Trekking Trails recommended route Stage 5

Wachau World Heritage Trail 05: Mühldorf - Maria Laach

Trekking Trails · Donau-Niederösterreich
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  • Welterbesteig Etappe 5: Mühldorf - Maria Laach (Naturpark Jauerling-Wachau)
    Welterbesteig Etappe 5: Mühldorf - Maria Laach (Naturpark Jauerling-Wachau)
    Video: Die Donauregion in Niederösterreich
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    From Mühdorf to Maria Laach you are walking through a beautiful landscape in nature park Jauerling the highest mountain in the Danube area. Wonderful scenic views, the highest vineyards and the nature park house including the Wachau terrace, make this tour to an unforgettable experience.
    moderate
    Distance 13.1 km
    5:30 h
    849 m
    611 m
    960 m
    345 m

    Wachau World Heritage Trail: from Mühldorf to Maria Laach (nature park Jauerling-Wachau)

    The tour from Mühldorf to Maria Laach leads you via the hill Trenning (628m) and the highest vineyard of Lawer Austria (vineyard Trenning) to the highest summit in the Danube area called the Jauerling (960m). Walking into the landscape of nature park Jauerling-Wachau you experience majestic views from the nature park house in 915m height. Via the Jauerling plateau and passing the hamlets Gießhübl (with defense yard), Zeißing (with water castle and ruin) and Weinberg, you reach the pilgrimage village Maria Laach with its gothic sanctuary and the farmers‘ market.

    Author’s recommendation

    Farmers market in Maria Laach: The farmers of Jauerling region offer their specialties every Saturday in the Kerblerhaus (shop) at the market square from 9a.m. to 3p.m. (Phone: 0043(0)2712/531).
    Profile picture of Wachau Nibelungengau-Kremstal
    Author
    Wachau Nibelungengau-Kremstal
    Update: September 25, 2024
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    960 m
    Lowest point
    345 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Asphalt 17.12%Dirt road 19.45%Forested/wild trail 38.84%Path 20.98%Road 3.58%
    Asphalt
    2.2 km
    Dirt road
    2.6 km
    Forested/wild trail
    5.1 km
    Path
    2.8 km
    Road
    0.5 km
    Show elevation profile

    Safety information

    In case of an emergency call the mountain rescue Wachau: 140

    Tips and suggestions

    For restaurants and accommodation we recommend „Best of Wachau“ businesses: www.bestof-wachau.at. You find „Best of Wachau“ members in Mühldorf and Maria Laach.

    Further opportunities for restaurants, taverns and cafes and opening hours:

    Nature park house including Wachau terrace: summer season May 1st until October 31st open from Thursday-Tuesday (closed on Wednesday), winter season Nov. 1st until April 30th open from Thursday –Sunday (closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday). www.naturpark-jauerling.at ; Phone: 0043(0)2713/30017

    In Mühldorf both restaurants (Gasthaus Siebenhandl, www.7handl.at; 0043(0)2713/8257, and Gasthaus Busch/Niederranna, 0043(0)2713/8201) are closed. Exception: In July,August and September Gasthaus Siebenhandl opens also on Mondays.

    During winter time only restaurant „Zur Weißen Rose“ (Family Busch) at the market square is open in Maria Laach. (www.weisse-rose.cc; 0043(0)2712/8271, closed on Mondays.

    Restaurant and Hotel „Grüner Baum“ in Maria Laach opens daily from April to October. (www.beim-ringl.at; 0043(0)2712/8303 closed during winter season.

    For easy and convenient organization of the tours its good to have the Wachau-Nibelungengau-Kremstal application. Just download for Android or iPhone.

    Start

    Mühldorf, Marktplatz (market square)
    Coordinates:
    DD
    48.373316, 15.345629
    DMS
    48°22'23.9"N 15°20'44.3"E
    UTM
    33U 525595 5357851
    w3w 
    ///wiggly.nudge.sleuths

    Destination

    Maria Laach, Marktplatz (market square)

    Turn-by-turn directions

    Leaving Mühldorf market square into directon Spitz, you pass Gasthaus (restaurant) „Weißes Rössl“ and the town hall, afterwards you turn right and cross „Spitzer Bach“ (creek). Now the rise up to hill Trenning with a cross on the top begins. At the summit the way leads down to hamlet „Thurn“ with vineyard „Trenning“, the highest vineyard of Lawer Austria (450m). At the hamlet the way leads you up to the Jauerling. On picturesque woodpathes and forestroads you keep walking until you reach the nature park house with its Wachau terrace. On the right side after about 10 minutes walking you reach the cross at the top of Jauerling. Back at the natur park house you cross the parking lot, turn right and reach „Turnerwiese“(meadow). There you keep left and soon you will see the observation tower Jauerling (Jauerlingwarte) where you get a panoramic view from Schneeberg (snow mountain) until the Watzmann (very famous mountain in Bavaria). Afterwards you are walking down to the upper station of the ski lift and pass a cabin called „Stauferhütte“ (lumberjack hut) into the woods. The wood path leads you to a glade near Gießhübl, where you can make a little excursion to the „Haberghütte“ (cabin snacks and drinks available) opposite the medieval defense yard Gießhübel. Via the historic church track the way leads down to Zeißing, getting some great views of Melk abbey and Maria Laach. At the crossing before the village entrance you turn left for a little excursion to the rest place at the ruin of castle Zeißing and the water castle. Back at the crossing you follow the gravel path up to hamlet Weinberg, -again some great views along the way- and soon you reach the end of this stage the market square in Maria Laach.

    Public transport

    The places are not directly connected by public transportation. We recommend a taxi service to get back to the beginning of your tour. Taxi companies are: Bernhardt in Spitz, Tel.: 0043(0)2713/2222 or Stummvoll in Mühldorf, Tel.: 0043(0)676/6242892.

    Its possible to go to Mühldorf with the buses (WL 715 and WL 718) starting from trainstation Melk or Krems with a change in Spitz. On Weekends and public holidays also the shuttle service WL 7 is operating on a fixed tour. It has to be called one hour prior of departure. Phone: 0043 810 810 278 to make reservation and more info at www.naturpark-jauerling.at

    A station for the bike rent system „nextbike“ (1€ per hour) is located in Mühldorf(market square). More information: www.nextbike.at

    Directions

    Highway A1 until exit Melk, following B3 and B217 to Mühldorf or Maria Laach.

    Parking

    At the center of Mühldorf or Maria Laach.

    Coordinates

    DD
    48.373316, 15.345629
    DMS
    48°22'23.9"N 15°20'44.3"E
    UTM
    33U 525595 5357851
    w3w 
    ///wiggly.nudge.sleuths
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    Hiking boots, raincoat, enough to eat and drink, a trail map and maybe a list of open taverns. You can find an equipmentlist on www.welterbesteig.at section service/tips.

    Similar routes nearby

    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 04: Spitz - Mühldorf
    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 11: Hofarnsdorf - Rossatz
    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 06: Maria Laach - Aggsbach Markt
    • Aggstein - Melk (Welterbesteig 10 und 9)
    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 03: Weißenkirchen - Spitz
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    13.1 km
    Duration
    5:30 h
    Ascent
    849 m
    Descent
    611 m
    Highest point
    960 m
    Lowest point
    345 m
    Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Flora

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