Elitist Romance.

Challenge: 1 (sandal)
Circuit: Lainzer Tor visitor centre via the Hohenauer pond and Hermesvilla
Length: 2.48km
Start point: Lainzer Tor (Hermesstraße 13)
Coordinates: 48°10'1.01"N, 16°15'23.49"E
Public transport: 60B > Lainzer Tor stop (stop is directly by the entrance)  

ROUTE DESCRIPTION
It's hard to find something more luxurious for a Sunday afternoon. Well rested, and equipped with a picnic basket, the urbs march towards Lainzer Tor to laze about in the open air for once. This route has loads of clearings, both shady and sunny, to offer. The path is level and easy to master (no obstacles) and there are lots of impressive things to see. The fairytale gardens and lush spaces of Hermesvilla take us to another time, and red deer, feral sheep and wild cattle are a pleasure to watch.  

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ROUTE
Through Lainzer Tor, you end up in a small area with a visitor centre. Here take the straight, asphalt path (continuing from the gate entrance). An animal enclosure with various red deer should be on your right, and a children's play area on the left. Follow this path straight on for a little way, till a small path through the fields, which leads to the Hohenauer pond, goes off to the left. The pond is teeming with carp, and they are all hungry ;-) There are hungry ducks here too, but they hardly have a chance against the carp.  

Back on the wide asphalt path, go a little bit further on, until another path opens up on the left, which goes past the aurochs enclosure. At the end of the path, take the right, which takes you back to the wide main path (signposted Hermesvilla). You go past another clearing, to the entrance to the Hermesvilla court yard. You will probably enjoy a tour round the gardens, and afterwards the way leads back out through the door opposite the entrance. Then we go over a small bridge, and come to a fork in the path where you go straight ahead (there are lots of signs, but none say ‘Lainzer Tor’).  

Now we take a long sweeping turn to the right, passing another field where animals can be fed, to arrive at a sign – Lainzer Tor-Naturlahrpfad [nature trail]. You can take this trail if you like (seeing feral sheep and fallow deer enclosures), or carry on along the wide asphalt path, which leads at last back to Lainzer Tor.  

AREA TIPS  
Lainzer Tor
Opening times:
February, March and October: 9am till 6pm
April to September: 8am till 8pm
November to January: 9am till 5pm  

Wild herbs tour
The secrets of Austria's herbs are revealed,
with an introduction to how they can be used...
Phone +43 1 804 31 69 to arrange a tour.  

Restaurant Cafe Hermesvilla
Good Viennese cuisine, coffee and cakes.
1130 Wien, Hermesstraße 209  
Hermesvilla Museum Temporary exhibitions
and an insight into life for the imperial family
away from court. We particularly recommend
the empress' bed chamber and the collection
of clothes in the attic.
1130 Wien, Hermesstraße 209