Nußdorf weir and lock, Art Nouveau lock and weir in Nussdorf, Austria.
The Nußdorf weir and lock form a hydraulic engineering structure where the Danube Canal branches away from the main Danube River. The 49-meter-long facility allows boats to navigate between sections at different water levels.
Construction started in August 1894 following a legal change that also made possible Vienna's Stadtbahn development. The Art Nouveau structure emerged during a period of major urban transformation.
The bronze lions perched on the columns were part of the original design and remain a striking visual feature. They later inspired the logo of the Gräf & Stift automobile company.
You can view the structure from outside, and an observation platform built into the administration building offers views of the water management operations. Daytime visits work best when the facility's workings are most visible.
The administration building with its observation platform demonstrates how Otto Wagner merged practical and aesthetic purposes together. The platform was specifically designed so visitors could watch the lock chambers and water control systems operate.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.