Description
The regional circular hiking trail no. 22 leads you through the Southern Waldviertel hiking region.
Starting point of the tour
Pöggstall
Destination point of the tour
Pöggstall
Route description Ysper-Weitental Circular Hiking Trail
We start in Pöggstall in front of the castle. After the roundabout, we go up through Rehgässchen and then sharply left back to Schanzlweg. Here you can see the impressive overall ensemble of Pöggstall Castle once again. Shortly afterward, we turn right and go up a small farm road. The path then turns right and leads through Christmas tree plantations and meadows - from which you have a beautiful view of Anna Church and Pöggstall - to Bergern. At the end of this small village, we go left uphill and hike on gravel roads through the high forest, always going further uphill until we reach Straßreith. Just in front of the farmhouse, which is in a solitary location here, we have a wonderful panoramic view again. Now we continue on a field path to a point where we turn right and walk through a meadow. Shortly thereafter, we reach the farm road leading to Muckendorf. We turn right and head towards Braunegg.
Soon after entering the state road, we turn left again and hike along the farm road to Braunegg's football pitch. This spot is called Wiegenhalt. We climb the newly built viewing platform here, which offers us a wonderful 360-degree panoramic view - the Jauerling to the east, the mountain range of Schneeberg to the southeast, the Ötscher to the south, the Sengsengebirge to the southwest, Bad Traunstein to the west….
A refreshment in one of Braunegg’s inns is recommended before we now hike downhill through the high forest. On the Eibelhof meadow, the grazing cows look at us curiously. After leaving Neusiedl behind, we continue until we reach the state road where, after a few hundred meters, we arrive at Sassing. At the village sign, we go left uphill and walk through the village. At the end of the village, there is the option to make a detour to the ruins of Sassing. The climb there is quite steep - but as a reward, you can admire a very well-preserved, beautifully situated wall and remains of the ruins.
However, the Ysper-Weitental Trail continues straight ahead to the junction with the state road. After about 300 meters, we leave it and take a wide gravel path towards Raxendorf. Through shady forests, we advance briskly to Kreuzriedl just before Raxendorf. At this beautiful viewpoint, we stop and read the astonishing story of the free farmers told here. In Raxendorf, there is the possibility to take refreshments in the inns. Then we continue through open landscape with meadows, fields, and farmland through Lehsdorf to Zeining. After this village, the path climbs. It continues on a forest road steadily uphill to the Nonnersdorf/Zeininger cross. On the climb, it is recommended to turn around a few times to enjoy the fantastic view of the Spitzer Graben. The rest area at the Nonnersdorf or Zeininger cross is very well maintained. Rustic tables and benches invite you to take a snack break. Afterwards, you hike a bit further through high forest until you finally reach the open country near Nonnersdorf again.
We leave the Spielberg farm road at the junction of the municipalities Maria Laach, Weiten, and Raxendorf - there we turn right. After 300 meters, we enter the high forest again and only leave it shortly before Eibetsberg. Meanwhile, there are several views, for example, into the Weitental with the distinctive mountain ridge of the Ostrong. Before attacking the descent into Weiten through the beech forest, we take a short break. On the bench in front of Eibetsberg, you have wonderful views. The next stage demands some caution. A path leads steeply downhill in serpentines through beech forest, and it can be slippery depending on the weather. Halfway down, we discover the panels of the themed trail 'The Human and His Tree.' At the 'Pine' station, before the village of Weiten, we should climb a few meters to the right. There is an old wayside shrine and a rest area with views of Weiten and the Weitental.
After that, just a few meters downhill, and we arrive in Weiten. There, inns and cafes are available for refreshments or a grocery store to restock the backpack. The 22 trail takes us in a small right loop almost to the Jindra Sundial House. We do not want to miss this unique tourist highlight. In the modern and informatively designed sundial museum, we learn a lot about the center of our solar system; in the sundial garden, we admire the variety of different sundial models made in this smithy. Then we continue. Passing the large sundial at the fountain in the market square, we stroll over the bridge of the Weitenbach. The 22 trail now winds past the imposing fortified church and the beautifully renovated 'Luisenheim' uphill towards Nasting. We are at the outskirts of the Jauerling Nature Park. Always gently uphill, we finally reach the snack bench at the Spieler cross. Here we have again a wonderful view into the Danube Valley and into the Mostviertel. Old fruit trees line the road. In late summer, some ripe plums offer a tasty snack. Before Seiterndorf, we turn left, after a short stretch on asphalt, we turn right into the deciduous forest. The forest path leads us just before Lohsdorf. At the wayside cross there, we must go left downhill on the meadow path before the asphalt road. We also leave the village on the left - straight ahead it goes downhill to the old stone bridge - mistakenly also called Roman bridge. Under the bridge flows the Schwarzaubach - which here shows an astonishing width. After a few minutes' break on this idyllic bridge, we take on the slightly ascending forest path, which leads us to the Aichau-Payerstetten junction. There we cross the road and march straight on to Leiben.
