Through the Türkenschanzpark – the green jewel of the Cottage Viertel in the outskirts of Vienna

The Türkenschanzpark is a natural and cultural oasis in the city with rare plants and trees, monuments of art, culture and emancipation. In 1883, the inhabitants of the Cottage Viertel formed a committee for the foundation of a public park under the chairmanship of Heinrich Ferstel, the famous Ringstraßen-architect.

The Türkenschanzpark is located on the so-called „Türkenschanze” („Turk′s Ditch”), named after a Turkish fortification built in the course of the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683. The park was designed by the City of Vienna as English-style landscape garden. Emperor Franz Joseph I opened the Türkenschanzpark in 1888, many plants had been donated by Princess Pauline of Metternich.

The park is known for its interesting, rare botanical plants, which are extremely picturesque features in the undulating landscape. The unusual makeup of the landscape is another of the park’s appealing features. Hills are interspersed with meadows, and meandering paths invite the visitor to take a stroll.

In addition to biological delights, there are several memorials in the Türkenschanzpark, like one for the writer Arthur Schnitzler. In 1991, the Turkish embassy donated a fountain in Oriental style. In 1999, an area of 2,500 square metres was dedicated as a sports ground for various trendy ball sports. The visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the gardens and the neighbourhood with the villas in the style of English country-houses, which they called „Cottages“ and the BOKU University, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, from the Paulinenwarte. The park is a great spot for an innocent picnic. There’s plenty of shady trees and lovely walking paths, and a variety of settings to lay your picnic blanket down.