Welcome to the Donau-Auen National Park!

The Donau-Auen National Park, situated between the European capitals of Vienna and Bratislava, protects one of the last free-flowing sections at the Upper Danube. Since its establishment in 1996, the 36 river kilometres represent the lifeline of more than 9,300 hectares of protected land. River dynamics, resulting in differences of the water level of up to 7 metres, constantly shape and change the landscape. The Danube River creates rare habitats, such as gravel banks, shallow water areas, streaming river branches, still backwaters, floodplain forests and meadows.

Donau-Auen habitats

The Donau-Auen National Park is a refugee for numerous endangered species. 800 plant species, more than 30 mammal and 100 nesting bird species, 8 reptile and 13 amphibian species, 60 species of fish and thousands of insects call it their home.

Kingfisher, White-tailed Eagle, Little-ringed Plover, European mudminnow, Sterlet, Beaver and Europan pond-turtle are all protected species living in the National Park. Botanic treasures include Black Poplar, numerous orchids, and Wild Grape - the ancestor of all Common Grape Vine.

Nature protection

Nature protection in the National Park does not only mean to conserve certain habitats, but also to improve their ecological quality. The impacts of the past can be felt strongly. By reconnection of cut-off branches to the main river and the removal of river embankment, the Danube River step by step regains power to form its floodplains itself again. The river does its work, which means for us: when dynamics are protected, effective species protection follows naturally! Successes in the past years have shown that the National Park Management is following an innovative and positive way for nature!

Gate to the Wetlands

The schlossORTH visitor center in Orth/Donau is the first point of contact for visitors. It is booking and information desk, attractive excursion destination, and event location all at once. The National Park exhibition DonaAUräume – with unconventional approach and multimedia installations - leads visitors into the discovery of the fascinating wetlands. The “Schlossinsel”, the outdoor part of the visitor center, presents habitats, fauna and flora of the region. An underwater observatory with local fishes is a highlight, and allows insight into the backwaters that are similar to a dive.

Nature experience in the National Park

To protect the Danube wetlands is the core task of the National Park. Nature should also be accessible to people, however. The environmental education program serves this goal. Guided excursions to the floodplain forests as well as by canoe or rubber boat to the backwaters and the Danube River itself are offered. Especially the boat tours are highly popular – nowhere else the nature of the wetlands opens up as intensively as when experienced from the water. Festivals, workshops, programs for children, families and schools, as well as longer stays in the National Park Camp are added on top and jointly form an extensive program. Let yourself go and jump into the adventures offered in our water forests!

The DANUBEPARKS Network

Apart from the Austrian Donau-Auen National Park, there are numerous other Protected Areas with unique flora and fauna along the whole Danube River and its tributaries. International partnerships are the key to their sustainable and coherent protection and development – nature doesn’t recognize state borders. The transnational project DANUBEPARKS, initiated by the Donau-Auen National Park, coordinates these efforts successfully since 2009. Follow us and discover the natural and cultural treasures along the Danube, from the source to the mouth!