Jakobsweg Weinviertel: Etappe 1: Drasenhofen - Poysdorf

The starting point of the Weinviertel Way of St. James—and thus also the first day’s stage—is Drasenhofen in the northern Weinviertel. The starting point for the Way of St. James is right next to the municipal office; after about 4 km, you’ll reach the church in Kleinschweinbarth, and the trail continues via Kreuzberg in Stützenhofen and the Dürnberg. Surrounded by vineyards, you’ll hike toward Falkenstein. You should plan a short detour to Kreuzberg, which lies directly along the trail —in addition to 17th-century stone statues and a burial chapel, you’ll be treated to a wonderful view of the gently rolling landscape of the Weinviertel, the picturesque vineyards, and the wine-growing village of Falkenstein. Passing the shady Lourdes Grotto with its Bründl spring—an excellent spot for a rest—you’ll continue on to the first St. James Church along the route. Via the “Oagossn,” Falkenstein’s wine cellar lane, you’ll leave the village and make your way through the Falkenstein Forest toward Poysdorf. Once you’ve passed through the wooded area, you’ll once again be surrounded by grapevines and vineyards as you continue on to the wine and sparkling wine town of Poysdorf, where you’ll enter the town via the Radyweg, a sunken cellar lane overgrown with black locust trees (“acacias”).

Places of interest along the first day's route:

• Drasenhofen Parish Church
• Traktorium
• Former Kaiserstrasse, now wine cellar lane in Drasenhofen
• Church of “Our Lady” in Kleinschweinbarth
• South Moravian Memorial Cross
• Stützenhofen Parish Church
• Falkenstein Wine Trail
• Kreuzberg in Falkenstein
• Lourdes Grotto + Bründl Spring in Falkenstein
• St. James Church, Falkenstein
• “Oagossn” Wine Cellar Lane in Falkenstein
• Radyweg Wine Cellar Lane in Poysdorf
• WINE + GRAPES World in Poysdorf
• Schlumberger Sparkling Wine World in Poysdorf