Furth bei Göttweig: Abbey Culture, Nature and the History of Viticulture

Furth bei Göttweig opens up a journey between impressive abbey art, a geologically shaped landscape and the history of viticulture. Depending on the pace of holiday you prefer, you can combine cultural sightseeing, nature observation, cycling and hiking excursions. When looking for a holiday apartment, it is therefore worth considering first whether you would primarily like to spend your days exploring cultural history, actively discovering the landscape or enjoying culinary experiences.

Discover Abbey Art and Historic Places

The Museum in the Imperial Wing is the oldest museum in Lower Austria and offers a distinctive cultural point of interest. Göttweig Abbey is also home to the Baroque Imperial Staircase with a ceiling fresco by Paul Troger. In the main crypt of Göttweig Abbey Church, you can see the Göttweig Pietà, a wooden sculpture from the mid-15th century that was reworked in 1880.

The abbey’s architectural history can also be traced through several details. Through the northern crypt area of Göttweig Abbey Church, you reach a preserved Gothic wing of the cloister, which has been set up as a lapidarium. At the parish church with the abbey’s Meierhof, the Late Gothic choir from the mid-15th century has been preserved. Anyone interested in art, sacred spaces and historic architecture can plan these sites as different focal points for a cultural day.

Loess Walls, Rare Animals and Hiking Trails

A completely different atmosphere awaits you at the Zellergraben sunken lane. Its landscape-defining loess walls reach a height of more than 10 metres. Because of its geological significance, the sunken lane was declared a natural monument. The site is also interesting for nature observation: here you can see European bee-eaters, European sousliks, green lizards and rare species of butterfly.

For a hike, the Furth bei Göttweig Tourism and Beautification Association provides a hiking map for F2 Waxenberg – Mammoth Trees. This allows you to add your own hiking theme to your stay, while the Zellergraben offers a stronger focus on landscape and natural history. When planning your day, consider what type of experience should be at the centre and choose your accommodation accordingly, based on the holiday rhythm that suits you.

Cycling Route and the History of Viticulture

For cycling tours around the municipal area, the market town of Furth bei Göttweig recommends the Fladnitztal Cycling Route. Those who prefer to learn about regional history through a specific theme will find a suitable starting point at the Wine Culture Cellar: it traces the history of viticulture from the end of feudal rule in the mid-19th century through to the 1970s. Visits to the Wine Culture Cellar are available by appointment from April to the end of December.

This allows you to give your holiday different emphases: one day can be devoted to abbey art, another to the Zellergraben sunken lane or a cycling tour. For families with different interests, this thematic division is helpful because not all travellers have to choose the same type of excursion.

Planning Routes and Choosing Suitable Accommodation

The footpath from Furth/Göttweig to Göttweig Abbey is 2.8 kilometres long, includes around 200 metres of elevation gain and takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Allow for these approximate figures if you would like to plan a visit on foot. There are also train connections to Paudorf and Furth/Göttweig. This information can help you decide whether to look for a holiday apartment as a base for culture, nature, cycling and the history of viticulture during your stay.

For further travel planning, you can also visit Willendorf in der Wachau, Spitz, Krumau am Kamp, Mühldorf, Oberarnsdorf, Krustetten, Rossatz and Senftenberg.

To the overarching travel overview: Krems-Land.