Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The park has its own information centre on the northern fringes of Illmitz, the
National-
parkhaus
(
www.nationalpark-neusiedlersee-seewinkel.at
; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat & Sun, closed Sat &
Sun Nov-Mar)
. It has a small display on the ecology and staff can tell you the best places to
spot local wildlife.
The town of
Illmitz
, 4km from the lake, is surrounded by the national park and makes
for a good base. Staff at its
tourist office
( 2383;
www.illmitz.co.at
; Obere Hauptstrasse 2-4; 8am-
noon & 1-5pm Mon-Fri, 9am-noon & 1-5pm Sat, 9am-noon Sun, closed Sat & Sun Nov-Jun)
can provide in-
formation on the region.
Arkadenweingut-Gästehaus
( 3345;
www.arkadenweingut-heiss.at
; Obere
Hauptstrasse 20; s/d €36/64; )
is a lovely arcaded homestead in the centre of Illmitz.
Illmitz is connected with Möbisch, Rust, and Fertörákos in Hungary by ferry and
Neusiedl am See by hourly buses (€5.70, 30 minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Middle & Southern Burgenland
Heading south, the flat expanse of the Neusiedler See is soon forgotten as you enter an
undulating landscape replete with lush hills, forested glens and castles that rise up in the
distance. It's a region often overlooked by visitors and a place where life is still very
much connected to the land; the influence of long-resident Hungarian and Croatian set-
tlers can be felt here.
Lockenhaus & Around
Lockenhaus, in the centre of Burgenland, is famous for its
castle
( 02616-23 94;
www.ritterburg.at
;
adult/child €8/4; 9am-5pm Mar-Oct)
, or more accurately, for its former resident
Elizabeth Bäthory. Better known as the 'Blood Countess', she has gone down in history
for her reign of terror early in the 17th century, when she reputedly tortured and
murdered over 600 mainly peasant women for her own sadistic pleasure. The castle has
long been cleansed of such gruesome horrors but still contains an impressive torture
chamber, complete with an iron maiden.
If you want to sleep inside a castle, the
Burghotel Lockenhaus
(
02616-23 94;
www.ritterburg.at
;
)
has antique-furnished rooms and a sauna.
s/d €95/130;
