Rottau: Moor, Peat Railway Station and Special Trails

Rottau combines moorland, regional history and trails for a variety of holiday experiences. You can take a ride on the historic narrow-gauge railway, hike through the Kendlmühlfilzen, head to an alpine pasture or gain special insights on short themed trails. When choosing a holiday apartment, it is therefore particularly interesting to consider which combination of nature, culture, activity and shared family experiences best suits your trip.

Peat Railway Station and Museums: History to See and Experience

A striking starting point for exploring the area's history is Rottau Peat Railway Station. The former peat works is an industrial monument dating from 1920 and has Europe's only functioning peat-bale press from 1933. The Peat Railway Station Museum offers rides on the historic narrow-gauge railway. The Molly locomotive travels across the former works site. A guided tour of the museum with a narrow-gauge railway ride takes around 90 minutes – a manageable format that fits well as a separate item in a day's itinerary.

The Salt & Moor Museum also focuses on the history of the region. It houses the original Reichenbach water-column engine, which was in operation for 150 years. Those interested in religious and older local history can also visit St. Michael's Church in Rottau: it is historically documented as early as 1195. The Klaushäusl dating from 1810 is another historical destination. It is the only completely preserved pumping station on the 107-kilometre brine pipeline.

Moorland Trails with Views and Discoveries

The Kendlmühlfilzen can be experienced along various trails. The Moor Circular Trail leads through the heart of the Kendlmühlfilzen and has an observation tower. The short Kendlmühlfilzen Moor Experience Trail runs through the nature reserve and combines small surprises and puzzles with an exploratory tour for children and adults. This allows you to choose a shorter nature outing without devoting the entire day exclusively to a long hiking programme.

A longer option is the 12-kilometre, easy Grassau Terrain Therapy Trail through Grassau and Rottau. The route passes the Rottau Kneipp pool and barefoot trail, then continues through Rottau along traditional farmhouses and returns to Grassau via a panoramic trail by the Salt & Moor Museum. The walking time is 3 hours and 20 minutes. This information helps you plan your holiday according to the desired length of the day.

Cycling, Alpine Pastures and Regional Refreshments

For a cycling tour, the Achental Cycle Path runs along the edge of the Kendlmühlfilzen to the historic Rottau Peat Railway Station. If you prefer to combine an outing with a stop for refreshments, you can choose the Grassau & Rottau Alpine Pasture Tour to the Rottau Moieralm. There, you can stop for refreshments and enjoy views of the Kampenwand. At the Hefteralm on this tour, snacks and fresh drinks are available, including cheese, bread, cake, Kaiserschmarrn and buttermilk made on site.

Another family-oriented highlight is the Rottau Bee Trail. The short themed trail features information boards and a bee observation hive with its own bee colony. This means that Rottau offers a choice of both cultural and historical destinations as well as nature and educational trails.

Choose Rottau to Suit Your Holiday Day

Rottau's special appeal lies not in just one attraction, but in the variety between peat history, moorland, rural surroundings and active excursions. A stay can begin with a guided narrow-gauge railway ride, be complemented by a short puzzle trail or be shaped around a longer tour and a stop at an alpine pasture. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Rottau, the experiences you plan provide useful guidance for organising your personal trip – without every holiday day having to look the same.

For the overarching travel overview: Grassau.