NOTE: Celtic Days 2026 have been canceled due to an acute risk of wildfires!
A journey back in time over 2,000 years
On Schwarzenbach’s Burgberg, ancient times come to life: At the archaeological open-air museum, visitors can immerse themselves in the daily life of a Celtic town —just as it might have been around 500 B.C. The site was designed by the Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science (VIAS) in close collaboration with the Federal Monuments Office based on scientific findings and invites visitors on an impressive journey through time.
Nine reconstructed buildings —ranging from a craftsman’s house to a granary and a nobleman’s residence—show how people lived and worked during the Celtic period. How did they bake, make pottery, or work with metal back then? What materials were available? What traces tell us about trade, community, and faith?
An exhibition hall featuring original artifacts and a multimedia presentation complements the reconstructed huts. In this way, the Celtic Village combines research with hands-on experience—informative, vivid, and authentic. Visitors can even marvel at artifacts from the Copper Age (3,000 BCE).
Incidentally, the Johann-Giefing observation tower, located right next door (accessible via an elevator or stairs), offers one of the best views in the Bucklige Welt region.
New Celts
In the House of the New Celts, reenactment groups, families, schools, or companies can gather around a large fire pit. This is the venue for modern cultural education, celebrations, incentives, and team-building activitiestake place here.
Schwarzenbach Celtic Festival
A special highlight is the annual Celtic Festival, where history, crafts, and music come to life. The program lasts for 3 days. Amid bagpipe music and food grilled over an open fire, visitors can hit the bullseye with bows and arrows and axes, learn the art of pottery, or cheer on the tribes during the Celtic games and exhibition battles. Tip: Be sure to buy tickets in advance!
The festival grounds are open to the public year-round. There, you can spot many free-roaming animals on Keltenberg and explore a few enclosures.
More Tips on the Celtic Village
- For a more peaceful and secluded experience, visit the Schwarzenbach Celtic Village during the Celtic Days (unfortunately canceled in 2026) or explore it on a walk through the forest.
- The open-air museum’s meadow area is also accessible with a suitable wheelchair, though it is not flat.
- Information on guided tours can be found here.
- The Celtic Village offers special programs for schools and kindergartens.
- Do you have the Lower Austria Card? Then check here for special offers.
