Time for nature.

6 national parks Nothing touches us under one roof. NATIONALPARK THAYATAL like the untouched. Nationalparkhaus, 2082 T: +43 29 49 / 70 05-0

www.np-thayatal.at

NATIONALPARK NATIONALPARK @nationalparkthayatal npthayatal 's six national parks, Thayatal ( Valley), Hohe Tauern, DONAU-AUEN KALKALPEN Donau-Auen (Danube wetland), Gesäuse, Neusiedlersee- schlossORTH Nationalpark- Nationalpark Zentrum Molln parks the national of Austria for Time Zentrum, 2304 Orth/Donau Nationalpark Allee 1, 4591 Molln Seewinkel and the Kalkalpen (Limestone ), protect the T: +43 22 12 / 35 55 T: +43 75 84 / 36 51 greatest natural treasures of our nation. Across a total of 2,380 www.donauauen.at www.kalkalpen.at square kilometres, they accommodate astonishing natural @np_donau_auen @nationalparkkalkalpen donauauen WaldWildnis NATIONALPARK landscapes and provide vital habitats for a large number of HOHE TAUERN endangered animals and plant species. Here in these enclosures, Carinthia: Besucherzentrum Mallnitz nature has enough space to evolve freely. It is the expressed Mallnitz 36, 9822 Mallnitz purpose of the national parks to safeguard these areas and keep T: +43 48 25 / 61 61

Salzburg: them alive for future generations Nationalparkzentrum Mittersill to come. NATIONALPARK NATIONALPARK Gerlosstraße 18, 5730 Mittersill T: +43 65 62 / 408 49 GESÄUSE NEUSIEDLER SEE Tyrol: Under the umbrella association “Nationalparks Austria”, these six Informationsbüro – SEEWINKEL Nationalparkhaus Matrei Hauptstraße 35, 8911 Admont Kirchplatz 2, 9971 Matrei Austrian national parks are closely collaborating with the Federal Nationalpark Informationszentrum­ T: +43 36 13 / 211 60 20 T: +43 48 75 / 51 61-10 Illmitz, Hauswiese, 7142 Illmitz Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism, in a steady effort to raise www.nationalpark.co.at T: +43 21 75 / 34 42 www.hohetauern.at awareness for the immeasurable value of our natural heritage. NationalparkGesaeuse www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee- @nationalpark__hohetauern seewinkel.at Hohe.Tauern 365 days a year, visitors are invited to witness impressive spectacles of nature – from the freezing cold to refreshing WWW.NATIONALPARKSAUSTRIA.AT summer showers, from the magnificent bloom of the flora to NationalparksAustria @nationalparksaustria forest landscapes dipped in gold.

Dive into the world of our local national parks. Set some time IMPRINT AND LEGAL INFORMATION • Publisher and media owner Verein Nationalparks Austria, Project “Public­ Relations Nationalparks Austria aside to witness this declaration of love for untouched nature. 2015-2018”, Nationalpark Allee 1, 4591 Molln, ZVR 798627861, UID: ATU 67891114, [email protected], www.nationalparksaustria.at • Execution and design Eat Write Live OG, Katharina M. Zimmermann, Vera Bachernegg, www.eatwritelive.com • Graphic conception and design ­Verena Jauk, www.verenajauk.com • Translation Philip Iroh • Photography Nationalparks Austria; Stefan Leitner, cover photos, p. 18, 19, 28; popphackner photography, p. 4; Dieter Manhart,­ p. 6, 7; Marc Graf, p. 7; Tobias Kaser, p. 8, 10; Hannah Assil, p. 10; Daniel Zupanc, p. 11; Katja Hasenöhrl, p. 12; Zsolt Kudich, p. 14; Franz Kovacs, p. 15; Sendor Zeman, p. 15; Andreas Hollinger, p. 16, 17; Klaus Schneider, Archiv NP Neusiedlersee – Seewinkel, p. 20; medialand, Archiv NP Neusiedlersee – Seewinkel, p. 22; A. Hombauer, Archiv NP Neusiedler­see – Seewinkel, p. 23; Archiv NP Neusiedlersee – Seewinkel, p. 23; Franz Sieghartsleitner, p. 24, 25; Erich Mayrhofer, p. 26, 27; Marc Graf, Christine Sonvilla, p. 27; Heinz Peterherr, p. 28; Martin Lugger, p. 29; Lennart Horst, back cover • First Edition, published in 2018 • For the sake of fluid legibility,

