Schloss Laxenburg

Schloss Laxenburg Review

A couple of miles east of Mödling is Schloss Laxenburg, a complex consisting of a small 14th-century Altes Schloss (Old Castle), a large Baroque Neues Schloss (New Castle), and the early-19th-century Franzensburg, a neo-Gothic castle set into the sizable lake. The Altes Schloss, built in 1381 by Duke Albrecht III as his summer residence, houses the Austrian Film Archive. Several Habsburg emperors spent summers in the Neues Schloss (also called the "Blauer Hof"), which is now the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis research institute. Opposite the Neues Schloss is the large Baroque convent of the order of the Charitable Sisters. There are several casual restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating.

Of the three castles, only the Franzensburg is open to the public. Weather permitting, you can also partake in the 4 pm tour of the tower and roof for an additional €5. €6. Tours [in German] daily at 11, 2, and 3.

The Schlosspark, which has been restored to its 18th- and 19th-century form, is full of birds and small game, such as roe deer and hare, and is ornamented with statues, cascades, imitation temples, and other follies. It's popular in summer for families with children because there are pony rides, a small playground, and an open-air train that runs through the park past all the sights. €1.50. Daily.