Mayerling: Carmel, history and hiking trails
Accommodation in Mayerling
Mayerling combines a distinctive history with a clear focus for visitors and several routes in the surrounding area. The Carmel of Mayerling is located in the former hunting lodge of Crown Prince Rudolf; the visitor centre and tour provide a clear structure for your visit. If you would like to combine culture and exercise, you can choose from hikes, a pilgrimage route and a cycle tour. The options differ in how they relate to Mayerling: they range from a visit to the historic complex to longer routes between several places.
Hunting Lodge, Carmel and History
In 1886, Crown Prince Rudolf acquired the estate in Mayerling and had it converted into a hunting lodge. The Carmel of Mayerling is the former hunting lodge and the original site of the tragedy on 30 January 1889. After the tragedy, the hunting lodge was converted into a Carmelite convent. The history of the hunting lodge and its later use as a convent thus come together in one place.
The church of the Carmel stands exactly where Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera died. The neo-Gothic convent church of St Joseph was consecrated in 1891. According to the heritage register dated 23 June 2026, the Carmel of Mayerling and the Franciscan convent in Mayerling are protected monuments. The Franciscan convent was formerly the hunting lodge’s estate farm.
The pavilion is also part of the complex’s history: it is part of the original grounds from Crown Prince Rudolf’s time. Its ceiling painting, dating from 1887, recalls Baroque models. The pavilion was restored in 2014 and has been open to visitors ever since.
Visitor Centre and Planning Your Visit
The visitor centre serves as an information point and as the starting and ending point of the tour. An exhibition there presents the heir to the throne and the events of the tragedy, with striking original exhibits relating to Rudolf’s life. Individual visitors can follow the exhibition with accompanying texts in German and English. The exhibits and tour provide a historical context for your visit.
Guided tours are available for groups of 15 or more. They are offered in German; translation is possible. During the summer season, the Carmel of Mayerling is open daily except Mondays, from 10:00 to 17:30; last admission is at 17:00. Check the seasonal opening hours before you travel so you can plan your visit accordingly.
The “Mayerling altes Jagdschloss” Postbus stop is directly in front of the Carmel entrance. Buses 306 and 308 run regularly from Baden bei Wien. Check connections before travelling if you are taking the bus.
Hiking, Pilgrimage and Cycling
You can also connect Mayerling with another named place on foot: you can hike from Heiligenkreuz to Mayerling, and the ÖTK Wienerwald hiking route list includes the “Heiligenkreuz–Mayerling” route. Another option is the “Tut Gut!” Schritteweg Alland circular trail: it runs from Feldgasse via Mayerling and Untermeierhof and back to Feldgasse. This gives you a choice between a hiking route connecting two places and a circular trail with Mayerling as a stop.
The BischofsmĂĽtze, recognisable by its rocky pulpit, lies south of Mayerling. A narrow ridge and steep rock faces define the terrain; from there, you can look out over historic Mayerling, Alland and the surrounding Vienna Woods. The BischofsmĂĽtze can be reached via the Allander Rundweg No. 8.
For a longer pilgrimage route, the Via Sacra offers a different scale: it is 121 kilometres long and runs from Brunn am Gebirge to Mariazell. Between Vienna and Mariazell, it passes through the Vienna Woods, by the Carmel of Mayerling. Due to its partly alpine character, it is recommended only for experienced hikers. The Klöster Kaiser Künstler Tour also reaches the Carmel of Mayerling by bicycle and continues to Heiligenkreuz Abbey.
Discover more destinations: Tattendorf, Traiskirchen, Berndorf, Siegenfeld, Teesdorf, Reisenberg, Hernstein, Oberwaltersdorf
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