all gender-specific wordings are to be understood as neutral. Women and men are addressed equally. Editorial 1 SPRING AT THE THAYATAL 2 EARLY SUMMER AT THE We give nature NATIONAL PARK HOHE TAUERN NATIONAL PARK

FOUNDED: AREA: ANIMAL AMBASSADOR: FOUNDED: AREA: ANIMAL AMBASSADOR: 2000 1,360 acres Wildcat 1981 185,600 acres Golden eagle time and space to LANDSCAPE: NATIONAL PARK FACT: LANDSCAPE: NATIONAL PARK FACT: 92 % Forest . This protected area 54 % Glaciers, ruderal species, This is the alpine 3 % Waterbodies . transcends borders: It sheer rock walls, dwarf shrub national park with 4 % Meadows . encompasses the Thayatal garrigues . the mightiest develop freely. 1 % Dry grassland in both Austria and the 32 % Subalpine/alpine lawns waterfalls in all of and rocks . . and alpine agriculture . Europe, the highest 9 % Forest . summits in Austria 4 % Alder and mountain and the biggest Join us, as we journey through all six pine shrubs . glacial areas in the 1 % Waterbodies . Eastern Alps. national parks. We start our trip in spring, in the Thayatal and venture through Thaya 1 Austria's natural wonders, ending up in Retz 3 HIGH SUMMER AT THE the winter wonderland of the Kalkalpen NIEDER- DONAU-AUEN NATIONAL PARK ÖSTERREICH

National Park. All you need to pack is a FOUNDED: AREA: ANIMAL AMBASSADOR:

u a 1996 9,600 acres European pond n little imagination and you will start Do terrapin Linz WIEN 3 to hear, smell and even feel the OBER- LANDSCAPE: NATIONAL PARK FACT: ÖSTERREICH Steyr St. Pölten 65 % Alluvial forest . One of Europe's . national parks. Neusiedl am See 15 % Meadows last big floodplain 20 % Waterbodies . landscapes. Salzburg 6 5

Eisenstadt 4 GOLDEN AUTUMN AT THE Bregenz 4 GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK Zell am See BUR- TIROL GEN- VORARL- 2 STEIERMARK FOUNDED: AREA: ANIMAL AMBASSADOR: SALZBURG LAND BERG Innsbruck 2002 11,306 acres Rosalia longicorn

LANDSCAPE: NATIONAL PARK FACT: 52 % Forest . The Gesäuse is a Graz 24 % Rock and rubble . hotspot of endemisms OSTTIROL 13,5 % Mountain pine for plants, insects, and Lienz KÄRNTEN shrubs and bushes . spiders. An endemism Spittal 10 % Alpine lawns is globally unique and and meadows . confined to one specific . Klagenfurt 0,5 % Waterbodies region.

5 DEEP AUTUMN AT THE 6 WINTER AT THE KALK ​ NEUSIEDLER SEE – SEEWINKEL With the change ALPEN NATIONAL PARK NATIONAL PARK

FOUNDED: AREA: ANIMAL AMBASSADOR: FOUNDED: AREA: ANIMAL AMBASSADOR: 1997 20,856 acres Lynx 1993 9,673 acres Common spoonbill of the seasons we travel LANDSCAPE: NATIONAL PARK FACT: LANDSCAPE: NATIONAL PARK FACT: 81 % Forest . It is one of Austria's 43 % Reed . Among the 300 bird species 11 % Alp and rock . largest forest enclosures. 30 % Lawns . inhabiting visiting this area, 8 % Mountain pine The oldest beeches are 27 % Lakes and one can often find stray across Austria. shrubs . over 500 years old. ponds . flamingos and pelicans. AT THE THAYATAL NATIONAL PARK The valley is full of energy. The Thaya riverside is coated by a myriad of snowdrops. The further one ascends, the

more intense the colours Park National Thayatal the for Time get: purple, pink and yellow blossoms decorate the steep forest hillsides. The loops of the rivers glisten in the sun. In spring, the Thaya Valley presents its freshest, brightest and most colourful side.

