Discover Amstetten: Culinary Delights, Culture and Trails in the Mostviertel

Amstetten offers various gateways to the Mostviertel: regional culinary culture, Austrian history, nature experiences and routes for active days on holiday are available as different travel ideas. Families and other travellers can decide for themselves whether to focus on a cycling tour, a museum visit, animals and landscapes, or special culinary experiences. This diversity is a good starting point when looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, as the desired daily activities determine which location appears particularly interesting as a personal base.

Mostviertel Delights and Special Trails

Mostelleria offers an interactive exhibition about the creation of MOSTELLO. This is a pear dessert-wine composition made from old, rare Most pear varieties from the surrounding area. At Mostelleria, visitors can also experience cask tastings in the maturation cellar. Those who want not only to sample regional specialities but also learn how they are made will find a distinct focus for their travel planning here.

The landscape can also be explored in different ways. The “On the Trail of the Forstheide” adventure trail is 2.1 kilometres long and includes 14 interactive stations. Around half of the Forstheide area is designated as a Natura 2000 site and is therefore part of a Europe-wide nature conservation network. Another themed walking trail is the new Pear Trail in Öhling. It follows in the footsteps of Johann Kirchweger, a patron of the Mauer State Hospital and pioneer of Most pear cultivation.

Cycling with Rail Connections

For longer days of cycling, the 55-kilometre central section of the Ybbstal Cycle Path between Waidhofen an der Ybbs and Lunz am See is ideal. It follows the railway line of the former Ybbstal Railway, is level and runs close to the river. Those looking for a route with a steady profile can include this cycle path as an important part of their holiday plans.

Arrival and return travel can also be combined with public transport: A regional train runs hourly from Amstetten to Waidhofen an der Ybbs and stops at several stations along the Ybbstal Cycle Path. Different timetables apply on weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. ÖBB Railjet and Westbahn trains also stop in Amstetten; bicycles can be taken on the trains. When looking for a holiday apartment in Amstetten, this focus on rail and cycling can therefore be a comprehensible selection criterion.

Museums, History and Sonntagberg

The Mostviertel Farmers’ Museum presents the working and living world of Mostviertel farmers, as well as rural workshop ensembles from 20 different trades. In total, the museum displays around 22,000 objects from the lives of Mostviertel farmers and craftspeople. The Ostarrichi Museum in Neuhofen an der Ybbs focuses on the origins of Austria and recounts the story in seven stages, from the famous “Ostarrichi charter” to the signing of the Treaty on European Union.

For days of cultural and historical interest, Sonntagberg is also worth making a theme in its own right. Sonntagberg Basilica is considered one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage sites. Today’s Sonntagberg minor basilica, with its distinctive two towers, is the work of Baroque master builders Jakob Prandtauer and Josef Mungenast. The panoramic high-altitude trail on Sonntagberg invites visitors to take a hike with a view. Ulmerfeld Castle has been structurally modernised and made accessible.

Zoo and Different Holiday Paces

Around 70 native and exotic animal species, comprising approximately 700 animals in total, live at Stadt Haag Zoo. The zoo is located in the 33-hectare park of Salaberg Castle. Guided tours can be arranged online or by telephone. This makes it possible to combine one day of animal observation with another spent at a museum, on a cycle path or enjoying regional culinary culture. For families with children of different ages, the selection offers various ways to alternate between active and quieter days, without limiting the holiday to just one theme.

For a stay focused on culinary delights and history, Mostelleria, the Farmers’ Museum, the Ostarrichi Museum and Sonntagberg take centre stage. Those who prefer nature and exercise can compare Forstheide, the Pear Trail, the panoramic high-altitude trail and the Ybbstal Cycle Path.

Other Places for Orientation

For your further search, the local pages for Euratsfeld, Ertl, Hollenstein An Der Ybbs, Ardagger Markt, Amstetten, Sankt Valentin, Sankt Georgen Am Reith, Neuhofen An Der Ybbs, Wallsee, Ardagger Stift, Pfaffenberg, Allhartsberg, Behamberg, Weistrach, Haag, Ybbsitz, Wolfsbach and Zeillern are also available.

For the overarching travel overview: Lower Austria.