Bad Großpertholz: Nature, Culture and Trails

Bad Großpertholz combines the landscape of the Waldviertel Highlands with special insights into craftsmanship, local history and nature. Nordwald Nature Park lies on the western edge of the Waldviertel Highlands between Bad Großpertholz and Karlstift and has a Nordic-Scandinavian character. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore important to consider which experiences should shape your trip: landscapes and trails, cultural history, traditional handicrafts or a ride on the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway.

Moorland and Panoramic Views in Nordwald Nature Park

The Pertholzer Moor is a raised bog covering around 2.8 hectares in the market town of Bad Großpertholz. It consists predominantly of Scots pine bog woodland typical of the location, along with smaller open transitional bog areas. Another destination in Nordwald Nature Park is the Große Haide raised bog. Those who do not want to view the landscape only from a distance can explore the subject of trees along the “Auf dem Holzweg” themed trail. The “Exhibition Room on the Life of Woodcutters” and the reconstructed timber-floating canal are also among the attractions in the nature park.

A prominent vantage point is the Schwarzenberg observation tower near Bad Großpertholz. From there, you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views across the landscape of Nordwald Nature Park. The Großpertholz healing moor is also the first therapeutic peloid recognized under the provisions of the Federal Act of 1958 in accordance with the Lower Austrian Healing Springs and Spa Resorts Act. In addition to its moorland landscape, the town therefore has a special connection to the tradition of healing moor treatments.

Papermaking, Local History and Regional Traditions

At the Waldviertel Mörzinger Paper Mill, the finest handmade laid paper is produced by hand in Europe's last “rag” paper mill. From March to October, you can book a guided tour by prior arrangement; visitors can even make a sheet of paper themselves. This experience is especially suitable for a trip where gaining an insight into traditional craftsmanship is just as important as being active in the landscape.

The Bad Großpertholz Local History Museum presents a local collection featuring agricultural tools and household implements, historical legal artifacts, documents relating to local history, religious folk art, and the region's geology, flora and fauna. The museum's large lichen collection is considered the largest in Austria. The town is also home to the Trinity Column, also known as the “Plague Column.” It was erected in 1715, is made of sandstone and is an example of the local Baroque style. At Edermühle, you can enjoy an exclusive guided tour featuring the animals living on the farm and the fish ponds. Edermühle is more than 400 years old. At Sonnseitnhof, trekking tours with alpacas are offered by prior arrangement.

Trails with Different Focal Points

For specific day planning, the Steinbach Trail offers a moderately difficult circular route covering 3.93 km. The stated duration is 1 hour 15 minutes, with both the ascent and descent involving 93 metres of elevation gain. The start and finish are at the Bad Großpertholz Spa Hotel. The Sehweg is an eye-walking trail that starts at the Moorbad Bad Großpertholz Spa Hotel and offers eye exercises for visual perception and eye coordination at various stations.

At the Trinity Column, the Paper Mill Trail leads to the “Brother Konrad” wayside shrine and downhill through the forest to the paper mill. It then leads partly steeply uphill through the forest back to Bad Großpertholz. For your day planning, you should take this changing route profile and the partly steep ascent into account.

Getting There and Further Travel Ideas

The Steinbach-Bad Großpertholz railway station is located on the southern branch of the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway. Nostalgic trains of the Waldviertelbahn run from there to Gmünd and Groß Gerungs. On the Waldviertel narrow-gauge railway, steam and diesel locomotives travel between Gmünd, Groß Gerungs and Litschau through forests and open countryside, passing ponds and distinctive granite boulders. For families, such a train journey can provide a full day of travel in its own right, while other days can be devoted to the moor, papermaking or the trails in the nature park.

If you would like to discover other places besides Bad Großpertholz, you can find Kirchberg Am Walde, Litschau, Weitra, Heidenreichstein, Eggern, Haugschlag, Lauterbach and Schrems here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Gmünd.