Details for: Castle hill hike to Rastbach
Brief descriptionHiking trail, no. 40
Reformation and Swedish War: Bombing of Reittern – the castle mound of Rastbach – the destruction of Marchartsreuth by the Swedes
Topic: Reformation and Swedish War history
In the last days of the war on February 15, 1945, a house in Reittern was bombed, killing 2 people. On the Schlossberg in Rastbach, a castle mound was built in the 12th century, on the site of which in the 16th century the Protestant Polheim built a castle that was destroyed in 1619 by imperial troops during the Reformation. In 1645 the Swedes devastated Rastbach and the neighboring village Marchartsreuth = Moritzreith (Swedish cross on the Genseck). The current parish church of St. Pankraz goes back to the Romanesque castle chapel and was expanded in Gothic and Baroque styles. The castle – a simple three-winged building privately owned by the Ehrenfels family – cannot be visited.
Gföhl, main square
Destination point of the tourGföhl, main square
Route description Castle hill hike to Rastbach
From the main square in Gföhl, you walk along Zwettler Straße to the cemetery of Alt Gföhl, then over the Au to Reittern, over the Lüss to Rastbach (church and castle on the Schlossberg, 615 m), continuing past the Meierhof – where you enjoy the view towards Moritzreith – and along the avenue path, lined with old fruit orchards on the Schlossbreiten, to the Neuwirtshaus, a former coaching and inn. You cross the bridge over the B37 and hike through the Ried Baumgarten to Eisengraben up to Jaidhof (castle, museum). The route leads you over the "White Cross" (Raaber Kreuz) on the Windighöh near the Gföhl road maintenance depot back to the starting point.
From Vienna take the A22 and S5 or the A1 and S33 to Krems and from there via B37 to Gföhl.
From Linz take the A1 to St. Pölten, then via S33 to Krems and from there via B37 to Gföhl.
ParkingParking spaces in the Gföhl town area – beware of short-term parking zones.
All information about all bus and train lines to the Waldviertel can be found at www.vor.at or www.oebb.at.
Sturdy footwear, functional clothing, sun and rain protection, map material, if necessary telescopic poles, first aid kit (blister plasters), sufficient provisions (snack, muesli bar, fruit, water).
Safety informationMake sure when choosing your route that it matches your fitness level. Check whether the gastronomy establishments you want to visit along the way are open. Pack your charged mobile phone and map material in your backpack. For cross-border routes, always carry a passport or identity card.
Map recommendationsThe map "Hiking in the Heart of the Waldviertel" can be ordered online here.
