A town - like no other - 'Ferrum chalybsque urbis nutrimenta' ('Iron and steel sustain the town') is what they used to say for centuries in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, and the phrase is still magnificently displayed on the façade of the Ybbs tower to this very day. In this conception of its own identity as an iron-processing community, Waidhofen, at the confluence of the Schwarzbach and the Ybbs, has developed into a town whose flair is unmistakeable and singular. Waidhofen also enjoys the refreshing spirit of a town of youth and schools. For today its citizens are dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the valley: sport, leisure, culture and night-life offer every type of entertainment.
The Ybbs riverbanks, its caverns and its unusual architecture form a unique architectural and cultural gem, and show how close the people of Waidhofen feel to the water. At the same time, the old town is steeped in tradition, self-awareness and "joie de vivre". Even today, the unmistakeable character of the weekly market mixes rustic direct marketing with urban savoir vivre into an irresistible pot-pourri.
All of this is played out against the backdrop of a picturesque castle, mighty towers, medieval bourgeois houses and countless sacred buildings. Waidhofen is surrounded by rolling, wooded countryside ideal for mountain biking, hiking and winter sports. A special treat for the fly fisherman is the section of the Ybbs between Waidhofen and Opponitz. The Buchenberg Natural Park with the Fuchsbichl wild animal park provides a thrilling insight into the fauna and flora of the region.
Waidhofen an der Ybbs is a medieval town bubbling up into a sparkling present day.
For more Information:
Tourist Office
Freisingerberg 2, 3340 Waidhofen an der Ybbs
Tel.: +43 7442 511-255, Fax: +43 7442 511-259
E-Mail: tourismus@waidhofen.at
http://www.waidhofen.at/