Kletterzentrum Austria

Climbing in the first district

The Kletterzentrum Austria, also called the Basislager, is the climbing centre of the Alpenverein Austria, one of Vienna's Alpine Club sections, in the section's building on Rotenturmstraße between Stephansplatz and Schwedenplatz. It has two roped halls, 20 m and 10 m high, with about 700 m² of climbing and around 70 routes up to 7b, and three auto-belays on the 20 m walls. Three bouldering rooms add 160 m², and two tilting walls carry a Kilter Board (8×12) and a spray wall. There are separate changing rooms with showers, lockers, and hire of harnesses, shoes and ropes.

Opening times and rules

Opening times change around courses and groups and aren't published as fixed hours, so check with the section's office before you go. Everyone checks in at the office, or with the hall staff in the evening, and signs the hall rules on their first visit. You don't have to be a member to climb, though members pay less. Lead climbing is only for experienced climbers or people on a course, on your own rope of at least 40 m (20 m in the smaller hall), and staff may check your belaying. Under-14s must be with an adult, under-7s may only climb with trained coaches, and under-18s need a parent's signed consent form.

Courses

The section runs climbing courses here for children, young people, families and adults, including weekend seminars for beginners and improvers and a course taught in English, as well as private coaching for up to four people, school classes and children's birthdays. Season cards and the 10-visit card are also valid at the section's outdoor wall on the Flakturm in the Esterházypark.