Stone and Time themed circular route no. 68 - Pöggstall - Loibersdorf

The geological themed trail consists of 2 loops, both starting from the guesthouse Höllmüller. On the first round heading south, you come to 7 stations. Each station has an interesting information board about the rocks found. At Station 3, you discover an impressive Methuselah stone. Did you know how a lime kiln works? At Station 7, you come to the remains of a lime kiln. The raw material needed for firing in the Waldviertel was not lime but marble, a metamorphosed limestone that is also suitable for burning. However, the marble pieces were not simply thrown into the kiln but had to be stacked according to a layering principle so that the load would not collapse during firing and the right airflow ensured the necessary temperature and an even burning process. Most kilns were designed to be charged from both the front and the top. Depending on the weather, the lime kiln was first fired mid to late March and last around All Saints' Day. Loading with up to 10 tons of prepared stones took half a day. The subsequent firing lasted up to 60 hours depending on the quality of marble and firewood, but at least two days and nights. The fire was not allowed to go out during this time, and wood logs had to be constantly added. On the second loop of the themed trail, another 4 stations and lime kilns located in the forest await us.

Worth seeing:
Pöggstall Castle - In 2017 it was the venue of the Lower Austrian state exhibition "Alles was Recht ist" - it houses a museum about legal history including the only "original" torture chamber and a documentation about the life and work of the artist Franz Traunfellner. The special exhibition "Pöggstall Castle - between region and imperial court" in the barbican also tells exciting stories about the eventful restoration, significant finds, and astonishing stories about the castle owners. A 3D animation vividly shows how the bergfried or later castle grows from its original structure to its present form.

Besides Pöggstall Castle with its barbican (roundel), also worth seeing are the very old St. Anna Church in the field (1140), the parish church Pöggstall, and the pilgrimage church in Neukirchen (1118) on the Ostrong, which as a pilgrimage church is older than Maria Taferl.

Leisure tips:
4 tennis courts, beach volleyball court, football field, a covered multisport facility, playgrounds, campsite, mountain bike and cycling routes, fishing and riding opportunities, Pferdehof Laas, Texas Longhorn Austria, Hotglass Atelier Faffelberger, Herb farm Schrammel, brand painting Josef Mitmasser.

Schmankerl Wia z´Haus Kalkofen, Höllmüller family, Loibersdorf 2

Schmankerl Wia z´Haus Kalkofen, Höllmüller family, Loibersdorf 2

Route description Stone and Time themed circular route no. 68 - Pöggstall - Loibersdorf

At Schmankerl Wia z 'Haus Kalkofen, first walk down the street to the right towards Gerersdorf. With the beautiful view of St. Anna Church, you reach Station 1 former Danube valley, shortly after you come to Station 2 brick kiln. Continuing on the road to Gerersdorf, take the left turn to Station 3 Methuselah stone. From here, you go back 40 meters on the path and continue to the right to Station 4 granite veins.

Now the path leads a bit through the forest uphill to Stations 5 paragneiss and 6 graphite, both located slightly off the route (about 40 meters). After you return from the detour, you walk along the road to Station 7 former lime kiln. Now you pass the remains of a lime kiln.

Soon you will have completed half of the double loop and are back at the starting point at the guesthouse. You have now completed the first, southern loop of the themed trail and set out refreshed for the second stage. For the second part of the route, go about 10 meters to the left from the start board and then up the steep asphalt path to the right. Soon this turns into a gently ascending forest path. At Station 8 marble quarry - rock fold, turn left up the path. After a short flat section, it goes moderately steeply up to the right on the "Raingasse" (former transport route of the burnt lime) to Station 9 marble extraction pit.

Returning along the side path, follow the path to Station 10 Kastenhofer lime kiln. Continuing on the forest path, you reach the highest point of the route (675 m above sea level) at Schmidkreuz and then turn left onto the road to Station 11 leukocratic orthogneiss. Here, with suitable visibility, you have a view of the Styrian-Lower Austrian limestone Alps (Schneeberg, Rax, Ötscher up to the Gesäuse). Continuing along the road, you can decide in Bergern whether to go left back to the starting point Schmankerl Wia'z Haus Kalkofen or right over the path "Old Post Road" to Pöggstall.