Discover Vorderstoder: Trails, Lakes and Living Culture

Vorderstoder combines scenic trails, tranquil waterside spots and a remarkable ecclesiastical history. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in this landscape can choose between active days of hiking, peaceful hours by the water and cultural discoveries. What is particularly interesting is that nature experiences and living traditions each have their own character here: on the one hand, there are panoramic views and forest paths; on the other, the parish church with its Late Gothic furnishings and the Almabtrieb, the traditional driving down of cattle from the alpine pastures, as part of the local culture.

Views, forest lake and natural swimming pond

One specific hiking suggestion leads from the Baumschlagerberg alpine inn in Vorderstoder to the Stoderer Weitblick viewing platform. The footpath is 4.2 km long and takes just over an hour to reach the destination. There, a panoramic view opens up over nature and the surrounding mountains of Pyhrn-Priel. For planning your day, the stated distance provides useful guidance if you would like to combine a hike with a clearly defined viewpoint as its destination.

Things are quieter at Windhaagersee. The peaceful lake lies in the middle of the forest; on its shore there are a hunting lodge and benches inviting visitors to take a break. In dry weather, you can hike around Windhaagersee. This provides a different focus for an outing than the tour to Stoderer Weitblick: here, the emphasis is on water, forest and a relaxing break. At Schafferteich, meanwhile, you will find a natural swimming pond in a beautiful setting. A bathing jetty and a sunbathing lawn invite you to unwind and enjoy the sun.

Hiking Trail Number 9 also begins in Vorderstoder, at the municipal office. First, follow the road for about 150 metres in the direction of Windischgarsten before the path branches off to the left. This precise guidance can help you plan a day of hiking independently without tying your choice of accommodation to a specific tour.

Late Gothic church and living tradition

The parish church of Vorderstoder is an important destination for anyone who would also like to combine their stay with art and history. It was built in the Late Gothic style in place of a wooden chapel, has a beautiful net-vaulted ceiling and was consecrated on 15 August 1507. It is dedicated to the then-newest Austrian saint, Margrave Leopold III.

Two of the three church bells are also noteworthy: they bear the casting date 1401 and are among the oldest church bells in Upper Austria. The church also houses the Late Gothic Madonna of the Chapel of Grace, “Maria am Stein”. She is surrounded by Saint Anne and Saint Joachim and depicts Mary as Queen of Heaven. The parish is also a station on the Benedict Way. This is linked to the wish to revive the pilgrimage to “Our Lady of the Stone”.

Alpine pastures are part of the landscape around Vorderstoder. The Almabtrieb, the traditional driving down of cattle from the alpine pastures, is one of the traditions of living culture. Those who appreciate nature and local customs equally will therefore find different points of interest for planning their trip, without every day of their holiday having to follow the same pattern.

Which accommodation suits your holiday days?

When looking for a holiday apartment or another type of accommodation, you can first consider which focus is important for your trip. For hiking-oriented days, the route to Stoderer Weitblick and Hiking Trail Number 9 offer specific destinations. For quieter hours, Windhaagersee with its places to rest or Schafferteich with its bathing jetty and sunbathing lawn are options. Those who prefer cultural impressions can include the parish church, its bells and the Madonna “Maria am Stein” in their plans.

The Vorderstoder Tourist Information Office assists visitors in finding rooms and with questions about mountain tours, hikes, leisure facilities and events. For the mini-golf hike, the tourist information office also planned to lend out clubs and balls during the stated times: Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and additionally on Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Such information can be helpful when planning your day, while the right holiday apartment should primarily be chosen according to your preferred travel rhythm and personal preferences.

Other places for trip planning

For further orientation, you can also view the pages on Rosenau Am Hengstpaß, Pettenbach, Micheldorf In Oberösterreich, St. Pankraz, Steinbach Am Ziehberg, Oberschlierbach, Schlierbach and Haselböckau.

For the overarching travel overview: Kirchdorf An Der Krems.