Soon after the village sign of Leiben, we turn left and walk through the village center with inns and a grocery store always further until we reach the Meierhof and the European castle Leiben. In this castle is the agricultural technology museum and a scale exhibition. Markets and sales exhibitions take place here at Easter and in Advent. However, our hiking trail branches right shortly before the castle. In the following residential area, we turn left onto 'Auf der Hohenbreiten' and walk on the panoramic round until we suddenly see the Danube in front of us. The view falls on the mighty complex of Melk Abbey and the Melk Danube power station. With the walk through the small forest, we continue the circuit of Henzingberg. Those who want can go up to the viewpoint to enjoy the impressive panoramic view. You can see the Alpine foothills to Ötscher and Schneeberg, the Danube in the Nibelung valley, the Jauerling, and the Southern Waldviertel towards Artstetten. We continue hiking and soon arrive again in Leiben. This time it goes in the other direction - along the Austrian Way of St. James we reach Losau. In the middle of the village, the wooden bell tower immediately catches the eye. Through well-maintained rural landscape and mixed forest, the hiking trail leads gently uphill towards Artstetten. From afar, we already see the distinctive towers of the castle and are already looking forward to the refreshment, as the path suddenly leads steeply down into a valley hollow. That means before something goes between the teeth, we still have a steep climb ahead of us. In Artstetten Castle, which still belongs to the Hohenberg family today, is the crypt of Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg, who was murdered in Sarajevo in 1914 together with his wife Sophie of Hohenberg. This assassination was the official trigger of the First World War. In the castle rooms, everything about the noble kinship, the family life of the archduke, and the tragic events in Serbia is shown and explained. Before visiting the castle, we enjoy food and drink in one of the inns in the village center. Along the castle garden, famous for its peonies and soon to feature the original project “Nobility to Savour,” we somewhat pensively leave this place steeped in history. The Ysper-Weitental trail now leads us through airy mixed forests, alternating with open landscape forms to Maria Taferl.
Passing the 9-hole golf course, we head to the widely visible church towers of the basilica. Of course, a visit to the famous pilgrimage church and the treasury is part of the program, as well as to the mechanical nativity scene and the Alpine panorama in the Gasthaus Frey (an electro-mechanical miniature artwork from 1900). In front of the church, you have a magnificent view into the Danube valley. After refreshments in one of the inns and purchasing a souvenir at the stall market in front of the church, we set off again. A nice path leads us a short distance over sloping meadows. Then it goes steadily uphill through shady deciduous forests. We pass the villages Reitern, Pargatstetten, and Kollnitz. Those who want can visit the operation of the original Waldviertel hay underlays in Kollnitz with a short detour. Shortly before Kollnitzberg, we leave the forest and walk quickly through fields and farmland to Münichreith.
There is again an opportunity for refreshment - either in the grocery store or in one of the inns. A visit to the small brewery Inn Haselböck is recommended. The 22 trail leads along the village street to Antonius Marterl. Here we turn left and come over small farm roads to the village Mayerhofen. At the end of the village, we turn right, and from here it goes comfortably flat on field paths in the open valley bottom to Laimbach. Eating, sleeping, and shopping - all this is possible in the village center of Laimbach - and we take advantage of the offer.
