A stretch of 1.2 kilometres along the Wien River, which flows through nine districts of Vienna, will be restored to a more natural state, city officials have announced.

The area, located between the Brauhausbrücke and Zufferbrücke bridges which connect the 13th and 14th districts, will be transformed from autumn 2025 into a green and recreational oasis for both wildlife and people.

The heavily constructed riverbed will be removed, the river course widened, and the banks enhanced with vegetation. Planning is already underway.

“Renaturation is a major focus in Vienna,” Ulli Sima, the city councillor responsible for water bodies, stated in a press release. “For many years, we have been implementing large-scale measures to restore nature to people, animals and plants.”

“The outer area of the Wien River is a popular local recreation spot, and the Wiental cycle path provides an important link to the city centre. With the planned measures on over a kilometre of river course, we aim to further enhance this unique recreational haven.”

The Wien River, commonly known as the Wien, gave Vienna its name and flows for approximately 15 kilometres through the city, playing a crucial role in recreation and serving as an important flood protection facility.

Recently, the walls of the river in an area between the Nevillebrücke and Wackenroderbrücke bridges which connect the 6th and 5th districts were greened as part of the renaturation efforts.