Edelberg-Rundweg

Wachau Mountain Rescue Emergency Number: 140

Hiking boots, rain gear, and plenty of drinking water.

We start our approximately 5-kilometer hike at the market square in Aggsbach Markt (214 m) and turn left here (toward the west), crossing the little bridge and following the old road past 16th-century houses. After “Haus Philomenia”—or in front of the Kurz family’s wine tavern—we turn right, passing the kindergarten. Shortly thereafter, we cross the Wachaubahn railroad tracks straight ahead. At the next Y-intersection, we turn left and, in front of house no. 111, turn right toward the forest. Here a beautiful forest trail begins, which we follow straight ahead at the first intersection. We now reach a sunken path that leads us through a small loess gorge. We follow the path straight ahead uphill, parallel to the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail (marked with a white “W”). Soon, a small clearing unexpectedly offers a view of the meandering Danube. There is also an apricot orchard here. We continue through a beautiful mixed beech forest and, at the next intersection, keep going straight uphill on lovely, soft forest trails.

At the next intersection, which is a left-hand curve, we go straight ahead, and do the same at the next Y-intersection. We now reach a clearing where the trail makes a long left-hand curve; here we come to the “Kreuzung Edelbergrunde” (349 m) signpost, where our Edelberg Loop Trail branches off to the right and where we leave the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail. From here on, the trail leads steadily downhill along a forest road. At the large hairpin curve—the Kehre—we follow the forest road to the right; at the next Y-junction, we take the left (straight) path down into the valley and follow it until we reach the Endlingbach stream. Before reaching the stream, we turn right and follow it along a beautiful path. At the first fork in the trail, we take the left path, which runs closer to the stream.

At the first little bridge in the village, we continue straight ahead. Every now and then, benches invite us to rest and enjoy the scenery. At a yellow farmhouse, the lovely meadow path leads us slightly uphill to the right of it. After about 20 meters, we keep to the left downhill and turn right again immediately afterward. Here, the paved road begins again. Before the bridge, we turn right and follow the Endlingbach on our right, continuing straight ahead to the next small bridge; we cross it (it’s directly across from the church) and, immediately after the bridge, turn right, passing under the Wachaubahn and continuing straight ahead, following the Endlingbach, all the way back to the market square.

Market Square, Train Station, Venus Hall

Take the A1 to Melk and then the B3 to Aggsbach-Markt, or take the S5 or S33 to Krems and then the B3 to Aggsbach-Markt.

The Wachaubahn, which runs daily between May 30 and November 1, provides access to Aggsbach Markt from Emmersdorf or Krems: www.wachaubahn.at. Aggsbach Markt can be reached hourly via bus line 715 from the Melk and Krems train stations; for schedules, visit www.vor.at.

There is a Nextbike bike-sharing station in Aggsbach Markt. For more information, call 02742/22-9901 or visit www.nextbike.at.

The Venusium Museum is well worth a visit—a small but delightful gateway to the world of the Stone Age and the famous Venus of Willendorf, www.willendorf.info

The Genussterrasse restaurant in Aggsbach Markt treats its guests to high-quality cuisine and delights them with its terrace offering a magnificent view of the Danube. www.restaurant-genussterrasse.at