016)
  • 7 Volkskundemuseum (European Ethnology Museum), Klostergasse 16 (in the Hauerhaus), ☏ +43 2236-24 159. Easter - 6 Jan: Sa 10:00-14:00, Su and holidays 14:00-18:00. Operated by the Museum Mödling, this 15th-16th century building houses a collection of objects used in daily life prior to the 20th century. Included with admission for Museum Mödling. (updated May 2016)
• 8 Liechtenstein Castle (Burg Liechtenstein), Am Hausberg 2 (Naturpark Föhrenberge), ☏ +43 650 680 3901, office@burgliechtenstein.eu. Mar-Oct: daily 10:00-16:00 (last tour at 16:00), Sa Su and holidays 10:00-17:00 (last tour at 17:00); 3-15 Nov: daily 10:00-15:00 (last tour at 15:00), 16-30 Nov F-Su 10:00-15:00 (last tour at 15:00); 1-19 Dec: F-Su 10:00-15:00 (by appt. only; last tour at 15:00); Jan-Feb: by appt. only. Located on the southern fringe of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), the castle was first built in the 12th century and besieged twice by Ottoman forces; it sustained heavy damage during the Russian occupation following WWII. The castle is owned by the ruling family of Liechtenstein. The castle is open by tour only (in German and English); tours last 40-50 minutes and begin at the top of the hour. €8 (adults), €6 (students/soldiers/seniors), €5 (children).  
• 9 Mödling Castle ruins (Burgruine Mödling) (Naturpark Föhrenberge). The castle was built at the beginning of the 11th century. In the early 13th century, the poet Walther von der Vogelweide visited the castle, which was then the residence of a side-line of the Babenbergers. It sustained heavy damage during the first Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529, and was completely burned down following a lightning strike in 1556; since then it has lain in ruins. The castle is a popular hiking destination for locals. Free.  

Do

Föhrenberge Nature Park

• 1 City Pool (Stadtbad), Badstraße 25, ☏ +43 2236 2233522. Has indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, and an ice rink. 
• 2 Föhrenberge Nature Park (Naturpark Föhrenberge), ☏ +43 2236-22 335, markus.wildeis@noel.gv.at. Daylight hours. This extensive park is part of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), and encompasses the Liechtenstein Castle and Mödling Castle ruins (listed above). Popular recreational activities in the park include hiking and mountain biking. Free. (updated Jan 2017)
  • 3 Husaren Temple (Husarentempel). Built in the 19th century.  
  • 4 Black Tower (Schwarzer Turm). An artificial ruined castle from the early 19th century. 
  • 5 Josefswarte. A 12-m-high viewing platform built in the late 19th century which provides excellent views over the area.  

Buy

Pedestrian zone in the center of town

Most shops are in the central pedestrian area of Elisabethstraße, in the center of town; there are also a few shops along Haupstraße. Most shops are smaller specialty shops and boutiques.

• 1 Shopping City Süd, SCS-Straße, Vösendorf (5 km NE of Mödling, ~10 min by car), ☏ +43 1 69939690. M-W 09:30-17:00, Th 09:30-21:00, F 09:30-19:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. The largest shopping mall in Austria, where you can find just about anything you might need.  

Eat

• 1 Mautwirtshaus (MaWi), Kaiserin Elisabethstrasse 22, ☏ +43 2236 24481, office@mautwirtshaus.at. Daily 10:00-24:00, kitchen 11:00-23:00. Serves good and reasonably-priced food, specialises in Viennese cuisine. The small theatre Bühne Mayer ) is in the basement, and stages concerts, cabarets, and performance art. 
• 2 Babenbergerhof, Babenbergergasse 6, ☏ +43 2236 222 46 x405 (reservations), hotel@babenbergerhof.com. Daily 11:30-24:00. An excellent restaurant which serves classic Austrian dishes, operating in the Babenbergerhof Hotel (see listing below under 'Sleep'). (updated May 2016)

Sleep

• 1 Babenbergerhof, Babenbergergasse 6, ☏ +43 2236 222 46, hotel@babenbergerhof.com. From €69 singles, €83 doubles. 

Go next

• Baden bei Wien, is a smaller historic town 20 km south of Mödling. Famous for its baths and thermal waters. It features many beautiful buildings and beautiful parks from the Biedermeier period. There is a train and a tram line connecting Mödling and Baden.