Way of St. James Mostviertel: 2nd stage: from Neustadtl to Wallsee

Description

The municipality of Neustadtl, at 507 meters in altitude, is the starting and also the highest point of this second stage of the Way of St. James. From here, the route descends for some time, then briefly ascends again to Kollmitzberg. Kollmitzberg, with the well-known Ottilien fountain and the pilgrimage church of St. Ottilie, is a popular pilgrimage destination, which also offers a particularly beautiful view at the church. According to legend, "Odilia" was born blind at Hohenburg (municipality of Obernai). Her father Duke Eticho wanted to have the girl killed because of this disability, but the mother saved her. Through baptism at the age of twelve, Ottilie regained her sight and is therefore venerated as the patron saint of the visually impaired and blind.

The journey continues to the Ardagger Abbey, a former collegiate abbey in the eponymous municipality. The next part of the stage runs mostly through agricultural regions. We hike along narrow roads through cornfields and past square farms until we can identify our next stop in a hollow, the market town of Zeillern. In Zeillern, the lovingly designed "Inspirationsweg" (Path of Inspiration) is particularly noteworthy, which leads the pilgrim past six stations with glass sculptures and deals with themes such as hope, new beginnings, and security. Near Schweinberg, we pass a small, yellow chapel in front of which—perhaps in wise foresight regarding future pilgrims on the Way of St. James—two benches have been placed inviting a pause. The next place we arrive at is the end point of our stage, Wallsee-Sindelburg. The market town with about 2200 inhabitants is a suitable stage destination because there is a lot to see here. For example, the stately Wallsee Castle, the small filial church St. Anna, and the Roman World Wallsee.

Mostviertel Tourismus GmbH
Töpperschloss Neubruck, Neubruck 2/10, 3283 Scheibbs
T +43/7482/20 444
info@mostviertel.at , www.mostviertel.at

Upper Austria Tourism Information
Freistädter Straße 119, 4041 Linz
info@oberoesterreich.at
www.wandern.at

Useful maps:
ÖK 4322 Pöchlarn, ÖK 4327 Amstetten, ÖK 4328 Scheibbs,
ÖK 4203 Waidhofen, ÖK 4204 Lunz
All at a scale of 1:50,000 (also available enlarged at 1:25,000)
F&B Hiking Maps 052 Mostviertel (1:50,000),
Kompass Hiking Guide 1085 Way of St. James

Important phone numbers:
Alpine emergency call: 140, International emergency call: 112

Recommended literature:
Hiking Guide Way of St. James Austria, www.kompass.at
On the Way of St. James through Austria, www.tyrolia-verlag.at
Pilgrimage routes, www.kral-verlag.at
Pilgrimage routes to Mariazell – West + South volumes, www.styriabooks.at