Share this tour
Offered languages
- English
This private tour allows you to immers into the St. Martin's Day festivities in the Wachau valley that includes having an early roasted goose dinner before the mass in the Weißenkirchen parish church, a fortified church from the 13th century, which is surrounded by a tower fortification. The mass is attended by women wearing their costumes with typical Wachau valley golden caps.
The music for blessing of the new wine from the Wachau wine-growing region is performed by the Weißenkirchen men’s choir dressed in their local costume. In addition you get the chance to taste the light, fragrant new wine served in the Teisenhoferhof following the blessing in the church. The Teisenhoferhof is an extensive, castle-like four-winged complex around a wide, irregular courtyard with two-storey arcades that was built in the middle of the 15th century. There you can see men in their local costumes wearing typical "Steinfeder" stone feathers on their hats. Steinfeder is the name given to light wines.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
If your hotel is inaccessible by car due to restrictions, pickup will be held from a nearby location within short walking distance.
Itinerary
-
1
In Austria a tradition on St. Martin's Day is to share a roasted goose for dinner. Tradition has it that out of humility, St. Martin hid in a barn full of geese to avoid being ordained a bishop, only to have his whereabouts revealed by the gaggle’s squawks. To commemorate St. Martin, children walk in processions carrying lanterns singing Martin songs, the new wine is blessed and tasted and people come together to have roasted goose.
2 hours • Admission ticket included -
2
The parish church of Weißenkirchen in the Wachau valley is a Roman Catholic church consecrated on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The church dominates the village with its mighty west tower visible from afar. The church is surrounded by an important fortification from the 16th century with 3 round corner towers and embrasures, breech embrasures and key embrasures as well as spy holes at the height of the battlements. On St. Martin’s Day at 6:00 p.m. a holy mass is celebrated with the blessing of the new wine that is brought by local people and placed in front of the altar.
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
3
Following the blessing of the new wine in the Weißenkirchen parish church on St. Martin's Day a ceremony with tasting of the new wine follows in the Teisenhoferhof. The Teisenhoferhof is an extensive, castle-like four-winged complex around a wide, irregular courtyard with two-storey arcades with a monopitch roof. On the ground floor there are deep round-arched niches on massive console pillars, on the upper floor a circumferential arcade with round-arched openings. The Teisenhoferhof was built by Heinrich Teisenhofer in the middle of the 15th century. It is located at the western foot of the church plateau with a massive, fortress-like west front which consists of a crenellated blind wall towering over two storeys high. The Teisenhoferhof houses the Wachau Museum, where you can see exhibits of traditional Wachau costume. However, during the festivities on St. Martin’s Day one can see local people wearing their traditional Wachau costumes with the stone feathered hats most outstanding.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Show more
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Your guide to the flawless travel experience
Top Searches
Company
Get our app
