The circular hiking trail leads mostly through mysterious forests. Worth seeing are the Confessor's Hole, the Homecomers' Memorial, a former quarry with a groundwater pond, and a water wheel.
Description
The hiking trail "Homecoming in Faith" is a circular trail, which starts at the Schnaps Glass Museum, the first and only of its kind in Austria. Right at the beginning, you pass the parish church. It is dedicated to St. James the Elder. A special feature of the parish church is that it consists of two naves. The next point of interest is the Confessor's Hole – a grotto with a statue of Mary in the parish forest. This was a secret meeting place for Christians during the Lutheran Reformation. The path continues to the Homecomers' Memorial, erected in 1976 by the ÖKB Echsenbach in memory of all war homecomers. The trail leads further to an idyllic pond. This used to be a quarry. Past a water wheel, you continue through the forest to the recreational area which invites you to relax, play, and swim. In the Archangel Stone Circle, a place of power, you can find peace and recharge your strength.
Starting point of the tour
Schnaps Glass Museum Echsenbach, Kirchenberg 4, 3903 Echsenbach
Destination point of the tour
Schnaps Glass Museum Echsenbach, Kirchenberg 4, 3903 Echsenbach
Route description Homecoming in Faith, No. 20
Starting from the Schnaps Glass Museum, the path leads you past the parish church into Kirchengasse. After the first curve, turn right onto a narrow path into the parish forest. On your hike, you will discover a grotto on the right in the forest: the Confessor's Hole. You cross the L8099 and then stand directly in front of the Homecomers' Memorial. Above the memorial, turn left onto a field path. Along the Franz Joseph Railway with views of the Thaya, after about 1.5 kilometers you reach an idyllic pond – a little further in the forest there is a water wheel. You finally come out of the forest on a small hill, from where you can already see the recreational area. From there the path leads you to the widely visible parish church and back to the starting point, the Schnaps Glass Museum in Echsenbach.
Directions
Vienna: A 22 and S 5 or A1 and S 33 to Krems - B 37 to Zwettl - in Zwettl direction Waidhofen/Thaya on B 36 - in Wolfenstein turn onto L 65 and drive to Echsenbach.
Linz: A 7 towards Freistadt - S 10 to Freistadt - B 38 to Zwettl - in Zwettl direction Waidhofen/Thaya on B 36 - in Wolfenstein turn onto L 65 and drive to Echsenbach.
Parking
Free parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the starting point at Gasthof Klang, at the municipal office or at the parish church.
Take the train to Schwarzenau, then continue by regional bus 728 to Echsenbach. Your exact route can be planned with the route planner of VOR anachb.vor.at
Author's tip
Due to a great playground and geocaching points, this path is particularly suitable for hikes with children.
After the hike, you can refresh yourself at the Gasthof Klang, Marktplatz 6, 3903 Echsenbach, which is about 200 meters from the starting point.
