The architectural sensation
A Kasematte (French casematte, from Middle Greek χάσμα chásma 'gap', 'earth's mouth', 'earth's crevice' via Italian casamatta 'wall vault') is a vault in fortification construction that is protected from artillery fire. The Kasematten in Wiener Neustadt are unique in Austria due to their good state of preservation and are listed as historical monuments.
They are an architectural gem, built onto the 12th-century city wall and completed in the 16th century as the last extension of the massive fortifications. Here you can see the only surviving strada coperta in Austria. The historic Kasematten, the Zwinger wall and the Alte Bastei give an idea of how Wiener Neustadt defended itself and developed. If you want to know what an Opus Spicatum is, you can see particularly well-preserved examples here, as well as original plastered wall sections from the 12th century.
Since 2020, the entire complex has been an attractive location for conferences, meetings and weddings.
