Tourist magnet

Early apricot blossom opens the season in the Wachau

Apricots and the Wachau live in a special symbiosis: on the one hand, the unique climate of the World Heritage region ensures a very special aroma, while on the other, the advertising value of the sweet fruit exceeds its sales revenue many times over. The start of the season has now also been brought forward for the early blossom.

Fast, convenient, inexpensive, public - when the Eastern Region Transport Association wants to make the early apricot blossom in the Wachau attractive to its customers as an excursion destination, it is not sparing with self-praise. In particular, the easy journey from Vienna by Franz-Josefs-Bahn via Krems or the western route via Melk is advertised. In addition to the splendor of the flowers, passengers will also receive a free ticket on the spot. In other words: "On the next two weekends, bus routes 715, 718, 729 and 446 in the Wachau can be used free of charge," emphasizes VOR spokesman Georg Huemer.

Wachau Railway and Danube boats start
The state-owned Wachau Railway will also resume operations on Saturday, March 16. Coupled with the Nextbikes, which have also geared up for the new excursion season, you can confidently leave your car behind. And for those who generally dislike the overland route: the MS Dürnstein of the DDSG Blue Danube will also be lifting its anchors again over the next two weekends.

Conny Blauensteiner from the "Arnsdorf Aktiv" association invites you to the apricot festival on March 16 and 17 as well as March 23 and 24.(Bild: Crepaz Franz)

Great festival of the apricot blossom
A colorful supporting program awaits visitors on site. The apricot blossom festival takes place in the gardens at the Bacharnsdorf soccer pitch in Rossatz. From 10 a.m. until sunset, there will be live music, a bouncy castle and food and drink for the guests, as the two organizers Conny Blauensteiner and Herman Fechter explain. The net proceeds from the event go towards the preservation of the village and the design of the idyllic Wachau hiking trails.