The European Diploma for Protected Areas is doubtless one of the most valuable awards that can be bestowed upon a region. Awards can be given to sufficiently protected natural and cultural landscapes – in the case of the Wachau, the designation of the valley as a landscape conservation area is the gentlest possible but nevertheless sufficient level of protection – above all due to their special quality in scientific, cultural, aesthetic and/or recreational terms.

The municipalities of Mautern, Bergern, Furth, Rossatz-Arnsdorf and Schönbühel-Aggsbach will be intensifying their collaboration over the coming years and focusing on the common positioning of the south bank. Under the direction of Martin Vogg, who was previously responsible for the project Wachau 2010 plus, existing offers should be combined with new ones and wrapped up into bookable packages, starting with the two locations of Maria Langegg and the Aggsbach Charterhouse.

The Management Plan for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Wachau was presented at Göttweig Abbey on 29 March 2017.

The Wachau project is the first LIFE project implemented in the region whose goal was to conserve the region’s most endangered habitats. This resulted in three focal points: Lively Danube, dry grasslands and natural forest.

The currently running project “Wilderness Wetland Wachau” is intended to follow on from two previous LIFE projects in the region. Extensive measures for revitalising the remains of old river courses are planned during the project period. Existing areas of riparian forest on already existing and newly created islands should be improved and expanded. The creation of spawning waters is envisaged for highly endangered amphibians such as the yellow-bellied toad and the Danube northern crested newt, nests will be created for white-tailed eagles and valuable old trees will be protected.

The LIFE+ project Mostviertel-Wachau includes measures on the Danube and the Ybbs river. Revitalisation measures are being implemented on the Ybbs in Amstetten and on the Pielach, and disconnected side arms of the Danube are being reconnected to the river in the Wachau.

The Wachau has several attractive town, small-scale and regional museums that cast light on and provide information about a range of cultural aspects. Some were revised, extended or completely recreated within the scope of Wachau 2010plus.

As a historic cultural landscape, the Wachau is overflowing with heritage-listed buildings. In addition to the refurbishment of venerable buildings, Wachau 2010plus also enabled the implementation of projects in the area of gardening and cultural heritage.

The Krems-Stein Shipping Centre has created a place that houses the World Heritage Centre as well as the entire logistics for scheduled and charter shipping in Krems, with a dining offer to match. The multifunctional venue is a central point of contact for visitors at the gateway to the Wachau.

With the overall cultural tourism package based on the Aggsbach Charterhouse, the former place of activity of the Carthusians, Aggsbach Dorf, aims at positioning itself as a tourist destination on the south bank of the Danube. Existing sights will be integrated into an overall concept as a way to attract more visitors.