On the hunt for beer in the brewing town of Zwettl
If a brewing town invites you to enjoy a short break, it would be rude to turn it down. Especially when this town is as beautiful and diverse as Zwettl.
Zwettl, known by many as the coldest place in Austria, entices visitors with its picturesque old town and mouth-watering beer. If you want to treat yourself and discover something new, please read more.
Don't mix grape and grain, trust us!
Idyllically nestled between the Zwettl and Kamp rivers, Zwettl is the historic and infrastructural centre of the Waldviertel. The first stop for beer lovers should be one of the large private breweries: The ‘Zwettler Dämmerschoppen’ brewery tour tells you everything you need to know about the liquid gold and also includes a tasting session with tasty beer bread. The Zisterzienser monastery in Zwettl is also an impressive venue. It is an historic architectural jewel and spiritual centre of the Waldviertel, with a beautiful monastery garden: we recommend an expert guided tour (for groups and individuals). The monastery, which is only three kilometres from the city centre and can be reached by foot via the Thayaquelle trail selling fresh trout and the famous Waldviertel carp every Saturday!
Reinvigorate your senses in the Waldviertel
To cool down, we recommend a dip in the wonderfully refreshing Zwettl lido, which is also the starting point for many walking routes; if you prefer walking, please take a look at the walking blog www.zwalk.at before your visit – this website has the best tips and recommendations together with detailed walking routes in and around Zwettl! We have another top secret tip to share with water babies: The Ottensteiner Stausee lake, where you can camp, bathe and sail boats is not far from Zwettl. Stand-up paddling boarding is the latest activity you can also try here.
A good gut feeling
All the sightseeing and activities you do will build up your appetite. That's why we have explored Zwettl's gastro scene and can heartily recommend the ‘Bierknödl’ beer dumpling in the Wirtshaus im Demutsgraben inn. For the ‘best-ever goulash in the Waldviertel’ go to the restaurant Gasthof zum Dichter Robert Hamerling, which is run by the Schierhuber family. If you are after something sweet, order a sugary Braustadt-Igel pastry creation with your afternoon coffee from Konditorei Schön patisserie on Dreifaltigkeitsplatz square. If you like to know where you food comes from, visit the tasty Bio-Bäckerei Hölzl [Hölzl organic bakery] on Unterwindhang and Erdäpfelwelt Schweiggers [Schweigger’s Potato World]. You will also find the best produce from the region at the jovial Zwettl farmer's market every Friday from 8.00 a.m.
Beauty sleep for shopping queens
You will find many shops behind the Baroque façades around the Zwettler market place with the colourful Hundertwasser fountain. Our shopping tip: Enjoy the historic atmosphere and step into the first Sonnentor shop called ‘Unterm Hollerbusch’. A trade in hand finds gold in every land and this saying comes to life in the workshops in Zwettl: in Erwin Weber's KRISTALLIUM crystal studio and in woodturner Andreas Reiter's workshop, you can watch the craftsmen at work, give it a go yourself (please book in advance) and of course, shop. One day in Zwettl isn’t long enough so we have a hotel tip to share with you: The popular ‘Schwarz Alm’ hotel with fantastic wellness facilities in the quiet outskirts is also the start of many forest walking trails leading to heart of Zwettl’s old town.