Ferdinand-Warte viewpoint
Lookout tower, Scenic lookout
Description
The lookout point in the Dunkelsteinerwald forest offers a view of Rossatz, Dürnstein, Loiben, Stein and Krems as far as Göttweig.
The Ferdinand-Warte high above the Danube valley offers one of the most spectacular views in the Wachau. The perfect location on a sloping rocky outcrop makes you feel as if you are floating above the Danube. The unique panorama extends from the vineyards of the Wachau, over the wooded hills of the southern Waldviertel and deep into the Tullnerfeld, with Dürnstein with its blue tower and the towns of Krems and Stein with their picturesque silhouettes always in the foreground.
The Ferdinand-Warte has a long tradition: it was built back in 1890 by the "Austrian Tourist Club" and was named after the then heir to the throne, Archduke Ferdinand. It has been a popular excursion destination ever since, and understandably so, as it is not only the view that attracts visitors, but also the numerous hiking trails that lead to it. On the paths, the landscape seems to change almost at every turn, sometimes you walk in the Mediterranean-like climes of the Wachau, sometimes through the dense forests and idyllic fields of the Dunkelsteinerwald.
The Ferdinand lookout tower is located near the village of Unterbergern in the municipality of Bergern/Dunkelsteinerwald and has been owned by the municipality of Mautern since 1960, which is also responsible for its preservation. In 2023, the lookout was renovated true to the original and the access was improved, and now it shines again in its old/new splendor.
There are two ways to reach this lookout point:
1st option: on the right bank of the Danube approx. 500 m before the village of Hundsheim (municipality of Mautern) is a narrow ascent that requires some fitness, approx. 1/2 hour. Parking is available on the left side of the road, where there is also a rest area.
2nd option: car parking in the village of Unterbergern, 1/2 hour easy walk directly to the control room or by car on the World Heritage Trail via the goods road to approx. 500 m before the Ferdinand-Warte.
