The Forest District or Waldviertel, is a captivating region of rugged highlands and enchanting forests where centuries-old castles, medieval towns, and thriving crafts like glassblowing offer travelers an authentic journey into Lower Austria’s rich history and cultural identity.
This part of Lower Austria is one the Habsburg's fantasy-sounding government districts. Originally called "Ober-Manhartsberg" or the "Upper Manhartsberg", it was renamed in 1867 during an Empire-Wide reorganization. However, the region has always formed a core part of Austria, belonging first to Babenberg and later to the Habsburg Crownlands. Today the region is characterized by its rugged highland terrain, which historically prevented regional development. In the late 19th century, this was the poorest part of the Habsburg Crownlands. However, the lack of industrial heritage or mineral wealth leaves us with a wealth of historical heritage, from its countless castles, palaces and monasteries to walled medieval cities. It also allowed some of the region's local crafts to survive. In particular, glass blowing and casting as well as the cultivation of Poppies dominate parts of the landscape.
