Hiking in the Wachau

Anyone planning a normal hiking holiday usually thinks of the Alpine region and not directly of the Wachau. This should change at the latest since the opening of the Wachau World Heritage Road. Hiking in the Wachau is possible on many different paths and terrains. On the plain, on the towpaths along the Danube, through vineyards - partly on the plain, partly in steep vineyards, through forests, through orchards or on rocky terrain. Here we have listed the 10 best hiking trails in the Wachau:

1. Melk-Aggsbach Village

Our stage begins at the main square in Melk. From here it is not far to the town hall. We cross the length of it and immediately turn left into Sechsergasse. We reach the Klostersteig and immediately afterwards Melk Abbey, where we turn right into Abt-Dietmayrstraße. A little further down we come to Wiener Straße and follow it out of town along the outdoor swimming pool. You cross the main street, go straight ahead at the roundabout and reach Pielach on Pielacher Straße. We cross the river on a small bridge, turn left at the first street and shortly afterwards right again. We climb up to Pielachberg and at the end of the town we turn left. On an old farm road we reach the Jonas Cross at 344m. From the beautiful rest area you have a great view of the Danube, the Jauerling and Melk.

After our long rest, we follow the Wadi road towards Hub and climb down to Schönbühel with the magnificent castle. Here we cross the federal highway and walk along the Danube promenade along the flood protection wall. There are several inns in town that invite you to take a leisurely break every now and then. Before the village square we turn right and follow Rossbachweg to Berging. In the village you have a wonderful view of Schönbühel and the picturesque Danube. We walk along the main street and turn right. We now hike on shady forest paths to Hohenwarther Höhe. From a height of 475 meters we have a wonderful panoramic view of the Dunkelsteinerwald. Past the Hohenwarthberg we head towards the Danube and down to the town of Aggsbach. At the Hotel Residenz Wachau we go on the right side and drive through Aggsbach to the Hammerschmiede, where our stage ends.

2. Gerolding – Melk

We start our route at the town square in Gerolding and pass the Gasthof Marchhart and the Nah & Frisch market. We continue straight ahead until we turn left at the last house and head towards Halterberg. We cross a meadow and keep left until we come to the Halterberg intersection. From here we can already see the rest area, from which we have a wonderful view of Melk and the Nibelungengau. On the way back we follow the path to the street, turn right and pass the Geroldinger Brauhaus. After a short path we keep left and go to the Harrerhof, then we turn left and reach the Siecherbachgraben. We follow the road to Schönbühel. In Schönbühel a signposted path leads to the center, where we can stop for refreshments and admire Schönbühel Castle.

We return to the Schönbühel signpost and turn left onto Gutshofstrasse until we turn left onto a leafy path that leads us to Hubstrasse. Now we continue to the left and cross the street to the hub. At the Hub we stay to the right twice and walk along paths through fields and meadows to the mouth of the Pielach. Here we turn left and continue straight ahead on the footpath and cycle path to Melk. At the gas station we turn right towards the ship station and then immediately left again. When we arrive at the main road, we cross it and follow a path over the Stiftsfelsen to our destination, the Melk Abbey car park. Here we have an impressive view of the Benedictine monastery, which invites us to visit.

3. Melk - Inning

Our tour begins at the parking lot of the Melk Benedictine Monastery and takes us up the stairs on the left to a barrier. Here we walk a few meters to the right up the Stiftshill before entering the old town stairs on the left. In the old town we go right along the pedestrian zone and shortly afterwards turn left into Bahngasse (near the tobacconist). We follow the path to the train station and take the subway to the other side of the station. The signs point us left to the main street, where we turn right and follow the street past the barracks and the retirement home to the sports center. Here we turn left and cross the Kufperschmiedkreuz to Winden. At the next intersection we turn left and immediately right again to get through a forest to Kollapriel. From here we walk on the main road for a while before turning left at the next point - the next forest - and onto the forest path that ends in Pöverding. In Pöverding, at the chapel, we turn right and then immediately left again and follow the road straight ahead to Schrattenbruck. Shortly before Schrattenbruck, take the country road to the right, which ends in a forest area and leads to a hill before Anzendorf. Follow the edge of the forest and keep left at the next junction and walk towards Anzendorf.

