Theresienwarte

The Theresienwarte is an observation tower on the Hühnerberg hill in Baden’s upper spa gardens. It stands near the Richtberg, a spot once called the highest gallows in Lower Austria before they were removed in 1788. The name Hühnerberg recalls the giant Hun, said to have founded the town. The hill rises north of Baden’s centre and overlooks the southern Vienna Basin. The first wooden tower was built in 1884 with funds from Theresia Göschl and stood 16 metres tall. After repairs in 1912 and 1980, the structure was taken down in 2014 because of rot. A new 18.48-metre tower, clad in slatted wood, opened in March 2016. Its viewing deck sits 17.28 metres above ground and is open most of the year. Visitors climb the spiral staircase to the platform and find views across Baden and the Vienna Basin. The tower’s lamella walls frame the panorama without glare. In clear weather the Schneeberg and the eastern Alps appear on the horizon. The surrounding Kurpark offers benches and shaded paths for a rest after the short ascent.