Die Lafnitz und ihre Auen bei Bad Blumau

The "Lafnitztal European Protected Area" comprises two nature conservation areas: the 70 ha "Lafnitz-Stögersbach-Auen Nature Reserve" in Wolfau and the 31 ha "Lahnbach Protected Landscape Area" near Dt. Kaltenbrunn. The separate parts of the area are connected by the flowing section of the Lafnitz. The European Protected Area covers a total area of 566.327 ha. The Lafnitz is one of the last largely unregulated rivers of the lowlands in Austria. The free, unrestricted course of the Lafnitz naturally connects with accompanying riparian forests and valley meadows and, through its unbound flow dynamics, creates a variety of river morphological habitat structures. The area includes, on the one hand, the unregulated, largely freely meandering section up to Dt. Kaltenbrunn, and on the other hand, the "hard" regulated flowing section up to the Austrian-Hungarian state border. The course of the Lafnitz is home to several freshwater habitats and species. Of particular importance are the accompanying riparian forests, which cover comparatively large areas. Small-scale formations include mudflats with their pioneer vegetation, stagnant oxbow lakes, and primary tall herbaceous vegetation. The culturally rich landscape of the Lafnitz valley, richly structured by the meandering river course, riparian forests, field groves, and other landscape elements, is additionally characterized by extensive meadow areas. The predominant part of the valley meadows consists of communities of the vegetation association of wet and damp meadows. Among the animal species, aquatic inhabitants are particularly present in representative populations: otter, yellow-bellied toad, fire-bellied toad, great crested newt, streber, zingel, schrätzer, stone loach, etc. On the adjacent meadow areas along the Lafnitz, the large blue butterfly and the dusky large blue butterfly are among the special species; small forests and other groves in the cultural landscape are important as feeding habitats for the Natterer's bat and the greater mouse-eared bat.

Opening hours & season

• 01.01.2026 – 31.12.2030dailyopen all day