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Waldviertel, Lower Austria, Austria

Zwettl

The Waldviertel's brewing secret

BEER CITY 2/3 2 days

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beBeer Events Brussels Express

About this trip

Zwettl, a small town in the heart of the Waldviertel, is home to one of Austria's oldest private breweries. Since 1709, Privatbrauerei Zwettl has been brewing with the region's crystal-clear water and local hops, crafting beers of remarkable purity. Within 50 kilometres, two more historic breweries complete this golden triangle: Weitra, which claims Austria's oldest brewing rights (1321), and Schrems, with its brewing tradition since 1410. There is no trendy craft scene here, but rather an authentic brewing terroir where time seems to have stood still. Winding roads between spruce forests and granite ponds lead from Gasthof to Brauerei, through landscapes that give these beers their unique character. The Waldviertel is a well-kept secret for beer lovers seeking authenticity.

beBeer's verdict

Zwettl is not a destination you will find in trendy guidebooks, and that is precisely what makes it special. In the Waldviertel, brewing is not a trend — it is a living heritage spanning centuries. Privatbrauerei Zwettl with its 300-year history, Weitra with its medieval brewing rights, Schrems with its ancestral Roggen: every stop tells a story of continuity. You come here to slow down, to drive between forests and ponds, to sit in a Wirtshaus and taste beers that carry the flavour of their terroir. The Waldviertel is a secret that beer lovers whisper about — and one that beBeer is proud to share.

Where to go

Brewery 3

  1. 01

    Privatbrauerei Zwettl

    Syrnauer Str. 22-25, 3910 Zwettl, Austria

  2. 02

    Brauhotel Weitra

    Brauhotel Weitra Gesellschaft m.b.H., Rathauspl. 6, 3970 Weitra, Austria

  3. 03

    Bierbrauerei Schrems

    Niederschremser Str. 1, 3943 Schrems, Austria

Bars & Taprooms 4

  1. 04

    Schwarz Alm

    Almweg 1, 3910 Zwettl, Austria

  2. 05

    Wirtshaus im Demutsgraben

    Niederstrahlbach 36, 3910 Zwettl, Austria

  3. 06

    Gasthaus zur Goldenen Rose

    Dreifaltigkeitspl. 3, 3910 Zwettl, Austria

  4. 07

    Rathskeller Weitra

    Rathskeller Weitra, Rathauspl. 8, 3970 Weitra, Austria

Your itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Zwettl and surroundings

    Morning

    1. 09h30
      — Guided tour of Privatbrauerei Zwettl : vaulted cellars, brewhouse and a tasting of the full range.
    2. 11h30
      — Stop by the brewery shop to pick up a few bottles of Zwickl and Saphir.

    Afternoon

    1. —
      — 🚗 8 min · Zwettl → Demutsgraben (5 km)
    2. 12h00
      — Lunch at Wirtshaus im Demutsgraben : Waldviertel dishes and fresh Zwettler on the terrace.
    3. 14h30
      — Walk through the forests and along the granite ponds of the Waldviertel. Return to Zwettl.

    Evening

    1. 18h30
      — Dinner at Schwarz Alm : Waldviertel carp and Zwettler Dunkles in the forest setting.
    2. 20h30
      — Quiet evening at Schwarz Alm with a Zwettler Black Magic as a nightcap.
  2. Day 2

    Weitra and Schrems

    Morning

    1. —
      — 🚗 25 min · Zwettl → Weitra (20 km)
    2. 09h30
      — Discover Weitra , Austria's oldest brewing town: stroll through the medieval old town.
    3. 10h30
      — Visit Brauhotel Weitra : microbrewery, tasting of the Weitraer Bio-Bier.

    Afternoon

    1. 12h30
      — Lunch at Gasthaus zur Goldenen Rose on the Rathausplatz: Knödel and local beers.
    2. —
      — 🚗 20 min · Weitra → Schrems (15 km)
    3. 14h30
      — Visit Bierbrauerei Schrems : discover the Roggen (rye beer) and the full range.

    Evening

    1. —
      — 🚗 20 min · Schrems → Weitra (15 km)
    2. 18h00
      — Aperitif at Rathskeller Weitra : regional beers in the vaulted Rathaus cellars.
    3. 20h00
      — Dinner at Brauhotel Weitra to close this Waldviertel BeerTrip.

Practical information

Best period
May to October — Gasthäuser terraces and gardens are open, and country roads are at their best.
Events
Zwettler Bierfest (July); Weitraer Braufest (August); Christmas markets in Waldviertel castles (December).
Budget per day
€40–70 — draught beers €3.50–4.50, meals €12–20, tours €8–12.
Getting around
Essential for this BeerTrip — breweries are spread across a 50 km radius. Plan a designated sober driver.
Accommodation
Schwarz Alm in Zwettl (forest wellness hotel) or Brauhotel Weitra (sleep in a historic brewery). Book ahead in peak season.
Beer tip
Zwickl = unfiltered beer; Märzen = traditional amber lager; Helles = light lager; Dunkles = dark beer; Bock = strong beer; Maß = one-litre stein.
Food pairings
Zwickl + grilled carp; Dunkles + Schweinsbraten; Roggen + rye bread and cheese; Festbock + Mohnstrudel (poppy seed strudel).

What you shouldn't miss

  1. 01

    The cellars of Privatbrauerei Zwettl

    A journey underground and through time

    Descend into the 18th-century vaulted cellars where beer matures in the cool of the granite. The guided tour unveils over 300 years of brewing expertise.

  2. 02

    Weitra, a millennial brewing town

    700 years of brewing rights

    Wander through Austria's oldest brewing town, with brewing rights dating back to 1321 and a Renaissance castle overlooking the market square.

  3. 03

    The granite pond route

    The terroir is tasted in every sip

    Drive between ponds and forests of the Waldviertel, where the granite and spruce landscape gives the water — and therefore the beers — their unique mineral character.

  4. 04

    A Roggen at Schrems

    An Austrian brewing rarity

    Taste this rare rye beer, brewed for over six centuries by Bierbrauerei Schrems. A style almost vanished from Austria, reborn here with authenticity.

  5. 05

    Poppy and beer: a Waldviertel pairing

    Poppy, the terroir's hidden treasure

    Discover the Mohnstrudel (poppy seed strudel), the region's signature speciality, paired with a Zwettler Dunkles or a Kuenringer Festbock.

  6. 06

    An evening at the Rathskeller in Weitra

    Medieval, underground, unforgettable

    Descend into the vaulted cellars of Weitra's town hall for a tasting of regional beers, lit by candlelight between centuries-old stone walls.

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