Visitor Information Krems

Krems is one of the oldest cities in the land; the first documented reference to it dates to 995. Visitors to the city encounter a millenium of history at every step - on the streets and squares, in old monasteries and churches, in burgher houses and fortification structures.
A stroll through Krems and Stein is always a rewarding experience - and a pleasurable one, with all the cafes, restaurants and heurige bidding passers-by to stop in and enjoy.

Krems an der Donau is the eastern gateway to the Wachau Valley, one of Europe's loveliest river landscapes. It is also one of the oldest cities in the land. This history extending back more than a thousand years is evident everywhere - in the streets and squares, in the old monasteries and churches, in the town houses and fortifications.

The historical center of Krems is one of the most beautiful in Europe. Over the centuries, builders and architects have created a unique cityscape here that has been lovingly cared for and preserved. These efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 1975 Krems was singled out as a "Model City for Historical Preservation" and in 2000 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. With all this history, you might think that the city is dominated by the past. In reality, Krems is very open to modern life: Contemporary art and culture play an important role here, adding variety and energy to public areas throughout the city.

Enjoying the Arts

Krems has a diverse calendar of events as a festival venue. Thousands of visitors flock to Krems year after year to attend the Danube Festival, East-West Music Festival, Wachau Film Festival, Children's and Young People's Theater Festival, Cabarett Festival and the many other musical and theatrical events staged here. The city wine museum, housed in one of the most beautiful monasteries in the land, has a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. Krems also has a Arts Mile featuring the Caricature Museum, Kunsthalle Krems, the Lower Austrian Literature Center and a number of other culture institutions with a diverse lineup of special events.

Economy and Education

Krems also has a rich tradition as an economic and educational center. Its Bio Science Park is an attractive location for companies engaged in bio-tech and in application-oriented research. As the site of the Danube University, the IMC University of Applied Sciences, the Danube Private University and a broad range of secondary schools, Krems is a major center of Austrian education.

History of Krems

The oldest work of art ever found in Austria was discovered just a few years ago during archeological excavations near Krems-Rehberg: Dancing Venus of the Galgenberg, a female statuette 32,000 years old. The original of this graceful figure is on display at the Natural History Museum in Vienna, alongside the Venus von Willendorf, who is a few thousand years younger. A copy of it awaits visitors to the Museumkrems.

The first town charter from 1305 attests to the impressive ascent of medieval Krems from a permanent settlement to a town belonging to the princely holdings and endowed with special rights. Krems was among the towns granted a number of legal charters that gave it special legal status in the Land Below the Enns (today’s Lower Austria). This status ensured the local princes of high tax revenues and a reliable power base while guaranteeing the burghers a degree of legal sovereignty and economic prosperity.

The dual town of Krems-Stein saw steady and dynamic growth as a center of trade and wine making. The estate yards, churches and burgher houses were designed and constructed by the best builders in the land and the prosperous town on the Danube attracted a large number of artists and artisans. Education was extremely important to the burgher merchants. They sought to provide their sons and daughters first with solid basic schooling and soon thereafter with university studies. Krems became a flourishing center of trade, culture and education and has continued developing along these lines to the present day. Krems remains a flourishing economic, cultural, educational and university town in the 21st century as well as being a highly regarded European wine center in the Krems Valley at the gateway to the Wachau. Krems has also garnered international praise for its efforts in revitalization and historical preservation. The UNESCO recently added the historical centers of Krems and Stein to its World Heritage List as part of the Wachau Valley.