The Papstwarte was built in 1983 on the occasion of a visit by Pope John Paul II. The ground plan of the reinforced concrete structure corresponds to an axially symmetrical, irregular hexagon. The viewing platform at a height of 24.5 m is reached via 136 steps. A 5-meter-high cross forms the top of the platform. The designer of the observation tower, Robert Krapfenbauer, who for many years held the chair of structural engineering at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, was born in Rodingersdorf, which is only a few kilometers away from the Papstwarte.

In use. In 1988, the tower was extended by another 7 meters. A round concrete shaft with an external spiral staircase was added. The top platform is reached at 31.5 m via 39 steps. Including the cross, the observation tower reaches a height of 36.5 m.