4 Spring AURAL DELIGHTS

The hum of a rapidly passing bumblebee • The soft rustle of the flowing Thaya • The fresh spring air flowing through light green leaves of beeches and oak trees • Ducks splashing in the water • The mountain

trails are still littered with the dark- Park National Thayatal the for Time coloured crunchy autumn leaves • The black woodpecker is knocking away in the treetops: It's spring.

FOR THE NOSY

Pollen-dust • The warm air meeting the untouched river banks • The dark and moist smell of the forest floor in spring • The world in bloom tickles The Hardegg castle is located in Austria's smallest town, in the heart smallest town, park of the national area. in Austria's castle is located Hardegg The your nose. Spring is finally here: The green-winged orchid in full bloom. orchid green-winged The Spring is finally here: 6 Spring AT THE HOHE TAUERN NATIONAL PARK The home of Austria's highest mountain awakes and follows suit. The glaciers are slowly but surely shedding their winter coats. Where the snow yields, the highland's masters of adaptation breathe new life into the glacial forefields. A groundhog calls from a distance. Time for the Hohe Tauern National Park Park National Tauern the Hohe for Time

8 Early Summer AURAL DELIGHTS

A rock has come loose and is tumbling down the steep cliff • The air, as it

whizzes through the wings of the waterfall Stotzbach The makes itself heard. bearded vulture • The blubbering of mountain rivers, thirsty for glacial Time for the Hohe Tauern National Park Early Summer Park National Tauern the Hohe for Time water • The rumbling thunder of the waterfall • The incessant whistling of the wind around all the mountain summits. In nature lies peace. In nature

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING

The cold breath of the waterfall on your face, the sprinkle hitting your sun- heated body • Loose, crunching stones underneath ­hiking boots • Warm, sharp rock • The light tickle of the freshly cut meadows • Soft, dewy moss. 10 AT THE DONAU-AUEN NATIONAL PARK It is hot. The sun is emanating heat that makes the air shimmer. The alluvial forest has become a dense, almost impenetrable jungle. The side branches of the Danube are covered with water lilies – dragonflies dance around, a ring snake meanders through the water. On the sandy and gravelly shores of the great river, Park National the Donau-Auen for Time willows cast a soft shadow. Midsummer is here.

12 High summer Beach feeling meets alluvial forest. Beach feeling The Danube has a total length of roughly 2,850 kilometres. length of roughly Danube has a total The Time for the Donau-Auen National Park National the Donau-Auen for Time

FOR THE NOSY

The smell of water and grass • The clearing in the forest on a damp lawn • The steaming soil in the al- luvial forest after a summer storm • The aquatic mint •

AURAL DELIGHTS The alluvial jungle in high summer. Ribbiting frogs • Screeching herons • The call of the kingfisher • The sound of rolling pebbles on the Danube beach • A gust of wind brushes across the meadows, populus, and alders • The hum and buzz of insects • Little ringed

14 plovers are breeding in the rubble by the Danube. High summer Time for the Gesäuse National Park the Gesäuse Park National for Time

AT THE GESÄUSE NATIONAL PARK

The night turns cold and you start to see your own breath. Especially when the sun has set and the sparkling starry canopy has been erected above the infamous mountain group. During the day the larches and beeches in all of Europe. witness nightfall to it is one of the darkest places for the stars shine especially bright, the Gesäuse, At glow yellow – the Gesäuse has thrown itself into its most colourful robe.

