Located 14km south of Vienna, this Lower Austrian town has a Baroque main square, historic churches, and green parks. A quiet base for Vienna visits with 25,000 residents.
Mödling, 15 kilometers south of Vienna, is a calm residential town where you can climb the Gothic tower of St. Othmar Church, hike through pine forests to the 13th-century Liechtenstein Castle, or stop at family-run wine taverns. The streets lined with Renaissance buildings tell stories of Beethoven's time here in 1818, when he composed parts of his Missa Solemnis while walking through the Vienna Woods.
Getting to Mödling
Trains depart from Vienna's main station to Mödling every 15 minutes, with a journey time of 20 minutes. The town serves as a transport hub, with local bus lines connecting to surrounding villages. Many residents commute to Vienna for work, and you can use Mödling as your starting point for exploring the Vienna Woods.
Walking Through the Old Town
Along the pedestrian zone at Schrannenplatz, you'll find Renaissance houses with detailed sgraffito art on their facades. The 15th-century St. Othmar Church rises above the square, its thick walls and high windows reflecting its dual purpose as a church and fortress. The adjacent Charnel House combines a Romanesque foundation with a Baroque roof - both buildings survived the Turkish siege of 1683.
Exploring Vienna Woods
The Naturpark Föhrenberge's limestone hills and pine forests surround Mödling. You can follow marked hiking paths through the nature reserve - the 2-hour circular route to Husarentempel requires only basic walking shoes. From the lookout point on Kleine Anninger hill, you can see across the Vienna Basin. The Eichkogel Nature Reserve protects several endangered plant species native to the region.
Castles and Fortifications
You can visit Liechtenstein Castle, perched on a hill above Mödling, on weekends from April to October. The Austrian Boy Scouts maintain this 13th-century fortress, which the Liechtenstein family (who later founded the principality) restored in the 1820s. While Mödling Castle lies in ruins, its stone walls high above the town mark the settlement's medieval origins.
Wine Culture
The hills around Mödling form part of the Thermenregion wine area. Local winemakers grow their grapes on south-facing slopes, continuing centuries of viticulture. Visit the Heurigen (wine taverns) between August and October during Wine Autumn, when vintners serve their newest wines alongside cold platters of local meats and cheeses.
Museums and Cultural Sites
The Beethoven memorial room displays documents and personal items from the composer's stay in 1818-19. At the Museum Mödling in Thonetschlössl, you can examine archaeological finds from the Roman period through medieval times. The Schönberg House preserves the composer's original living quarters and workspace. The town hall's historic registry office, with its painted ceiling and carved wooden doors, remains a popular wedding venue.
