Wernstein am Inn

Wernstein am Inn combines a distinctive Inn landscape with art, history and a wide range of options for a shared holiday. Between the Bohemian Massif, historic buildings and the 145-metre-long Mariensteg suspension footbridge, you can combine cultural discoveries with active days. This makes the town an interesting base for travellers who choose their holiday apartment not only according to the accommodation itself, but also according to the experiences they want to enjoy.

Art and history on the Inn

A special cultural landmark is the Kubin House in Zwickledt. It was Alfred Kubin’s centre of life and workplace for more than 50 years. The Kubin House Zwickledt Museum displays original furnishings, artworks, manuscripts and a collection of prints from Alfred Kubin’s circle. In addition to the permanent exhibition on Alfred Kubin, classic guided tours and a workshop programme for all ages are offered. For a trip with children, this can be an interesting addition to excursions into nature, while those interested in art can learn more about Kubin’s life and work.

The Alfred Kubin Gallery, with its exhibitions, offers further insights into the region’s culture. The parish church of St George also adds a historic accent. It is a single-nave, Late Gothic building dating from the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century and contains Gothic works of art, including an octagonal baptismal font made of red marble. On its western side stands a six-storey Baroque tower built in 1730.

The Marian Column is another prominent sight. The 17-metre-high column, made of sandstone and granite, was created in 1646 by J. Pock, modelled on the Marian Column in Munich. It was brought to Wernstein by ship and erected opposite Neuburg. Four pillars with child angels surround the high base; the angels are depicted wearing helmets and carrying shields and swords. Nearby Neuburg has a documented history dating back to 1025, when it was built by the powerful Count of Formbach. Saint Nepomuk also shapes the area’s religious imagery: he is venerated as the patron saint of bridges and as a protector against flooding and drowning. The statue of Nepomuk on the Johannesfelsen rock in the Vornbacher Enge was designed and erected there in 1976 by Dr Alois Beham.

The Inn landscape and routes for active days

The municipality lies on the southern edge of the Bohemian Massif. The local geology includes Wernstein-type migmatites. Particularly impressive is the Vornbacher Enge, a breakthrough valley of the Inn where the river narrows to around 60 metres. The landscape can be explored in various ways: the route to the Fronholzwarte leads to a lookout tower at the highest point of the hill. The Motorikpark offers stations and exercise elements for healthy movement in nature.

The Mariensteg is a striking destination for pedestrians and cyclists. A single 30-metre-high pylon on the Neuburg side supports the suspension footbridge. It connects Wernstein with Neuburg am Inn and is intended for pedestrians and cyclists. The Innviertel Way of St James also uses the new cycle and pedestrian bridge: hikers can cross it for a short visit to Wernstein. Those travelling by bicycle can include the R1.01 Inn-Danube Loop in their plans. It reaches the Mariensteg via paved cycle paths, side roads, a gravel path and finally Innstraße.

Which base suits your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Wernstein am Inn, it helps to first decide on your preferred focus. If you want to combine museums, a gallery, a church and historic monuments, a culturally oriented stay is the priority. For active days, the Mariensteg, the Motorikpark, the Fronholzwarte and the routes described above provide specific starting points. The ÖBB stop in the town enables direct travel to Wernstein by train and can be an important factor when planning a trip without your own car.

This allows you to align your accommodation search with the type of trip you are planning: cultural discoveries, activity in the Inn landscape or a combination of both. For further local pages to help with trip planning, you can also find Suben, Sankt Willibald, Rainbach im Innkreis, Gumping, Enzenkirchen, Mayrhof, Engelhartszell and Diersbach.

For the higher-level travel overview: Schärding.