Roter Berg, Vienna

The Rote Berg is a 262-metre hill in the southern part of Vienna’s 13th district, Hietzing. It lies between the district parts of Ober-St.-Veit and Lainz, forming a quiet green space with the Girzenberg and Trazerberg hills nearby. The hill’s red soil, rich in iron oxide, gave it its name and distinguishes it from surrounding areas. Beneath the surface, ancient rock layers from the Mesozoic era are exposed, including red and green cherty limestones that once supplied stone for local quarries. A railway tunnel runs underground, connecting the West and South lines without disturbing the hill’s surface. The hill first appears in records from 1819, though its vineyards and meadows had long been worked by local farmers. After Vienna expanded in 1892, the area became a popular spot for residents of nearby districts to walk and relax. A sombre moment in its history came in 1981 when a politician was killed on its slopes, now marked by a path and memorial. Despite nearby building, much of the hill remains open grassland and woodland, accessible to the public. Visitors find a network of paths winding through meadows and light woodland, with views limited to the north and east where the trees thin. A small playground and sports fields sit on the lower slopes, while the summit is mostly covered in trees. Dogs are allowed in a designated zone, and parts of the hillside remain in private hands but are open to walkers. The Heinz-Nittel-Weg crosses the eastern edge, leading towards quiet corners of the green space.