The next stage is one of the most demanding on the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail. The route leads us from Laimbach to Hinterholz. There we begin the ascent of Peilstein. Always ascending, the path leads us, then onto a short steep trail, up to a place where we have to decide - do we take the more difficult but shorter ascent of Peilstein, or the easier route? We decide on the second option. From now on, the wide forest road continuously goes gently uphill. Past Katzenstein, we finally reach the Birch Cross. There we turn right. The path continues constantly uphill to the Peilstein summit experience. Then finally - another right turn, and we stand at the festival ground in front of the Little Peilstein. After climbing the last few meters to the Little Peilstein, of course, the photo at the summit cross must not be missed. Our eyes wander over the magnificent valley landscape at our feet. Then it’s time to climb down again. A small trail leads us further from the Little Peilstein to the Great Peilstein. The view from here is almost even more dramatic - the rugged rocks, the densely forested mountain slopes, and the villages of the Ysper-Weitental valley far below. After all, we stand at 1061 meters above sea level and look down into the valley at about 500 meters above sea level. But we still have a lot ahead of us today as the next stage takes us long through the high forest of the Ostrong. To reach the inn Rote Säge or even Nöchling, it means marching quickly onward. After a third of the entire descent, we reach Kaiserstein, which almost disappoints us by its appearance. We remain in the forest - past the TVN shelter, we finally reach Neuwaldhäusl. In sight of a turning point, be careful - we must turn right - the 22 trail here goes into a small path. Immediately after that, we reach a farmhouse and, after a long time in the forest, stand again in a landscape maintained by farmers. The route now goes briefly on an asphalted farm road - two right turns and we are again in front of a house. Along the garden fence, we come to a meadow. Here too, we keep right and head to the pasture opposite. Now we have a winding little path ahead - it leads us through young trees to a junction. We take the forest road straight ahead towards Rotes Kreuz and enter the high forest again after about 100 meters. Both at the 'Rotes Kreuz' junction and at the next 'Golleck-Wimmergrund', we continue straight on until we finally reach federal road 36. We cross this road and continue hiking until we reach the forester's house 'Kleehof'.
From here, the path winds downhill to the Rote Säge. We are already looking forward to a fine meal in the shady beer garden. Well strengthened, we continue again. Through the mixed forest - always uphill - we expect open farmland again near Oberfelln. Through this slightly hilly landscape with good views, we march past pastures and beautiful isolated farms until the 22 trail joins the state road. After a short stretch on the road, we turn right at Dreimühlen and are now directly beside the Kleine Ysper. We hike about 1.5 kilometers along the river. Then we face a steady climb through mixed forest before finally reaching the village of Nöchling.
Of course, a refreshment stop is also on the program here. On the way, we come past the Brandstätter Cross. From this viewpoint, we enjoy the fascinating panoramic view of the Alps. After the village sign of Nöchling, at the junction 'Hubertusweg,' we take the right farm road. It leads us through loose mixed forest at the end of which we have a beautiful view of Toberspitz, Pelletriedl, and into the Kleine Ysper valley. After a short stage through well-maintained meadows and fields, we enter the forest again. Down by the small brook, we enjoy a little Kneipp cure in the clean but cold water. Then it continues on a narrow grass trail, which leads high up in the embankment. We cross the farm road, go through a young forest with many wild raspberry bushes tempting to pick, down to the Ysper bridge at the inn Ölmühle. In the beer garden next to the Ysper, we take a rest pause. After a short stretch on the state road, the Ysper-Weitental trail leads right over the bridge. Immediately after the bridge, we turn left and continue along the forest edge. The picture of Christ on the tree catches our eye just as much as the atmospheric open area we walk through before continuing on a forest trail towards Kornberg Mill. Now, we pass through the Losenegger Gorge - a magnificent natural attraction. Here, caution is required because nature has mostly reclaimed the footbridges and railings.
The small weir facility, the lush green of moss and ferns, the wonderfully clear water rushing over the stones - all this gives the feeling of being in an enchanted forest. At the top, the trail ends at a small forest path. Here we keep right and pass a large, dilapidated building that was probably a former mill. Through tall forest grasses, we soon reach a new building, which we leave to the right. Now we stand again on the state road. We follow it for a few hundred meters and then immediately leave it at the two trees standing in the embankment. It is a grass path that climbs along the hedge and then passes into a short hollow way. Hardly have we passed this hollow way, the landscape opens. How wonderful is this view into the Alpine foothills and Upper Austria! Then it continues gently climbing along the farm road of the village Langlehen to Pellethof. Even there, we enjoy the wonderful view again. Now we hike over a hill and come to one of many scattered settlements of St. Oswald called Stiegeramt. We stroll comfortably on flat paths to Raiden. There at the EVN tower, we go right, and immediately after at the wayside cross, left again.
