Sankt Pölten between hiking trails and cultural routes

Sankt Pölten is a versatile starting point for a journey between the Vienna Woods and Dunkelsteinerwald. Here, longer hiking routes, short themed trails, historic buildings and wine landscapes come together. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can make their preferred type of trip the basis for choosing a location: the focus may be on active hiking days, cultural discoveries or excursions for people with different interests.

Hiking between the Vienna Woods and Dunkelsteinerwald

For longer tours, the Eichgraben Ridge Hiking Trail provides a clear framework. The circular ridge hiking trail is 27 km long and has twelve access trails. It runs through the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve and leads to viewpoints. Another extensive option is the Dunkelsteinerwald Circuit, which is 160 km long in total and comprises nine stages. At 625 m above sea level, Dunkelstein is the highest point in the southern Dunkelsteinerwald.

Shorter trails also have their own focus. The Eheweg in Obritzberg-Rust is 3.5 km long and connects seven themed stations. The Celtic Tree Circle Trail in Pyhra leads to all 22 trees in the tree circle. Along the way, it passes through fields, meadows and small woods, as well as along the Perschling. For trip planning with different daily distances, the easy DUR 8 stage is also worth noting: it leads from Inning to Hafnerbach via Sierninger Berg to Haunoldstein and Groß Sierning.

Cultural routes and historical discoveries

History can be experienced in Sankt Pölten and its surroundings in many different ways. The Cultura Trail Römerweg starts at Eichgraben-Altlengbach railway station and leads to burial mounds dating from the 1st century AD. In Traismauer, the Cultural Route of the Talking Romans tells the story of the Roman past at five stations. The Hunger Tower there dates from the 4th or 5th century AD. Traismauer lies on plains created by the Danube and Traisen rivers and flanked by vineyards.

In Maria-Anzbach stands the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Mercy, an old fortified church from the 15th century. The late Gothic Schönbeck Mill generated the town’s first electricity at the beginning of the 20th century. The Buchbergwarte observation tower is more than 22 metres high and adds a widely visible structure to the historic destinations. In Markersdorf, the parish church of St Martin dates from 1670; it was built over an earlier Romanesque structure. At Osterburg Castle Ruins, some very old walls of the medieval fortified castle have survived on a steep slope along the banks of the Pielach.

The architectural history of the Vienna Woods also offers a special highlight. Purkersdorf Sanatorium was built in 1904 and 1905 in the style of the Vienna Secession. Anyone wishing to combine nature and culture can bring together such destinations with hiking trails and themed paths to create a trip with changing points of focus.

Nature, water and regional cuisine

Purkersdorf Nature Park comprises extensive beech forests, a large animal enclosure and three game enclosures. Around Lake Vienna Woods, there are well-marked and well-maintained paths used by recreational athletes and walkers. However, swimming in the lake is prohibited because it is located in a water protection area. For an active day, Purkersdorf Climbing Park also offers seven courses of varying difficulty, ranging from 2 to 14 metres above the ground.

Culinary destinations are also part of the region’s diversity. At Goldegg Castle, the Castello restaurant offers catering. In Inzersdorf-Getzersdorf, wine taverns, wineries and restaurants are open all year round. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore weigh up different travel ideas: long hiking stages, historic sites, nature experiences or regional cuisine.

Places for further searches

For regional orientation, you can also visit the following local pages: Kasten Bei Böheimkirchen, Altlengbach, Linden, Ambach, Laaben, Loich, Hofstetten, Lauterbach, Sankt Pölten, Maria Anzbach, Kapelln, Herzogenburg, Oberhofen, Warth, Frankenfels, Herzogenburg, Viehofen, Neustift-Innermanzing, Grünsbach, Wald, Nußdorf Ob Der Traisen, Neusiedl, Traismauer, Zagging, Statzendorf, Unterwölbling, Ober-Grafendorf, Wilhelmsburg, Neidling, Stössing, Gemeinde Karlstetten, Brunnrotte, Gemeinde Markersdorf-Haindorf, Wimpassing an der Pielach, Unterdambach, Rabenstein an der Pielach, Oberwölbling, Stollberg, Oed, Neulengbach, Kirchberg an der Pielach and Inzersdorf Ob Der Traisen.

For the higher-level travel overview: Lower Austria.