Rohrwald

The Rohrwald is a large forest complex in Lower Austria’s Weinviertel region, covering about 24 square kilometres. It lies on the edge of the Korneuburg Basin, where several streams cross its slopes, unusual for this mostly flat and farmed countryside. The forest spreads across four municipalities, with most of it in the Rückersdorf cadastral area. It forms the third largest closed woodland in the Korneuburg district, after the Tulln Basin floodplains and the Ernstbrunn Forest. Because the Weinviertel is so sparsely wooded and heavily used for agriculture, the Rohrwald is important both ecologically and as a local retreat. The western hills of the Rohrwald include the Waschberg and Michelberg, which rise above the tree line and offer wide views. These peaks belong to the Weinviertel cliff zone, a geological link between the Alps and the Carpathians. The area is protected under Natura 2000 and FFH rules for its rare habitats and species. Beneath the soil lie layers of schist, clay, marl and Greifenstein sandstone, with limestone quarries revealing fossils of prehistoric animals. The highest points are Michelberg at 409 metres, Waschberg at 388 metres, and Steinberg at 375 metres. Among the sights is Kreuzenstein Castle, a popular museum perched above the forest near Leobendorf. The Schwedenhöhlen, or Swedish Caves, are loess-cut earthen stables from the 16th and 17th centuries that once sheltered villagers during wars. Near Oberrohrbach, the Golden Spring is a small brick-covered source with a legend linking it to King Rudolf I. The Rohrwald also appears in Johannes Grenzfurthner’s horror film Razzennest, filmed entirely in the region.