On the main road before Anzendorf we turn left and then immediately right into the village, along the chapel and left up the slope to Schallaburg. After the climb we reach the Schallaburg, built in the Renaissance style, where the annual exhibitions and the castle restaurant (for a fee) invite you to take a break. The path continues past car parks 1 and 3 before turning right at car park 4 and continuing left. After a depression, turn left towards Langwies and then immediately right on a forest path towards Steinparz. The Maria Steinparz pilgrimage church is a fairly popular pilgrimage site and is only a two-minute walk away. Our path leads back along the main road to a forest path that leads to Sooß. After we have crossed the next main street, we continue straight ahead until just before Sooß Castle, which now houses an agricultural school, and turn left. We follow the road and finally reach Schollach and a hill near Löbersdorf. There we turn left and walk on the main road for a few meters until we come to a country road that takes us right to Inning. At the first houses in Inning we turn left until the next intersection, where we turn right and get onto the main road, which leads us to the chapel in Inning on the left.

4. Jacobsweg Danube: Melk – Maria-Taferl

Our route on the Way of St. James from Melk to Linz begins with the first stage at the impressive Melk Abbey. In addition to the monastery, what is particularly interesting is the monastery park, which makes up a large part of the monastery complex and was still in use in the 18th century. The park was later redesigned into a baroque garden in the celestial style of the time. The baroque garden pavilion, which was built in the monastery park after the monastery was completed (1747-1748), is particularly impressive. We now start our stage from Melk and drive over the Danube bridge to Emmersdorf, the “Gateway to the Wachau”. The path takes us past the church of St., located on a hill. Nikolaus, from where we can enjoy a beautiful view of the Danube and Melk Abbey in the distance. We continue directly along the Danube to Weitenegg Castle, where we shortly afterwards leave the Danube cycle path and cycle through meadows and fields to Leiben. In Leiben, we recommend a visit to the European Palace, which was built in the Middle Ages around 1113. From Leiben you take the Marterlweg over beautiful country roads, forests and meadows to Artstetten.

In Artstetten is the parish church of St. Jakob, right next to Artstetten Castle, which was the family seat and summer residence of the imperial family during imperial times and later became the final resting place of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. The late Gothic church is dedicated to St. James the Elder. It was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded over time, so that nothing can be seen today of the Romanesque castle chapel that once stood here. We now follow the Way of St. James through the hilly landscape, first to Unterthalheim and then to the end point of this first stage of the Way of St. James, Maria Taferl. The magnificent Maria Taferl pilgrimage church is a destination for many pilgrims and, together with Mariazell, one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Austria.

5. Leiben – Emmersdorf

The route begins in the European Leiben Castle. The 800-year-old castle sits on an impressive, steep rock and impressively marks the transition between the southern part of the dry Waldviertel and the picturesque Danube Valley. Via Weinzierl above Henzing the path climbs slightly along the road to Urfahr, where it crosses the main road. In Urfahr the route follows the Danube cycle path to the Danube power station in Melk. Here you can find the Nibelungengau and Wachau World Heritage long-distance hiking trails. The route continues via Luberegg Castle to Rantenberg. From here the stage leads down to Emmersdorf.

The Melk Danube power station connects the north and south banks of the Danube and you have a direct view of Melk Abbey. There is also the option of following the Wachau World Heritage Trail and crossing the Danube towards Melk.

6. Way of St. James: Melk-Persenbieg

The starting point of the Melk-Persenbieg route is the famous Benedictine Melk Abbey. Past the monastery restaurant we reach the monastery car park via the stairs. We follow exit B1. After crossing the B1 and the access road to the Danube Bridge, we walk along the staircase path towards the Danube Bridge. At the monument on the south side of the bridge we meet the part of the Way of St. James coming from the direction of Göttweig. We reach Emmersdorf via the Danube bridge.

Here we have to stay for approx. Share the road with cyclists for 5 km. We drive through Emmersdorf, Luberegg and Weitenegg and come to Urfahr. We cross the B3 federal highway, keep to the right and then take the steep stairs to the left to the railway crossing. We follow the red and white markings up the slope and reach a small road that leads to Leiben. Leiben's Europaburg can already be seen in the distance. Follow the signs through the town and turn west at the end of the town. Follow district road 22 to Losau and then take the country and forest road towards Hasling. After the first piece of forest, at the end of the clearing, follow the path to the left of the Kriegsweg. Walk down to a small stream and up the opposite slope to reach the road to Hasling. Walk through the village and leave it - follow circular route 22 towards Artstetten.

You walk uphill to the center of the village at the foot of Artstetten Castle. First left downhill, then right at the town hall, past the music hall and following the signs on a forest and meadow road to Unterthalheim. In the village, turn right and follow circular route 22 to Maria Taferl.

After the beautiful golf course, turn left onto the road to the village center with the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows. At the end of the square, a staircase leads steeply down from the church's large square to the street, past the state monument. We cross the street and reach Marbach via the Bußweg. At the pontoon bridge we cross the B3 federal highway, stay to the right and walk west on the Danube cycle path. We turn right in front of the church in Gottsdorf, pass the old school building on the left at the intersection and immediately turn right again, past the cemetery. We cross the industrial road and reach Persenbieg on a dirt road. At the kindergarten, turn left and then immediately right and follow Schubertstrasse to the parish church, which can be seen in the distance. Along Schloßstrasse you go over the Danube bridge to the Ybbs-Persenbieg visitor center.

