When the Wachau is decked in pastel
Don’t say “apricot”, say “Marille”
“People aren’t stupid. There’s a reason they come from miles around to this exact place, just to buy our apricots.” There’s not a soul who doubts that the Wachauer Marille is the best apricot is the best in the world. It’s a fact: the apricot, known in Austria and Bavaria as a “Marille” is a blessing for the Wachau region and all who come to visit.
The Wachau region and apricots are inseparable. Nowhere else in the world is the apricot blossom such a bewitching spectacle for the senses. And here’s another fact: The fruit, which is harvested in July, tastes unbelievably good. The Wachau region, sometime between March and April: The first rays of sunshine have whet your appetite for an long cycle tour along the South Bank or North Bank route of the River Danube Cycle Trail to find a spot in the garden of a roadside wine tavern on the river. Now, as the buds of the countless apricot trees open, spring is finally beginning again. It’s time for Franz Reisinger to get on his bike and start a tour through the apricot orchards to see how things are coming along.
Reisinger is chairman of the Original Wachauer Marille association and as such he can’t possibly miss the emergence of the blossoms. “The Wachauer Marille trees normally start to bloom between 5 and 10 April”, he says. The region then becomes a wonderful unique landscape in dreamlike pastel shades for a few weeks. However, it’s not possible to predict the exact timing of the spectacle, as the mild winters have caused the buds to sprout earlier in recent years – sometimes as early as mid-March – and there are often only a few days to experience the blossom in its full glory. “We provide up-to-date information on our website so that visitors don’t miss the best time”, says Reisinger.
So how can you recognise a genuine Wachauer Marille? “The plump form, the juicy consistency and the distinct taste”, answers Reisinger enthusiastically. And naturally the “Original Wachauer Marille” seal of quality. If you’re cycling through the Wachau region when the apricot blossoms are out, you’ll find yourself in a sea of flowers that finds comparison only with Japan’s cherry trees and Holland’s tulip fields.
Author: Donau Oberösterreich / Donau Niederösterreich
Further recommendations, tips and news
Landscapes influence people and people influence landscapes. Austria has a lot to tell you about.
Pealing pears
The PearHouse at Ardagger Abbey an interactive tasting centre where you can experience pears with all five senses....
tip
A towering history
The Ledererturm has long been the landmark of the historic yet vibrant city of Wels - Well might we wonder what it...
tip
Childhood memories
Der Donauradweg ist ein Abenteuerland für die ganze Familie: er ist gesäumt von Abenteuer-Spielplätzen, tollen...
tip
A blossoming business in traditional costumes
The fashion label FREIWILD in the Mostviertel region unites the fast rhythm of the urban world as well as slower...
tip
If walls could talk
The historical townscape of Schärding is still so lively today that it seems like just a short step back to the...
tip
The urban farmer
Twice a week the Cathedral Square in St. Pölten is transformed into a paradise for lovers of farmers’ markets....
tip
Unadulterated enjoyment on the Attersee
The turquoise-blue Attersee enchants everyone from hikers and bikers to cyclists, sailors, swimmers and those...
tip
An architectural jewel at the foot of the Grimming
A fascinating world of mountains and culture in the Enns Valley: from the peak of the Grimming to the cultural...
tip
The Spielberg
The region around the Red Bull Ring is characterised by an imposing natural landscape. At the heart of the...
tip