Eisenwurzen
About
In the presence of numerous representatives from politics and the media, as well as all participating project partners, the Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen officially received its certification as Dark Sky Reserve on 17 March 2026 at the Gesäuse Pavilion of the Nationalpark Gesäuse.
The Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen is a collaboratively managed within one of Austria’s largest contiguous conservation areas. Spanning approximately 2,400 km² across Styria, Upper Austria and Lower Austria, the area unites six protected areas and 20 municipalities and the shared goal of reducing light pollution and preserving the natural night sky and habitats for humans, animals and plants.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, as well as of the provinces of Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Styria, expressed their support during the certification ceremony, at which DarkSky International formally granted the Dark Sky Reserve designation.
Multi-year process
The certification follows a multi-year, collaboratively organised process: since 2023, extensive measurement data have been collected, and a total of nine permanent monitoring stations have been installed throughout the area to ensure reliable data on natural night sky quality and levels of light pollution.The process was accompanied by astronomer Dr. Stefan Wallner of the University of Vienna, as well as by the E.C.O. Institute and the Environmental Association (Umweltdachverband). In December 2025, the application for certification was submitted to DarkSky International, and the Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen now proudly celebrates this internationally recognized certification.
Facts about the Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen:
- Area: 2,396 km² total, including a 975 km² core zone
- Location: Eisenwurzen Region (Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Styria
- Implementation under the funding project:project duration 2023–2025 “Stars over the Tri-Border Region” (funded by LE 14–20, 2023–2025)
- Participating protected areas: Nationalpark Gesäuse, Nationalpark Kalkalpen, Nature- and Geopark Styrian Eisenwurzen, Nature Park Eisenwurzen Lower Austria, Nature Park Ötscher-Tormäuer, Wilderness Area Dürrenstein-Lassingtal;
- Protection status: Certified as a Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky International in March 2026
- Zoning: Core zone with very strict lighting regulations and periphery zones with adapted light management requirements; a lighting management plan was developed jointly with the 20 participating municipalities
Designated
2026
Category
International Dark Sky Reserve
Address
Markt 35, 8933 St. Gallen, Austria
Google Maps
Contact
Julia Kaufmann, MSc.
Coordination Dark Sky Reserve Eisenwurzen
+43 664 / 9220 310
[email protected]
Dan Oakley
Policy and Destination Senior Manager, DarkSky International
+44 780 357 0818
[email protected]
Land area
2500 sq km
Documents
Annual Report
Announcement
Application