16 Golden autumn AURAL DELIGHTS

The rushing and bustling of the Enns river • The rocks cra- cking and rubbing against each other • The wind blowing through the forest • A yellow leaf, making a brief rustle, finds its resting place on the forest floor • The roar of deer almost sounds like a screeching door • It is mating season. Time for the Gesäuse National Park the Gesäuse Park National for Time The yellow larches form the Gesäuse's guard of honour by the Enns river. the Enns river. of honour by the Gesäuse's guard form larches yellow The

FOR THE NOSY

The smell of mushrooms in the forest • The fresh feel of the Enns river • An old fir • Cold air • Damp moss • Dry, ruffled foliage. Golden autumn 18 in the Northern located rugged chalk summits of the Ennstal alps, Alps. The Limestone AT THE NEUSIEDLER SEE – SEEWINKEL NATIONAL PARK It would take the grey goose just a couple minutes in flight south of Vienna to arrive at the place where everyone and everything with rank and beak meets. At the edge of the lake, on the pastures and at the lakeside, birds rest, recharge their batteries and sleep. Between salt lakes, reeds and vineyards a whole range of beige tones

are on display. Thousands of geese and cranes the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel Park National for Time can be spotted in wedge formation in the sky before entering the frost-stricken winter.

20 Deep autumn Austria's largest lake, characteristically surrounded by reeds. reeds. characteristicallyby surrounded lake, largest Austria's

FOR THE NOSY Time for the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel Park National for Time Wet wood • A raincoat • Brackish water • Steps in The singing of cranes from the surrounding villages can also be heard in autumn. villages can also be heard the surrounding from of cranes singing The the mud • Raindrops on the dry lake floor • Fi- re-red rosehips.

AURAL DELIGHTS

The constant wind, crackling in the leafless reed stems • Up above, you can hear the south-bound birds seemingly hollering at each other in order to navigate • The soft ­knocking of rain on the wooden roof of the observatory.

22 Deep autumn Time for the Kalkalpen National Park the Kalkalpen for Time Park National

AT THE KALKALPEN NATIONAL PARK

The days have gotten shorter and the cold has the mountains and

valleys firmly in its grasp. The fairyA winter and blue. tale in white lynx sneaks through the white in search of food. Everywhere you look, the winter forest glitters and sparkles. Snowshoe hikers walk through the silence of resting nature, following tracks in the snow. The Kalkalpen summits appear in their winter coat.

24 Winter FOR THE NOSY The feeling of the cold winter air filling your nostrils • A cup of tea • The faint scent of pine needles • Fresh snow. Rich in lakes, rivers, and forests: The Kalkalpen. Kalkalpen. The and forests: rivers, Rich in lakes,

AURAL DELIGHTS The careful treading of the lynx • An icicle breaks off • The pleading cry of a young eagle • The creaking of the mixed woodland • The wind blowing powdery snow off of the trees • Hands, rubbing against each other for warmth • But most- One of the Kalkalpen's most famous residents: The Lynx. Lynx. The One of the Kalkalpen's most famous residents: 26 ly, it is quiet – because winter brings calm. Winter the Kalkalpen for Time Park National The national parks – united by their shared values.

National parks of today aren't just NATURE AND WILDLIFE RESERVES, but also AREAS OF EN- COUNTER. Human beings and animals meet each other with respect. Every national park must adhere to in- ternational rules. These are stipulated by the International Union for Conservation of The concept of having a In 1971, the A ustrian Nature, the IUCN. All Austrian national parks national park originates from the NATIONAL PARK MO- are internationally acknowledged as protected 1872 United States. In , the world's VEMENT has started. areas in the CATEGORY II. first national park, Yellowstone The latest Austrian ­National Park, was founded. national park was foun- ded in 2002.

The tasks of national parks go far beyond Whether by boat, over sticks preserving nature. and stones or through snowy They are important terrain – the RANGERS bring RESEARCH ­CENTRES, nature to the visitors and popular RECREATIO- inspire them with their NAL AREAS and im- stories. All Austrian rangers portant players in have completed a certified the field of ENVIRON­ course. MENTAL EDUCATION. Have we got you curious?

WWW.NATIONALPARKSAUSTRIA.AT @nationalparksaustria NationalparksAustria