Schloss Marchegg
Fully renovated castle on the edge of the March floodplains with an exhibition on the castle’s history and a Stork House next to a large white stork colony.
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About the museum
Marchegg was founded around 1260 under King Ottokar II Přemysl as a fortified border town against Hungary; the sovereign’s town castle was also built at this time. In the 16th century the Salm family extended the castle into a residential palace modelled on the Italian Renaissance. From this phase a single-flight ceremonial staircase of Italian design survives, which has few comparable examples in eastern Austria.
In the 17th century the castle passed to the Counts Pálffy, who used it as a pleasure palace and later as a hunting lodge. Maria Theresa also stayed here as a guest; for a castle theatre, an illusionistic stage backdrop was installed in the ceremonial hall. The family lived in the house until 1945; their crypt is regarded as an early work by Clemens Holzmeister.
In 1957 the municipality took over the castle. In the following decades it housed apartments, an early provincial exhibition, the Lower Austrian Provincial Hunting Museum and exhibitions on the town’s history. For the 2022 provincial exhibition “Marchfeld Secrets”, the building was comprehensively renovated after archaeological preliminary investigations.
Subsequently, the exhibition “750 Years of Eventful Castle History” led visitors through nature, architectural history and town history in five rooms. Today the castle houses municipal offices, the Stork House as an information centre for nature tourism in the Marchfeld, and event rooms; a large white stork colony breeds in the trees behind the castle.
Highlights
- Rare single-flight Renaissance ceremonial staircase
- Ceremonial hall with Baroque stage backdrop
- White stork colony in the trees behind the castle
- Stork House with live stream from a stork nest
- Nature tours into the Lower March floodplains
- Operated by
- Schloss Marchegg GmbH (Stadtgemeinde Marchegg)
Admission & discounts
| Children’s birthday party (up to 6 children, approx. 3 hrs) | €150Each additional child €20, max. 10 children; recommended for 6- to 12-year-olds |
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With the Niederösterreich-CARD, the themed tours are free of charge in 2026.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Children’s birthday parties at the castle for 6- to 12-year-olds with children’s tours of the castle and nature, or crafts; an adult companion must be present.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Vienna, take the S1 from Floridsdorf via Gänserndorf, or R 81 or REX 8 from Wien Hauptbahnhof via Stadlau to Marchegg; from Bratislava on the REX 8. From Marchegg station, VOR regional bus line 542 runs to the castle on weekdays; there is no such service at weekends.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop in the Stork House with regional products, themed literature and offerings for children.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 196 guests.
Rooms for weddings, celebrations, concerts, conferences and seminars; wedding packages for up to 28, 29–77 and 78–196 people; viewing with consultation by appointment.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
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| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Nature and cultural education around the castle, stork colony and Lower March floodplains (e.g. stork, floodplain and bat tours). Age-appropriate tours and workshops (60–90 min.) for kindergartens and schools on request. |
