Wagram

The Wagram is a long, steep ridge of loess soil rising up to 40 metres above the northern bank of the Danube in Lower Austria. It stretches from Krems eastwards, forming the northern edge of the Tullnerfeld plain before merging into the gently rolling hills of the Weinviertel. The fertile soils and mild climate have shaped both the landscape and the local way of life for centuries. The ridge’s name comes from old German words meaning ‘water’ and ‘slope’, reflecting its position beside the river. Beneath the vineyards lie ancient sea sands and layers of Danube gravel, evidence of a vanished sea that once covered the basin. Traces of early settlement appear in Bronze-Age burial mounds such as the Leeberg near Pettendorf, while medieval settlers from Passau left their mark in place names and churches. Visitors walk or cycle along twelve marked routes that follow the ridge and its slopes. At Fels am Wagram the rock face emerges, showing why the soils stay dry and the wines have their distinctive character. In villages like Kirchberg and Stetteldorf old farmyards and manor houses stand beside modern cellars carved into the loess. Apricot and cherry orchards line the paths, their blossom scenting the air in spring.