Dürrenstein Wilderness Area

The Dürrenstein-Lassingtal wilderness area on the south side of the Dürrenstein is home to the largest natural forests in Austria, covering an area of 7000 hectares. The area extends from an altitude of 650 m to the summit of the Dürrenstein at 1,878 m and connects Lower Austria with Styria. The wilderness area has been a nature reserve since 2002 and is therefore permanently protected.

The largest remnant of primeval forest in Central Europe is home to firs and spruces over 50 m high and well over 500 years old with girths of up to 4.8 m and copper beeches over 35 m high and more than 400 years old. It is a habitat for numerous wild animals, including some rare species such as the snow vole, Alpine shrew, brown long-eared bat and lynx.

In 2011, the "Year of the Forest", the wilderness area was included in Austria's seven forest wonders as a "fairytale forest". To protect this unique forest area, people only have access as part of limited and guided hikes. In 2021, the new House of Wilderness, an interactive museum and international research center, opened in Lunz am See.