St. Michael circular route

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7,02 km
Duration: 2:30 h
Ascent: 250 m elevation gain
Descent: 250 m elevation gain

Starting in Spitz, we are rewarded with breathtaking views of the lovely Wachau natural and cultural landscape during this hike. The hiking trail is uniformly signposted with yellow signs throughout.

Starting point of the tour: Spitz, ferry or church square
Tour destination: Spitz, ferry or church square

Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 7,02 km
Duration: 2:30 h
Ascent: 250 m elevation gain
Descent: 250 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
3/6
Overall experience:
6/6
Scenery:
6/6

Lowest point199 m
Highest point415 m

Round tour
With refreshment stops
Accessibility by train and bus

Downloads

Description

We start our seven-kilometre hike through the wine-growing village of Spitz from the famous wine-growing village of Spitz. We hike through the famous vineyards (Pluris, Achspoint, Singerriedel), which are already in the village, to the legendary "Red Gate" down into the Miesling Valley. From there, the route leads through beautiful natural oak and hornbeam forests to bizarre rock formations with quaint old pine trees (some of which are deadwood) via the Michaelerberg to the old fortified church and Wachau parish of St. Michael and along the Danube back to Spitz.

The Michaelerberg has a special surprise in store for us: a wonderful, gently sloping dry grassland that provides a habitat for unique plants and animals. The route now takes us past sloes, downy oaks and acacias to the old fortified church and original Wachau parish of St. Michael and along the Danube back to Spitz.

safety instructions Emergency call mountain rescue Wachau: 140
Equipment Hiking boots, rainproof clothing and drinking water. The Wachau hiking map is available from Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus, www.wachau.at
Route description Up to a trail junction above St. Michael, we follow the long-distance trail Welterbesteig Wachau (color marking white "W"). From the Spitz ferry, we cross the B3 and head north to the church square with the late Gothic Mauritiuskirche. We cross the church square, leaving the church on the right, continuing past the school. Before the school, we turn right and follow a small street straight uphill, passing winegrowers' houses up to the already visible legendary "Red Gate." There, we can enjoy the splendid view of the opposite Tausendeimerberg and Spitz from one of the benches. Then we go under the "Red Gate" and immediately afterwards turn right down to the Miesling Valley (261m).We cross the Miesling stream via a small wooden bridge. Then we turn right and follow the Miesling stream for a short distance, then after 150 m turn left onto a forest road. We hike this road in switchbacks uphill to the "Buschandlwand Intersection," where the path to St. Michael branches off to the right onto a forest trail. We leave this trail after a few hundred meters where it leads left into a small path uphill, where after a few meters a small cave is located to the right of the path. We continue hiking through a natural beech mixed forest, past bizarre rock formations, where on the left an old pine with a stamp box is located. Through an untouched oak and hornbeam forest, we reach rustic rock formations again, from which we can enjoy wonderful views of the Danube. Soon we go gently downhill and reach the species-rich natural monument dry grassland Michaelerberg (392m). The dry grassland is bordered by blackthorn and downy oaks and provides a unique home to plant and animal species. Here we leave the Welterbesteig Wachau and continue straight downhill towards St. Michael.Wonderful views of the Danube and the right Danube bank with the villages of Hof-, Mitter-, and Bacharnsdorf invite us to take a break to soak in the calming atmosphere of nature. Many different bird species (nuthatch, various woodpeckers, jay, birds of prey) can be observed or heard. We now follow the small footpath downhill (Note: surefootedness is absolutely necessary on the short steeper section! Especially slippery when wet!), past blackthorn and acacias until a small rest area with benches invites to snack just above St. Michael – with a view of the old fortified church of St. Michael and the wine terraces towards Weißenkirchen. Here are small, steep dry grassland islands with beautiful flowers.Soon after, the path leads down to the right, we cross the tracks of the Wachau railway and go through a narrow alley into the small village of St. Michael and see the old fortified church on the right. We go to the main road B3, cross it, and go right down the steps to the towpath next to the Danube. We now follow this path always parallel to the river back to the ferry to Spitz.
Parking Spitz, Donaulände, train station, Schloss Spitz
Getting there West Autobahn A1 to Melk and via B3 to Spitz, or via S5 or S33 to Krems and via B3 to Spitz.
Public transport With the Wachau railway, running from 18.03. to 01.11.2023, from Krems or Emmersdorf to Spitz, more about the timetable here. Spitz can be reached hourly by bus line 715 from the Melk and Krems train stations, timetables: www.vor.at. A detailed timetable "Mobile in the Wachau" is available from Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus.Other arrival and departure options: Danube shipping www.brandner.at ; www.ddsg-blue-danube.at. Two Nextbike rental stations (€1/hour) are located in Spitz at the train station and at the ferry. Info at +43(0)2742/22-9901 and www.nextbike.at
Editor’s tip Other sights in Spitz: Shipping Museum, Hinterhaus Ruins

Recommended period

Numerous dining and accommodation options in Spitz invite you to visit. You can find who is open when and where in the Online tavern calendar. Particularly recommended are the companies of the quality initiative Best of Wachau. www.bestof-wachau.at

The Spitz tourist information in Mittergasse 3a, 3620 Spitz a. d. Danube - at Donaulände B3, T: +43(2713)2363, www.spitz-wachau.com is happy to help with questions.

Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026