World Heritage Trail Wachau 03 - Detour: Weißenkirchen-Spitz

©Wachau-Nibelungengau-Kremstal

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10,89 km
Duration: 3:10 h
Ascent: 311 m elevation gain
Descent: 296 m elevation gain

Note: Total closure of World Heritage Trail stage 3 between St. Michael and Spitz Due to extensive forest maintenance and trail renovation work in the Atzberg area, stage 3 of the World Heritage Trail between St. Michael and Spitz is completely closed until further notice. The junction to the Buschandlwand is also affected - these areas are not accessible until March 2026. The approach to St. Michael is possible from Weißenkirchen, but is steep and often slippery in winter. Recommended detour from/to Ried Hochrain via Wösendorf and St. Michael on to Spitz. The detour route is signposted on site and leads along publicly accessible paths. Important notes Please do not enter any forestry or construction site areas - there is a danger from machine and timber work. Follow the detour signs and the instructions on site. Map services and GPX tracks will be adjusted; check your navigation before starting.

Starting point of the tour: Weißenkirchen Marktplatz
Tour destination: Spitz Kirchenplatz

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10,89 km
Duration: 3:10 h
Ascent: 311 m elevation gain
Descent: 296 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
4/6

Lowest point202 m
Highest point432 m

Stage tour
Nice views
Accessibility by train and bus

Downloads

Description

Detour Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail: From Weißenkirchen to Spitz

The stage from Weißenkirchen to Spitz leads through the impressive heart of the Wachau stone terrace wine landscape. High above the Danube, the trail runs through the largest closed wine-growing area in the Wachau with renowned vineyards such as Kollmitz, Kollmütz and Hochrain and repeatedly opens up far-reaching views over the Danube valley. The traditional wine-growing villages of Weißenkirchen and Spitz stand for living wine culture and enjoyable refreshment stops.

Due to the current detour, the route runs through the villages of Weißenkirchen and St. Michael, while the last section to Spitz leads directly along the Danube. There are no refreshment stops along the route itself, which is why it is recommended that you take appropriate refreshments with you. At the stage destination Spitz, numerous restaurants, wine taverns and rest areas along the Danube invite you to linger. The hourly Wachau bus route 715 between Melk, Spitz, Weißenkirchen and Krems provides a comfortable return journey.

safety instructions There are no places to stop for refreshments or water sources along the route. Wachau mountain rescue emergency number: 140
Equipment Sturdy walking shoes, rain gear, sufficient drinks and food, a hiking map of the Wachau region and a wine tavern calendar. You can find an equipment list at www.welterbesteig.at under the heading Service/Tips.
Route description From the market square in Weißenkirchen, the Burgstiege stairway in Bachstraße leads up to the left to the Burgviertel, one of the oldest settlements in the Wachau region with Gothic vineyards and several wine taverns (stamp station: Heurigen Fam. Rosenberger). At the end of the Burgviertel, we walk down to the Lichtgartl and reach the vineyards. We cross Seiberstraße and arrive at Ried Ritzling. Here we turn right and walk past Ried Postaller up to the famous Riede Kollmitz. Please note the diversion: here we descend through the vineyards to Wösendorf and keep to the right at the bottom, on the main road towards St. Michael. Once there, we climb down the steps after the church and through a pedestrian underpass to the Danube. On the Treppelweg, we soon reach Spitz upstream on the Danube. Turn right into the town centre and after a short uphill stretch, we reach our destination for the day, the picturesque Spitzer Kirchenplatz.

Recommended period

Best of Wachau: The most renowned and recommended restaurants and accommodation providers in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Wachau can be found at Best of Wachau.

Further information on places to eat and stay can be found at www.wachau.at. Please note the reduced opening hours of the Spitzer and Weißenkirchner restaurants in winter. More information can be found directly at: www.spitz-wachau.at and www.weissenkirchen-wachau.at.

Wine taverns are located in Weißenkirchen and Spitz. Several wine taverns are open in winter. Please note the current wine tavern calendar.

The Wachau-Nibelungengau-Kremstal app is recommended for easy and convenient tour planning. Simply download it for Android or iPhone.

Letzte Änderung: 25 Feb 2026