Enjoying the Culture 219Summer Sports
Hiking
Wandern, a favourite pastime in Austria, combines hiking,
strolling and observing. With all the rural and scenic areas in
Austria, a perfect setting can always be found. Thanks to the
efforts of the Viennese in 1870, who launched a campaign
to stop the sale and subsequent razing of the Vienna Woods,
today’s generation can enjoy the forest and all it has to offer.
The Vienna Woods comprise about 80,000 acres of beech
trees and conifers, with oak, elm, maple, poplar and aspen
commonly seen. They stretch from the foothills of the Alps to
the Vienna city limits. Innumerable paths crisscross through
the trees, the most famous passing through the Helenental
near Baden. If you plan on doing a lot of hiking, get vaccinated
for encephalitis, which is carried by ticks. Most Austrians have
been vaccinated because bites are not uncommon. The woods
provide ample opportunity for horseback riding, swimming,
fishing and simply relaxing. Many lovely Gasthäuser (inns)
and Heurigen are located in the Vienna Woods.
The Lainzer Tiergarten on the edge of the 13th district is a
large section of the Vienna Woods. It was once a royal hunting
reserve and is currently home to native wildlife. One of the
numerous trails through the park leads to the Hermesvilla
built by Franz Josef for his Sissi. It hosts exhibitions and has
one of the park’s many restaurants. There are two entrances
to the park: the Nikolaitor on Himmelhofgasse and the
Lainzer Tor on Hermesstrasse. If you want to see wild animals
like elephants and lions, you must visit the safari park in
Gänserndorf, half an hour north-east of Vienna. It also has
a petting zoo and playground.
Bicycling
As you walk through the cities, you’ll notice designated
bicycle lanes everywhere. If you are driving or walking, do
take care because there are a significant number of bikes
on the road, particularly in summer. Maps of bike routes for
major cities like Linz, Graz, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Saint
Pölten are found in local tourist information offices. The city
of Vienna alone has over 500 km of cycling paths, 40 km of