In the modern Museum of Lower Austria in St. Pölten, designed by Hans Hollein, you can expect a unique combination of history, art, and nature from the region. Opened in 2002, this museum is the only institution in Austria that also houses live animals, officially making it a zoo.

In the heart of St. Pölten stands the impressive Cathedral of St. Pölten, whose history dates back to 790. Originally founded as a monastery, the building combines late Romanesque architecture from the 12th century with baroque elements from the 17th century, created by artists like Jakob Prandtauer and Daniel Gran.

At the Cinema Paradiso in Lower Austria, you can expect more than just a movie experience: at the two locations in St. Pölten and Baden, you'll find lovingly renovated cinema halls that serve as vibrant cultural centers. The centerpiece in St. Pölten, opened in 2002, features its unique "Beisl-Kino," where you can enjoy food and drinks during the screening, while the larger location in Baden has been attracting families and young people since 2013.

Ratzersdorfer Lake is St. Pölten's only officially designated swimming lake and part of the local recreation area "St. Pölten Lake Experience." Since its completion in 1980, this forest-surrounded lake has attracted visitors with free swimming options, a nudist area, and beach volleyball courts.

In the historic center of St. Pölten, you will find a fascinating example of the tumultuous history of a theater building: the current Landestheater Niederösterreich was converted from a former military prison into a theater in 1820. After a series of eventful decades, during which the venue served as a city theater, an SS headquarters, and even an open-air theater without a roof, it now presents itself as a modern spoken theater with 411 seats. Under the artistic direction of Marie Rötzer, the theater has combined its historical structure with a contemporary atmosphere since its renovation in 2012, particularly evident in the newly designed foyer and theater café. Since 2002, the "Theaterwerkstatt" has added 120 additional seats to the cultural offerings.

The 77-meter-high Sound Tower is the most distinctive landmark in the government district of St. Pölten, combining an observation platform, sound art, and a transmission tower in a transparent steel structure. From the observation terrace at a height of 47 meters, which you can reach via a panoramic lift or by climbing 280 steps, you can enjoy a wide 360-degree view of the city. Three walk-in sound spheres, each with a diameter of 5.70 meters, offer changing sound installations and interactive media art from April to October. Designed by Ernst Hoffmann, the tower was opened in 1997 and attracts around 34,000 visitors each year with its blend of architecture and sound art.

In the venerable Karmeliterhof, a building constructed as a Carmelite monastery by Jakob Prandtauer in the early 18th century, you will find the Stadtmuseum St. Pölten today. After a tumultuous history as a barracks and extensive revitalization, this impressive structure has housed exciting exhibitions on local history, archaeology, and modern art across three floors since 1976.

The Viehofner Lakes near St. Pölten are a 53-hectare recreational area that originated from two former gravel ponds. Here, you can find a diverse floodplain landscape with over 70 bird species, including rare ones like the great crested grebe and kingfisher.

At the Festspielhaus St. Pölten, one of the most significant contemporary theater buildings in Austria, you can expect one of the largest stages in the country. Designed by Klaus Kada, this cultural venue has been impressing visitors since 1997 with its four event halls, with the Great Hall accommodating over 1,000 guests.

The distinctive country house of St. Pölten, also known as "the Ship" due to its shape, has been the seat of the Lower Austrian state government and parliament since 1997. The impressive complex on the banks of the Traisen, built on the site of the former horse racing track, now houses between 2,500 and 3,000 employees, making it one of the largest workplaces in the city.

The synagogue in St. Pölten, built in the Art Nouveau style, impresses you with its distinctive dome and ornate main facade, which still features the depiction of the Ten Commandments. After its destruction during the November pogroms in 1938 and various interim uses, the building has been meticulously renovated and now houses the Institute for Jewish History in Austria.

In the charming Pottenbrunn, a district of St. Pölten, you will find the impressive Schloss Wasserburg, a baroque castle with a history dating back to the 12th century. The nearly 400-year era of the Zinzendorf and Baudissin-Zinzendorf families significantly shaped the castle's current character.

In the magnificent Voithvilla, a neobaroque estate from the early 20th century, you discover a significant piece of St. Pölten's industrial history. Completed in 1917, the building was once the residence of industrialist Walther Voith and impresses today with its characteristic mansard roof, original windows, and turquoise shutters.

High above the Viehofner Lakes stands the medieval Viehofen Castle, which was first documented in the 12th century and has a rich history as a fortified church and parish church. After changing hands several times over the centuries—from the Diocese of Passau to the noble families of Wallsee and Kirchberg—the building fell into ruin after World War II. Since 2003, the new owner Josef Figl has been bringing the historic structure back to life through extensive renovation work. From the steep cliff, you can now enjoy an impressive view over the lakes and the surrounding area of St. Pölten.

In the heart of St. Pölten, you will find the impressive Bishop's Building, which has served as the residence of the bishop of the Diocese of St. Pölten since 1785. The history of the site dates back to the 8th century when the Hippolytus Monastery was founded, from which the city's name later developed.

The late Baroque Franciscan Church at Rathausplatz impresses with its magnificent Rococo façade, created by Matthias Munggenast between 1757 and 1768.

On a small island surrounded by water-filled moats, the impressive Pottenbrunn Castle rises with its medieval core and the Renaissance extension from the 16th century. The original noble residence was first mentioned in 977 as a property of Salzburg and took on its current form through extensive expansions by Sebastian Grabner the Elder around 1505.

Majestically, Ochsenburg Castle sits atop a 30-meter-high rock ledge overlooking the Traisental in the southernmost district of St. Pölten. Originally a medieval structure, it was transformed into a Renaissance castle in the 16th century and received its distinctive Baroque south wing around 1698 under Jakob Prandtauer.

The baroque Prandtauerkirche at Rathausplatz has shaped the cityscape of St. Pölten since the early 18th century. The Carmelite church, donated by Maria Antonia Josepha Fürstin von Montecuccoli, was consecrated in 1725 and impresses with its distinctive curved eastern facade.