Gedenkstätte Heldenberg

About the museum

The Heldenberg near Kleinwetzdorf goes back to Joseph Gottfried Pargfrieder, lord of the nearby Wetzdorf Castle. From 1848 he had an extensive memorial complex laid out on his land in honour of the imperial army; the Walhalla near Regensburg served as the model. At its centre stands an obelisk with the statue of Clio, the muse of history, beneath which lies the crypt consecrated in 1850.

Pargfrieder was a friend of Field Marshal Josef Graf Radetzky, who served in the army for 72 years and was one of Austria’s most popular military commanders. After his death in 1858 Radetzky was buried here, as was Maximilian Freiherr von Wimpffen, chief of the general staff at the Battle of Aspern, and in 1863 Pargfrieder himself. Grouped around the crypt are a colonnade, two victory columns with busts of Knights of the Military Order of Maria Theresa and the so-called Avenue of Rulers with numerous statues, including a life-size figure of the young Franz Joseph.

Today Heldenberg Vermarktungs- und Betriebsgesellschaft runs the site as an excursion destination with several experience worlds, including the Lipizzaner training centre of the Spanish Riding School, a vintage car museum and a falconry. In the Radetzky Memorial, a multimedia introduction leads into the field marshal’s era; tin-figure dioramas show stages of his life, and a 6.5-metre-long display case depicts the Battle of Aspern with over 3,000 figures.

Highlights

• Crypt of Field Marshal Radetzky beneath the obelisk
• Avenue of Rulers and victory columns with statues and busts
• Tin-figure diorama of the Battle of Aspern with over 3,000 figures
• Tin-figure scenes from Radetzky’s life
• Combination with Lipizzaners, vintage car museum and falconry

Permanent exhibitions

• Radetzky Gedenkstätte – Tour with a multimedia introduction to Radetzky’s time, exhibits from the era and the memorial complex with crypt, colonnade and statue avenues.
• In deinem Lager ist Österreich – Szenen aus dem Leben von Feldmarschall Radetzky – Tin-figure dioramas of stages in Radetzky’s career, from the Turkish War of 1788 to his funeral at the Heldenberg.
• Die Schlacht um Aspern – A 6.5-metre-long display case shows the three-day battle of 1809 with over 3,000 tin figures.

Founded

1849

Operated by

Heldenberg Vermarktungs- und Betriebsges.m.b.H.

Admission & discounts

Single ticket Radetzky Memorial. Admission tickets are valid until the end of the season; areas not used can be visited later. With the Niederösterreich-CARD admission is free, the audio guide costs €3.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Radetzky Memorial is accessible except for the crypt; there is an accessible entrance to the park (please notify staff). Disabled parking spaces beside the entrance, ramp to the ticket area, lift to the café and English Garden, wheelchair-accessible toilets in both ticket areas. The path to the Lipizzaner stables is difficult to walk; by arrangement you can drive right up.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

At the Heldenberg there is a Lipizzaner children’s adventure trail with a puzzle pass and hobby horses to borrow, skill games (play basket €5 at the ticket office), a children’s play corner in the shop as well as children’s birthday parties and nestling workshops at the falconry. Prams can be taken into all exhibition areas. The tin-figure diorama of the Battle of Aspern is also vivid for children.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café Heldenberg with a view of the English Garden (April to October Wed–Sun 10 a.m.–8 p.m.) and Vinothek am Heldenberg with regional food and wines; Heldenberg shop with a children’s play corner.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit