Peaceful Oasis.

Türkenschanzpark
1180 Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 31
Coordinates: 48°14'2.30"N, 16°20'15.50"E

Schwarzenbergpark (on the greens)
1170 Vienna, ca. Neuwaldegger Straße 59
Coordinates: 48°14'24.98"N, 16°16'41.20"E

Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark
1180 Vienna, Pötzleinsdorfer Straße 68
Coordinates: 48°14'28.53"N, 16°18'35.95"E

Google-Maps

Urbs, you all know the feeling, it's getting towards the end of a busy day at work or college, and you are at the end of your bodily and mental energies. It's time to chill. A drink at the local, or falling asleep in front of the TV are favourite ways of unwinding. But both have big disadvantages, the first comes with a hangover and the other strains the eyes. Urbs aren't as masochistic, and they usually chose something a bit healthier. Armed with a blanket or a hammock they head for the city's peaceful oasis to commune with nature, catch the last rays of sunshine, and ideally snuggle with a loved one.

TÜRKENSCHANZPARK
Water – the still element – rules this park and its English landscapes. There are several peaceful ponds, connected by little streams and decorated by softly babbling fountains that quickly switch the nervous system over to recovery mode. While wandering through the park the Urb quickly notices evidence of the work of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. There are numerous botanic rarities from every continent as well as a teaching pond where you can study life in and around the water, (booking required). And Pauline, the park's water and viewing tower, has at last received a new dress, it's open to the public again at the weekends after 25 years and there is a great panoramic view. Other activities include, card games, children's play area, beach volleyball, football, basketball, the »Monmartre« culture festival in summer, and the Christmas market at advent.

SCHWARZENBERGPARK
This was also once an English landscape garden, and was one of the first and biggest in Europe. Graf von Lacy, who created it, was also a committed walker and lived for his park, and he is buried here too. The temple-like monument is at the centre of a patch of woodland near Höhenstraße, and this is right in the middle of the huge site. It begins at Schloss Neuwaldegg and then an asphalt road (Schwarzenbergallee) runs about 3km to the Vienna Woods. It is a popular destination for day trips, and that means a lot of people, but if you get off the beaten path, 500m NE past Neuwaldegger Straße, you end up on the expansive lawns of the park. These peace-ful lawns surrounded by cool trees are called Grünbergwiese, Mittereckwiese and Tiefauwiese. Here you can relax, picnic, play ball games and slakline to your heart's content.

PÖTZLEINSDORFER SCHLOSSPARK
This park, also an English garden project, designed by the landscape gardener Konrad Rosenthal was commissioned by the Geymüller banking house. Geymüller's bankruptcy and the bombs of WWII left the park in a terrible state, but you can still feel its former elegance. A walk through the park is relaxing and full of variety at the same time, because between the lawns and patches of woodland there are lots of romantic features. For example there are the Attikastatuen (statues of a quartet of singers) of the old Ring Theatre, a Greek temple, a classical gazebo, and a grotto for swimming. At the entrance there are play areas and lawns, and a petting zoo beckons, where they have chickens, sheep, and goats. Just in case you need something to persuade a companion to come along on your walk ;-)

IN ANSWER TO BAROQUE – THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE GARDEN
Mathematical strictness, straight paths, trimmed hedges and geometric flower beds – these are the primary characteristics of Baroque gardens, of which Schönbrunn is a beautiful example. In the 18th century a reaction came to the artificial forms of landscape design, the English garden. Here the goal was to base design on what nature had to offer. Geometric elements disappeared and the creation of the greatest possible variety of artistic vistas was the goal, which were to be reminiscent of a naturally occurring landscape. Meandering paths led past streams, ponds, grottoes, ruins amid foliage that fit with the style. In Vienna these »walk-in landscapes« have primarily been preserved in the parks described here.

SLACKLINING – A WAY IN BALANCE
Wherever two trees grow close together, it's time to unpack the slackline. And our parks in Vienna could almost have been designed for slacklining, which is ‘walking’ along narrow or wide nylon webbing strung between two anchor points. This sport was developed by climbers in Yosemite National Park in the early 80s. A slackline can be setup almost anywhere, is a lot of fun, doesn't cost much, and has been brought to an urban setting. Slacklining is a good training for balance, concentration and coordination. For anyone who has never tried it, it's a real kick, especially when there is a group of you! And if you do manage to get to the other end without a wobble, you can join the circus as a high wire artist!

AREA TIPS
Türkenschanzpark
Opening times: 6am to 10pm
1180 Vienna, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 31

Schwarzenbergpark
Quickest access to the lawns:
1170 Vienna, ca. Neuwaldegger Straße 59

Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark
Opening times: 8am till dusk
1180 Vienna, Pötzleinsdorfer Straße 68

Auer-Welsbach-Park
Small, but was also once an English garden with lawns!
1150 Vienna, Winckelmannstraße 2

Teaching pond in Türkenschanzpark
Bookings: +43-1-4797694

Monmartre – Culture Festival in the Park
www.montmartre.at

Photos: Slackline ©Simon Hörl, Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark ©Wolfgang Glock