Sankt Magdalena: Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade, Nature Trail and Historic Church

Sankt Magdalena combines a historic route, a landscape close to nature and remarkable architectural history. Those looking for a holiday apartment for a trip with a range of interests will find inspiration here for days spent walking, observing nature and exploring cultural history. The Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade is particularly characteristic: it follows the historic route of the Linz–Budweis horse-drawn railway, which opened in 1832.

Exploring the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade

The historical significance of the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade remains connected with the present-day landscape. The path leads through a near-natural mixed forest with old trees, deadwood and diverse structures. This forest provides a habitat for numerous animal species. A walk can therefore be planned not only with the historic route in mind, but also as an opportunity to experience different forms of nature.

The St. Magdalena Nature Trail extends along the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade. Its information boards provide practical tips on how you can encourage nature in your own garden. For families who enjoy discovering and discussing things along the way, these suggestions provide an additional topic of conversation; at the same time, the path remains an independent nature and landscape experience. The Elmberg ditches create their own microclimate as another landscape feature.

Church, Architectural History and Old Paths

St. Magdalena Church is also part of the history of the area. It was built as a chapel around 1110. The central nave with its net-ribbed vault is still preserved from the late Gothic church. In 1768, the church tower was redesigned as a Baroque façade tower with an onion dome. Those interested in regional architectural history can use these different layers of time to trace how the appearance of a religious building changed over the centuries.

Another way to combine the landscape with historical points of reference is the hike “Along Old Paths – City Hike from Linz to Oberbairing”. It begins in the Sankt Magdalena district and passes the parish church and the thousand-year-old lime tree. This offers a different perspective on the surroundings than a stay focused exclusively on the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade: the route connects the starting point in Sankt Magdalena with further stops on a hike from Linz to Oberbairing.

Choosing a Route and Planning Your Journey

The “Idyll Along the Horse-Drawn Railway” route begins at St. Magdalena Church and then continues along the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade. This clear sequence helps you plan your day if you would like to combine the church, historic route and nature trail in a single outing. For getting there, this route can be reached via Linz AG tram lines 1 and 2 using the Harbachsiedlung stop. Those who wish to travel without their own vehicle can take this connection into account when planning their accommodation and excursions.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Sankt Magdalena, it is worth deciding in advance what pace of travel you want. If the trip is to focus primarily on historical impressions, the church and Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade take centre stage. For nature enthusiasts, the mixed forest, nature trail and Elmberg ditches offer different highlights. Those who prefer longer connected excursions can include the “Along Old Paths – City Hike from Linz to Oberbairing” hike in their personal plans. This allows the choice of accommodation to be guided by the experiences you actually want to pursue during your stay, without combining the individual paths into a single circular route.

Discover More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Eidenberg, Haibach Im Mühlkreis, Feldkirchen An Der Donau, Gramastetten, Ottensheim, Altenberg Bei Linz, Vorderweißenbach and Mursberg .

To the higher-level travel overview: Urfahr-Umgebung.