Located 16 kilometres east of Vienna, Schwechat is a small town that most visitors simply pass through. It’s home to the Vienna International Airport, though aviation isn’t its only talent. The town is also the birthplace of Austria’s iconic Schwechater beer, as well as the 18th century Dreher Brewery founded by legendary Austrian brew master, Franz Anton Dreher.
Schwechat has an industrial heart and is the base for several refineries operated by Austrian national oil company, OMV. That said, its name is inspired by nature, with the settlement named after the river Schwechat, which flows through the centre of the town.
From Vienna, Schwechat is a 20-minute drive. By train, both Schwechat town centre and Vienna International Airport can be reached in just over 10-minutes. A scenic Airport Cycle Route also runs from Vienna to Schwechat, which is popular with locals who work in Vienna but live in the city’s northern regions.
While today Schwechat is one of Austria’s more modern towns, its roots date back to 1334. It was home to the Roman Empire’s Ala Nova settlement and played a central role in the industrialisation wave Austria experienced during the 19th century.