There are many spots in the Lobau area where you can find your own relaxation. Whether you are just taking a walk with your friends or family, walking your dog, biking with a trail or simply meditating, you can find your peace here at the Donau-Auen National Park. There is even a closed nude community with their own program. In Summer months, there are guided tours as well as sport activities such as canoeing. The Park is managed by the MA 49, Forst und Landwirtschaft Betrieb Wien(Vienna´s Forestry and Farming Operations).
The Stadler Furt, an area of Lobau I visited about two weeks ago which is bordering Vienna and Lower Austria in the town called Gross Enzersdorf, has a very clean waterfront which is being kept and maintained by the locals. The National Park is about 38 kilometers long and goes all the way to the Slovakia´s border. The Park´s biking route is a blessing to all bikers out there since all areas are well managed with routes and directions.
My Trail Yesterday To Josefsteg... Oct.18,2020
And so yesterday, what seemed to be a small walk of 20 minutes from my flat ended-up in a two hour-trekking that brought me to the Josefsteg, an area that used to be a marsh land, now almost a dried land and inhabited by reed.
To reach my starting point, it took me about 15 minutes to Saltenstrasse from my flat. There is a map and route signboards at the entrance that guide the visitors. The distance to reach the bridge there is about 1.8 kilometers from my starting point. If I would consider the distance from my flat all in all, it would be 3.6 Km just one way. A total of 7.2 Km that cost me 2 1/2 hours of march... Lol!
As I haven´t walked this far, my feet and legs were already aching from the "torture." I challenged my self because I´ve been hearing a lot of the Josefsteg and I really wanted to see it myself.
From home, I passed-by the parsley fields.....it was nice to see the green colors of this herb, a spice so lovely for the eyes.
This felt like I was on a country dirt passing by the horse paddock. There must have been so many horses here.
I was threading this road towards the entrance at the Saltenstarsse. In a few steps then on my start of the torture. I have to admit that I am not the sports type, but this had been a challenge for myself.
So this was the long track to the Josefsteg.
Passing -by the forest with trees that have been cut because they were sick. There many of these trees along my way.
I also saw the yellowing leaves of trees which means that Fall is already here.
This is an amazing path that looked like a maze. There were many dog walkers, the dogs were always on the leash all throughout the walk.
So finally, I arrived at my destination, The Josefsteg. This area used to have a beautiful landscape and there were plans to open portion of the old Danube River to allow water so flora and fauna would flourish in the area. The politicians involved wanted to make this a swamp-like area so that it would become the habitat of plants and animals. But this did not materialize for some political reasons.
Some years later, this area had been invaded by reed and has become a dry land.
This is the view of the swamp about half kilometer from Saltenstrasse. It stops before it reaches the Josefsteg and is also invaded by the reed and lotus plants. But, the policy of the Forest Management is to keep the Park untouched and if they do not do anything with the reed, sooner or later it will also become a dry land.
Take care and keep safe everyone!
