The Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen

Summary The Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen are located in the north-east of the Lake Neusiedl area. They represent a significant part of the conservation zone of the National Park Neusiedler See Seewinkel. With an acreage of about 400 hectares these meadows form the largest coherent grassland of Burgenland. Their name derives from village of Zitzmannsdorf which was destroyed during the Turkish onslaught towards Vienna in the year 1529. At first sight the meadow might seem monotonous but the opposite is true. The main part of the grassland serves as extensive farmland where hay making respects the needs of rare species, whereas in the eastern part there are also vineyards as well as other arable land. Windbreaks, deciduous trees and hedges can be found throughout the area. The meadows represent an extraordinary habitat for wildlife, so they have been protected as early as 1926. Characteristic species are the Curlews (Numenius arquata) and the green-winged orchid (Orchis morio). More than there is a remarkable diversity of insects with various kinds of grasshoppers and butterflies. Unfortunately, close-by intensive agriculture and ongoing drainage measures still threaten parts of the Zitzmannsdorfer Wiesen.