7. Maria Laach - Emmersdorf

Here in Maria Laach, with its venerable Gothic pilgrimage church, we follow the main street from the main square towards Emmersdorf. At the end of the town go straight ahead on a farm road through fields and meadows to Friedersdorf. We go into the village on the main road, then turn left and follow the farm road to Loitzendorf. At the bell tower in the center of the village we keep left and climb down to the Loitzendorfer Bach. After we have crossed this, we continue through forest and fields to Felbring. After the church tower, which is worth seeing, we follow the road through the town, pass an intersection with the Wachau World Heritage Road and continue straight on to the main road. We cross this and pass the old Merkl inn in the forest. On our way we go down to the Grimsinger Bach and cross it. Then we start the climb to the town of Zintring.

In the village the path leads right down into the impressive Grimsinger Gorge, where we walk along the stream towards the village of Grimsing. In the center of the town the old road to Emmersdorf turns right and we follow it with a wonderful panoramic view over Gossam to Emmersdorf. At the fortified church of St. After St. Nicholas we turn left, cross the railway tracks and take the Kolomanistiege to Marktstrasse, where our stage ends.

8. Pielach estuary - Pielachhäuser

Our route begins at the mouth of the Pielach and we hike up the Steinwandleiten to the Pielachberg. In town we turn right to the children's playground and then right again. We cross the playground and the local recreation area and reach the main street. The Galloway cows follow us on the right to the first junction. Here we turn left and then immediately right again and continue straight ahead. In Neubach the path turns left, but the Pielach:Neubacher Au-Ofenloch nature reserve is worth a visit. With a bit of luck you can see Konik horses housed here for protection.

Back on the connecting road, we turn right after the first houses and continue on the footpath and cycle path to the main road, where we turn right towards Albrechtsberg (refreshments available). Before the Pielach Bridge we turn left and reach a path that leads us through the Ofenloch to the next country road, which we cross. After the intersection we follow Neuhofener Straße to the center. After the lovingly renovated barn of the Mauer music group, we turn right and hike along the Pielach to our destination.

9. Aggsbach Markt-Emmersdorf (Jauerling-Wachau Nature Park)

At the market square of the former wine village Aggsbach Markt we turn left and immediately walk right uphill to the Kurz wine restaurant. We cross the tracks of the Wachaubahn and climb to the left up the Edelberg. We continue along a beautiful forest path up to the 482 meter high Glatzberg. From Glatzberg we hike steadily uphill towards the Bärenreut plateau. Here we enjoy the delightful view of Jauerling and Maria Laach before we continue on the farm road to Zintring with its striking clock tower. In town we cross the Jauerling circular path. After the last house we turn left and cross the Grimsingbachtal to the Waldruhe inn in Felbring. After crossing the main road, we turn left and cross the Jauerlingschleife again.

The path continues past a Christmas tree plantation downhill through the forest to the Felbringbach and Käfermühle, which we cross. To take an interesting detour to Burgkircherl Gossam, we follow the path to the left. Shortly afterwards we reach the ruins with the beautiful castle church, which invites us to take a leisurely rest. Back in Käfermühle we turn left at the house and walk along the historic post route to Mödelsdorf. At the end of the village we turn left onto a majestic road that leads us to the Renaissance village of Emmersdorf, which used to be a wine-growing village (today there is no wine growing in the Emmersdorf area). In the village we turn left to the fortified St. Nicholas Church, which we can visit. Then we walk to the junction to the train station and descend via the Kolomanistiege. At the foot of the stairs we reach Marktstrasse with its Renaissance buildings and the Magdalen Chapel, where our stage ends.

10. Aggsbach Markt-Maria Laach

In Aggsbach Markt we follow the main street to Jauerling. Shortly before the end of the village, we turn right and climb up to the Bireben plateau. At the end of the plateau we enter the Schildgraben, which leads us to the Seeb. We pass the Seeber biotope, cross the road and then hike along a farm path to the village of Schlaubing. In the village we keep right and at the next intersection follow the right turnoff to Litzendorf. There we meet the Wachau World Heritage Trail. At the first house in town we turn left to Litzendorfer Kreuzstöckerl, where we can take a quiet break. Our path leads down to the main street, which we cross and walk left past the cemetery to the Maria Laach market square. After a visit to the Gothic pilgrimage church with the six-fingered Madonna and the beautiful Kerblerhaus, we end the stage in a cozy atmosphere.