Waldviertler Heimatbund

The Waldviertler Heimatbund (WHB) is an Austrian historical society founded in 1951 in Krems an der Donau. It is dedicated to the historical research of the Waldviertel and the Wachau, a region in Lower Austria that is partly geographically part of the Waldviertel. The association organizes lectures, exhibitions, and excursions on regional history topics, publishes a historical journal and a monograph series, and maintains a library for the history and culture of the Waldviertel. Its headquarters are in Horn. The society's origins are closely tied to the journal Das Waldviertel, which first appeared at Christmas 1927 under the title Aus der Heimat and was renamed Das Waldviertel in 1930. Published by the Waidhofen merchant Hans Haberl jun. and edited by the Waidhofen grammar school professor Dr. Heinrich Rauscher, the journal served from 1931 as the public organ of several Waldviertel museums. It was discontinued in 1938. After the founding of the WHB in 1951, the journal was revived in 1952 and has been published quarterly since, with an annual volume of around 400 pages. It contains scholarly articles, current cultural reports from the Waldviertel and Wachau, and book reviews, covering history, art history, geography, and natural sciences related to the region. The WHB's first president was Heinrich Rauscher, director of the teacher training institute in Krems. He was succeeded in 1960 by the historian Walter Pongratz. From 1985 to 2018, the historian Erich Rabl served as president, followed by Thomas Winkelbauer. The association's library, founded in 1951, is housed in the Höbarthmuseum in Horn and comprises around 7,000 volumes, including the museum's library, the private library of Walter Pongratz, donations, acquisitions, and journal exchanges with other historical societies. It is open to the public. The WHB's monograph series has published 55 monographs related to the Waldviertel and Wachau, covering topics such as the archaeology of the Waldviertel, the economic history of the region, and the robber captain Johann Georg Grasel. In 2026, the society received the Lower Austrian Culture Prize in the category of adult education (recognition award). The WHB remains an active association, publishing books and offering special offers on publications related to Waldviertel history through its online shop.

The Waldviertler Heimatbund (WHB) was founded in 1951 in Krems an der Donau as a regional studies association for the exploration of the Waldviertel. Its origins, however, reach back to the journal Das Waldviertel, which first appeared at Christmas 1927 under the title Aus der Heimat. Published by the Waidhofen merchant Hans Haberl jun. and edited by the Waidhofen grammar school professor Dr. Heinrich Rauscher, the journal was initially modest in scope. From 1931, it served as the public organ of several Waldviertel museums, including the Roland Museum in Drosendorf, the Krahuletz Society in Eggenburg, and the local museums in Gmünd, Horn, Krems, Raabs an der Thaya, and Waidhofen an der Thaya. It also cooperated with the Association for Regional Studies and Heritage Protection of Lower Austria and Vienna and the Austrian Castle Association. The journal was discontinued with issue 8 of volume 11 on 15 August 1938; the final issue was dedicated to the 800th anniversary of the Cistercian monastery of Zwettl. After the founding of the WHB in 1951, the journal was revived in 1952 and has since been published quarterly, with an annual volume of around 400 pages. The society's goals, as formulated at its founding, included the historical exploration of the Waldviertel and the Wachau, the organization of lectures, exhibitions, and excursions on regional history topics, the publication of a historical journal and a monograph series, and the creation of a library for the history and culture of the Waldviertel. The first president was Heinrich Rauscher, director of the teacher training institute in Krems. He was succeeded in 1960 by the historian Walter Pongratz. From 1985 to 2018, the historian Erich Rabl served as president, followed by Thomas Winkelbauer. The association is based in Horn. The Waldviertel Library, founded in 1951, is housed in the Höbarthmuseum in Horn. Its holdings consist of the museum's library, the private library of the second president Walter Pongratz (who died in 1990), further donations, acquisitions, and journal exchanges with other historical societies. It comprises around 7,000 volumes and is open to the public. The WHB's monograph series has published 55 monographs related to the Waldviertel and Wachau, including works on the archaeology of the Waldviertel, the economic history of the region, and the robber captain Johann Georg Grasel. In 2026, the society received the Lower Austrian Culture Prize in the adult education category (recognition award).

• 2026

  WHB receives Lower Austrian Culture Prize in adult education (recognition award).

• 2018

  Thomas Winkelbauer becomes president.

• 1985

  Erich Rabl becomes president.

• 1960

  Walter Pongratz becomes president.

• 1952

  Journal Das Waldviertel revived by the WHB.

• 1951

  Waldviertler Heimatbund founded in Krems an der Donau; Waldviertel Library established.

• 1938

  Journal discontinued.

• 1931

  Journal becomes public organ of several Waldviertel museums.

• 1930

  Journal renamed Das Waldviertel.

• 1927

  Journal Das Waldviertel first published as Aus der Heimat.

Non-profit historical society and publisher focused on the Waldviertel and Wachau regions.

• Das Waldviertel journal

  Quarterly historical journal, annual volume around 400 pages.

• Schriftenreihe monograph series

  55 monographs published on Waldviertel and Wachau topics.

• Waldviertel-Bibliothek

  Public library with around 7,000 volumes in Höbarthmuseum, Horn.

1. 1Geschichte – WHB – Waldviertler Heimatbunddaswaldviertel.at
2. 2Beachten Sie unsere aktuellen Sonderangebote rund um die Waldviertler Geschichte! – WHB – Waldviertler Heimatbunddaswaldviertel.at
3. 3Waldviertler Heimatbund – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Waldviertler Heimatbund – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org