Easy hikes and walks around Rohrau

Die Andreas-Maurer-Brücke in Petronell-Carnuntum ist nach dem ehemaligen niederösterreichischen Landeshauptmann Andreas Maurer (1919–2010) benannt, der von 1966 bis 1981 an der Spitze des Bundeslandes stand. Die Brücke dient als Verkehrsverbindung und erinnert mit ihrem Namen an eine prägende Persönlichkeit der niederösterreichischen Landespolitik. Für Wanderer ist sie zugleich ein Orientierungspunkt auf dem Weg durch die geschichtsträchtige Umgebung von Carnuntum.

A particularly beautiful section along the Danube in the Donau-Auen National Park, where the river and the largely untouched floodplain landscape dominate the scenery. Between dense riparian forest and open bank areas, there are always beautiful views of the Danube and the opposite bank. The calm atmosphere and the interplay of water, gravel areas, and lush vegetation make this section an attractive part of the hike between Petronell-Carnuntum and Bad Deutsch-Altenburg.

Directly on the banks of the Danube, the landscape shows its calm and original side. The wide river, the bank vegetation, and the surrounding floodplain forests form a beautiful contrast to the fields and historical sights around Carnuntum. An idyllic place to pause for a moment, let your gaze wander over the water, and enjoy the special atmosphere of the Danube landscape.

This distinctive tree on the path to the Danube stands out with a small religious shrine and the attached flood markings. The markings commemorate past flood events and vividly show how high the water has risen here at times. An inconspicuous but interesting place where the region's religious traditions connect with the history of the Danube and its floods.

Von Petronell-Carnuntum führt der Weg hinaus aus dem historischen Ortsgebiet in Richtung Donau. Die Landschaft wird zunehmend offener und bietet schöne Ausblicke über die Felder und die weite Ebene entlang des Flusses. Nach den zahlreichen römischen Sehenswürdigkeiten von Carnuntum ist dieser Abschnitt ein angenehmer Wechsel zu mehr Natur und Ruhe. Besonders reizvoll ist der Übergang von der geschichtsträchtigen Römerstadt zur weitläufigen Donaulandschaft.

From here, there is a beautiful view of the imposing Petronell Castle, also known as Traun Castle, which is one of the most important Renaissance and Baroque castles in Lower Austria. The extensive, originally medieval complex was redesigned into a representative castle in the 17th century and still shapes the townscape of Petronell-Carnuntum today. Particularly impressive are the mighty building wings and the closed four-wing complex with its distinctive corner towers. A beautiful sight and another historical highlight apart from the Roman sights of Carnuntum.

The rotunda of St. John the Baptist in Petronell-Carnuntum is one of the remarkable medieval architectural monuments of the region. The Romanesque rotunda probably dates from the first half of the 12th century and is particularly striking for its unusual circular architecture. Stones from ancient Carnuntum were also reused for its construction, thus connecting Roman and medieval history here. A small, but worth seeing historical site away from the better-known Roman excavation sites.

Carnuntum was once one of the most important cities on the Danube border of the Roman Empire and the capital of the province of Pannonia Superior. In its heyday, an estimated 50,000 people lived in the greater Carnuntum area, including soldiers, merchants, and craftsmen. Today, the Archaeological Park allows visitors to discover faithfully reconstructed residential buildings, a Roman thermal bath, and numerous other testimonies of ancient daily life. It is particularly fascinating how history is brought to life here not only through ruins but also through fully furnished and partially heated buildings.