Vienna’s Breitenlee Station to Become Nature Reserve
Why this is here: The project will remove concrete surfaces covering the former rail yard to restore native grasslands and create a “fresh air corridor” cooling the surrounding urban environment.
Vienna launched a project to renature a 90-hectare area around the former Breitenlee railway station. The “Life Viennatura” project, two-thirds funded by the EU, aims to protect rare animal and plant species. Vienna acquired the land from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) after the station closed in 1945.
The area developed into a valuable habitat with forests and dry grasslands during decades of disuse. Project plans include removing concrete, restoring dry grasslands, and controlling invasive plant species like the tree of heaven and goldenrod. These measures will support habitats for birds, wild bees, grasshoppers, and orchids.
The city intends the renatured area to serve as a natural recreational space. Visitor guidance, information, paths, and observation platforms will encourage responsible interaction with the habitat. Work began recently and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2032.