Haselböckau: Nature Experience on the Krems

Haselböckau is a destination for anyone who enjoys combining a trip with landscape experiences and tangible discoveries. At the heart of it is Haselböckau with its natural river and meadow landscape. The “Kremsauen” nature reserve in Haselböckau is described as one of the ecologically most valuable areas in the municipalities of Schlierbach and Nussbach. There, the Krems meanders largely undisturbed and is accompanied by natural bog and marsh areas.

River Landscape and Special Nature Observations

In Haselböckau, the Krems has preserved a largely undisturbed, very winding course over approximately four kilometres. As a result, the landscape is shaped not by straight banks, but by alternating bends and the adjoining wetland areas. In this section, the Krems is still unregulated. During spring floods, steep banks repeatedly form on the outer bends—an unmistakable feature of the river landscape that helps define the character of Haselböckau.

The hike through Haselböckau also offers several notable opportunities for nature observation. Dippers and grey wagtails can be observed at a weir. Along the route, grey herons sometimes take flight from the bed of the Krems or the adjacent meadows. Kestrels can repeatedly be seen hovering over the meadows in their distinctive flight. The wet meadows in the protected area also provide a habitat for the corncrake, which is also called the land rail. Its distinctive call can sometimes be heard as early as the evening hours. Those travelling with children can incorporate such observations into the day as a shared discovery, without reducing the excursion to merely following a path.

Hiking between Wanzbach, the Oak and the Krems

A well-signposted hiking trail leads from the Wanzbach district past the “1,000-year-old Oak”. At the wayside shrine, a seat invites you to pause and reflect. The K10 cultural trail lists the natural monument “1,000-year-old Oak” as a sight halfway along the route in Haselböckau. This brings together both scenic impressions and a connection to cultural history during a trip, without you having to leave the natural surroundings.

The hike through the meadows and river landscape begins below a farmhouse in front of the Brandlmayrbrücke wooden bridge. It initially follows a well-maintained gravel path for approximately 50 metres to a fork in the trail. From there, a roughly 300-metre spur path leads towards the Kremstalauen nature reserve. This information helps you place the beginning of the tour and a possible detour within your day’s planning. At the same time, there is room to shape the excursion according to your interests: you can focus on the river landscape, birdwatching, the cultural trail or a combination of these impressions.

The Right Holiday Apartment for Planning Your Trip

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Haselböckau, the first question is what kind of holiday you are planning. Nature enthusiasts can organise their days around the Krems, the wet meadows and wildlife observations. Anyone wishing to add a cultural element can include the “1,000-year-old Oak” and the K10 cultural trail in their plans. This allows families with different interests to divide a day between activity, landscapes and quiet moments of observation.

If you would then like to compare other places for your trip planning, you can find Leonstein, Edlbach, Steinbach An Der Steyr, Klaus An Der Pyhrnbahn, Schweizersberg, Rinnerberg, Micheldorf In Oberösterreich and Etzelsdorf here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Kirchdorf An Der Krems.