Kasematten

A casemate (French casematte, from Middle Greek χάσμα chásma "cleft", "chasm", "cleft in the earth" via Ital. casamatta "rampart vault") is a vault protected from artillery fire in fortress construction.

The historically unique fortifications in Wiener Neustadt date back to the 12th century - the time when the town was founded from a large part of the ransom for Richard the Lionheart. It is therefore hardly surprising that numerous archaeological and architectural-historical sensations came to light during the renovation work for the Lower Austrian Provincial Exhibition 2019. The metamorphosis into a modern architectural jewel has been a great success. Highly praised in the international specialist media, the winning project by architects Bevk Perovik shows how old substance can be skillfully given a contemporary purpose with modern elements.

The underground rooms with their bastions and corner towers originally served to defend the city. They were later used as ammunition depots, air raid shelters and beer storage facilities until they fell into a deep slumber for many decades. The fact that the casemates were underground for centuries - which allowed for better defense - gives us today well-preserved wall sections, the Opus Spicatum, a unique Strada Coperta, embrasures and many insights into the construction methods of the time.

Guided tours through these underground vaults offer unprecedented insights into the fortifications of a city, well preserved and with an incredibly exciting history through all eras such as the Habsburg period, the Turkish sieges, attacks from the east by Matthias Corvinus and much more. This makes one of the oldest fortifications in Europe the big highlight in Wiener Neustadt from 2020 and well worth a visit.

As part of the revitalization, the casemates were expanded to include a functional room - the Neue Bastei - which, together with the ensemble of old, historic casemates, forms a unique location for conferences, events and weddings. With natural daylight and direct access to the city park, this location scores just as highly as its perfect central location in the immediate vicinity of the train station. Situated in the middle of the city park and yet right in the center, the Kasematten is an ideal location for any green meeting: arrival by train, no shuttles necessary and all highlights within walking distance.

The direct vicinity of the Hilton Garden Inn**** hotel is an additional argument for many organizers. The event location is just a few steps away via a connecting path.