We stay on the forest edge until the 22 trail leads us right into the forest after a few hundred meters. Here, we follow the signposting and climb through the high forest until we reach the fitness circuit of St. Oswald. It’s not far to the left to the forest's end. We follow the street straight past the sports field, past the swimming pool, and enjoy the wonderful Ötscher view. At the end of the sports field lane, we stand in the middle of the village center of St. Oswald. Here we recharge in one of the pubs. St. Oswald also offers pleasant and comfortable accommodation options.
The route continues, though. Passing the village fountain and fire station, we take the farm road shortly after the village sign, which runs right below the road.
On this stretch, we look far into the land - this time towards Yspertal and its highest elevation, the Ostrong. In front of the farmhouse, we turn right and soon reach the road again towards Yspertal. The hiking trail continues opposite the bus shelter. Shortly afterwards, we leave the road, turn right, and hike uphill in the forest to the Hauptmann Mayer resting place. This beautiful spot invites you to rest with a fantastic panoramic view. The next stage takes us through light-flooded forest to the Stone Kornmandl, located in the middle of a meadow. There is, of course, a legend about this natural monument, but also a curious story from times when environmental protection was not yet taken so seriously. Then we enter the forest again for a short stretch before we can admire the wide land with the Alpine panorama again at the Windaaghof. Not without reason, there is a bench under two large fruit trees. Then, it goes uphill again on forest paths to the Herzstein. This unique rock formation looks - like its name says - like an upside-down heart. Of course, a selfie and a kiss must not be missed!
Following the Ysper-Weitental trail, we circle the stone and then strictly follow the yellow markings, leading us through the forest down to the state road. Shortly after reaching the road, we leave it again. We turn right - the route continues through forest area - this time gently downhill - towards Yspertal. At the wayside shrine, we take another rest to let the open landscape have an effect on us. In front of the next houses, we turn right downhill. Across a small ford, it goes through the forest again: first on a forest road, then on a small grass path. Here too, we follow the trail markings. The boards of the forest nature trail promise us that we will soon reach a village.
And indeed: we reach Yspertal.
Passing the Florian wayside shrine, we come to the parish church. In Yspertal and also in the next village Altenmarkt, there are several options for refreshments and accommodation.
For the next stage, we walk past the church along Ysperstraße to Geiersteinstrasse. At the small curve next to the garage, we change to the grass path and march to the end of the meadow embankment. There we turn right - cross the small bridge, turn left, and immediately after right again onto the marked footpath along the Ysper. We first pass the forest pond and then the Puschacher Pond. The flat route leads through the open Yspertal via Paming and Pisching towards Ysper Gorge. The stage through the completely newly renovated gorge is impressive. We repeatedly stop and watch the cascading water masses. At the end of the Ysper Gorge at the top near the former Öd Pond, we enjoy a rest at the shelter. From now on, it goes through the mighty forests of the Weinsbergerwald on wide forest roads to Dorfstetten. Here it is important to follow the markings - otherwise, you will get lost in Austria's largest contiguous forest area. We pass the Königwald forester's lodge, Rothirsch and Schaflucken roads, pass by the Anna image, and finally reach Dorfstetten. This village is known for its passion plays held every 5 years, involving almost the entire village population. Dorfstetten offers places to eat and shop.
The Ysper-Weitental trail turns right at the village mill junction. We hike a short stretch on the state road. At the sawmill, we turn off to Natternbichl. Now we enter the Weinsbergerwald again - Nestlstockstraße, Ofenbadenstraße, Gflüderstraße are only some of the crossings we pass before we reach the idyllically situated Pfaffensteg Pond. On Dreiblöchlbergstraße, we turn towards Hubertus Pond and continue through the Habsburg Lorraine's forests until we reach Schlesinger Pond. This romantically located pond also invites you to swim.
Arriving in Bärnkopf, we look forward to a refreshment stop. We buy provisions for the backpack in the “Gschäftl”. Opposite the hiking sign trunk, trail number 22 leads us back into the forest towards Gutenbrunn. We pass the old sand quarry, cross the state road, hike on the Dreiblöchlberg further towards Weinsberg. Here again, the signposting is a great help - trees as far as the eye can see, between them spacious forest roads that all look very similar. Upon climbing the 1061-meter-high Weinsberg, we look forward to the view that awaits us there. We climb the few meters to the ruin remains and shortly thereafter stand on the platform that served anti-aircraft training in World War II and enjoy the wonderful view of Hochwechsel and Watzmann. After the descent, we reach the state road, follow it to the right for about 20 meters and turn right immediately. Passing the barrier, we continue on a wide forest road until we spot a large tree with many markings. Here we turn left. First, a trail, then a path - past a raised hide, we finally reach a forest road again. There we march left further. At the next junction - the Neustall meadow - the 22 trail goes right. From here, we stay always straight beside the “Große Ysper”. After a while, we turn left and immediately take the right path. The forest road then leads us straight ahead again. First comes a bridge without a railing, at the next junction, we take the right path that immediately leads over a small bridge with railing. Shortly afterward, we reach a 'path trumpet'. Here it goes 2x left, and soon we reach the shelter at the end of the Ysper Gorge again. Our Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail now continues left towards Gutenbrunn. Always slightly ascending - past the Bärenwand, we reach the Eppenberger barn. In front of the barn, we find one of the many stands with QR codes on the topic "Traces in the Weinsbergerwald." This interesting project explains the settlement and industrialization of the Weinsbergerwald based on its eventful history. In the village of Gutenbrunn, there is a new museum - the Trucker House.
We now take left paths at all upcoming junction options. Finally, we also come past Lower Austria’s only biathlon facility (a short detour - 100 m left up to the facility is worth it). The 22 goes straight ahead until we meet the state road again. We now walk along the road for a few hundred meters until we turn left at Hanslteich. At the end of the dam, we almost leave the nice festival grounds on the left and follow our hiking trail number 22 to the right. After a bit more than half a kilometer, we reach Gutenbrunn.
There, we immediately try the benefits of the inhalatorium. We sit in the wooden pavilion, where saltwater trickles over fir twigs. This releases essential oils. Those who want can try the Kneipp path in the open-air area. In Gutenbrunn, we use the opportunity for refreshments - either in the inn, the café, or the grocery store. We continue along the village street. Opposite the parish church, we turn left. After the asphalt stock place follows a small hill - there we march right on a forest path a little uphill and then it goes downhill again until we reach the end of the forest. The Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail now leads through meadows and fields through the small village Edlesberg to the idyllic Edlesberg Pond.
After the refreshment in the “Seewolf,” we treat ourselves to a cooling in the clean, iron-rich water. Then we take on the last stage with a walking time of just over 4 hours: back to the starting point of our hike at Pöggstall. The 22 trail leads us on a farm road to a sawmill building. There, a small forest path branches left. We continue on this path until we reach the junction towards the observatory. At this junction, we march right and straight on. We pass the 'Orion' observatory and the village Öd. We change from the asphalted farm road to a field path (from here we have a nice view of Gutenbrunn) and immediately thereafter left onto a grass path. Here it goes briefly downhill, and we are already at the village entrance of Martinsberg. At the junction with the state road, we keep left. We march past the Reitzendorf cross, the new secondary school, the municipal office, and reach the village center. Here there is the opportunity to shop in the grocery store or, depending on opening hours, to take refreshments in the inns. Shortly after the sharp curve, we turn into the following street. At the end of the alley, the 22 trail leads down to Wiesmühlenweg. We follow it (on the left is a farmhouse) and go the route left uphill. In the middle of the climb, we turn right onto a grass path, which now serves as a cart path through the forest. Around 1800, this cart path was the post road from Pöggstall via Gutenbrunn to Zwettl. At the end of the path, we see a bridge railing - here we go right on the asphalt path and then dive into the forest again. From here, a beautiful forest path leads us to the next bridge railing. We turn left, go up the street, and cross federal road 36. Now we have to scramble up the embankment, then hike on a trail and finally uphill at the edge of the meadow to a junction with a forest road. We walk right on this forest road and stay on the right path at all upcoming forks until we reach the open area of Annagschmais.
Past the newly renovated wayside shrine and the few houses, we come back into the high forest. At the next fork, the 22 trail goes left downhill. As soon as we leave the forest, we have a good view of the Weitental again.
Our Ysper-Weitental trail merges once more onto a state road - here we turn left, and after about 20 meters we immediately turn onto the unpaved path, which leads down to the forest on the right. Now comes a long stage always downhill through mixed forest. The forest path finally leads us back onto the state road. We now continue on this road until the village sign of Pöggstall.
And with that, we have reached the starting point of our Ysper-Weitental circular hike!
