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Hiking tour Starting from Mühldorf, market square
From Mühldorf to Maria Laach, we hike through the stunning scenery of the Jauerling Nature Park, home to the highest mountain along the Danube. Breathtaking panoramic views, the highest vineyards, and the nature park visitor center—complete with its Wachau terrace—make this tour an unforgettable experience.
From Mühldorf to Maria Laach, we hike through the stunning scenery of the Jauerling Nature Park, home to the highest mountain along the Danube. Breathtaking panoramic views, the highest vineyards, and the nature park visitor center—complete with its Wachau terrace—make this tour an unforgettable experience.
Welterbesteig Wachau: From Mühldorf to Maria Laach
The stage from Mühldorf to Maria Laach leads from the Danube Valley up into the heights of the Jauerling-Wachau Nature Park. Via the Trenning (628 m), the trail runs through Lower Austria’s highest-altitude vineyard, the Trenning vineyard, and continues uphill to the Jauerling, which at 960 metres is the highest mountain along the entire Danube. The landscape opens up into broad highland ridges and offers impressive panoramic views far beyond the Wachau.
From the Nature Park House at around 915 metres, the route leads across the Jauerling high plateau and past the small hamlets of Gießhübl with its fortified farmstead, Zeißing with its moated castle and castle ruins, and Weinberg. The destination of the stage is the traditional pilgrimage village of Maria Laach with its Gothic pilgrimage church and well-known farmers’ market, providing an atmospheric conclusion to this panoramic high-level hike.
While hiking on the Welterbesteig Wachau, it becomes clear step by step why the Wachau has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage region. Along carefully curated World Heritage Spots, the defining World Heritage Highlights become visible – the interplay of the historic cultural landscape, traditional viticulture, exceptional natural areas and the Danube as a formative element.
The Welterbesteig Wachau has also been awarded the Austrian Hiking Quality Seal. This certification stands for high quality standards in route layout, signage, safety and infrastructure and confirms the Welterbesteig as a reliable and high-quality hiking experience in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Emergency mountain rescue Wachau: 140
Sturdy hiking boots, rain protection, sufficient drinks and food, as well as a Wachau hiking map and a wine tavern calendar. You can find an equipment list at www.welterbesteig.at under the section Service/Tips.
The market square in Mühldorf is left in the direction of Spitz, passing the Weißes Rössl inn and the municipal office, after which the route turns right and crosses the Spitzer Bach. The ascent to the summit cross on Mount Trenning now begins. From the summit, the route leads down to the hamlet of Thurn with the Trenning vineyard, the highest vineyard in Lower Austria at approx. 450 m. In the hamlet, the ascent to the Jauerling begins. Along picturesque forest paths and forestry roads, the trail leads to the Nature Park House and its Wachau terrace (stamping station). From there, the summit cross of the Jauerling is reached in 10 minutes by heading uphill to the right. The car park of the Nature Park House is passed, after which the route turns right and continues to the Turnerwiese. Here, the trail leads left and the Jauerling observation tower is already visible, where a panorama from the Schneeberg to the Watzmann awaits. Afterwards, the route leads down to the upper station of the ski lift and past the Stauferhütte woodcutter’s hut into the forest.
The forest path leads to a clearing near Gießhübl, where a detour to the staffed Haberghütte opposite the medieval fortified farmstead of Gießhübl is possible. Via the historic Kirchensteig, the route leads down to Zeißing with magnificent views of Melk Abbey and Maria Laach. At the junction before the village, a detour to the resting place at the Zeißing castle ruins and the moated castle leads to the left. Back at the junction, the farm road leads uphill to the hamlet of Weinberg - magnificent panorama - and shortly afterwards the stage destination at the market square in Maria Laach is reached.
In the center of Mühldorf or in the center of Maria Laach.
A1 to Melk exit, continue via B3 and B217 to Mühldorf or Maria Laach.
Unfortunately, these towns are not directly connected by public transportation. For your return trip to the starting point, we recommend the Bernhardt taxi company in Spitz, Tel.: 02713/2222
You can reach Mühldorf via Line 715 (Krems–Spitz–Melk or Melk–Spitz–Krems) and Line 718 (Am Schuß–Mühldorf–Spitz or Spitz–Mühldorf–Am Schuß from the Melk or Krems train stations, with a transfer in Spitz. On weekends and holidays, the Jauerling 722 on-demand bus (Spitz–Jauerling–Mühldorf–Spitz) also operates. This bus follows a fixed route and must be reserved by phone at least 60 minutes before departure by calling +43 800 222322.
There is a Nextbike bike-sharing station (EUR 1/hour) in Mühldorf.
Maria Laach Farmers Market: The farmers of Jauerling offer their specialties every Saturday in the Kerblerhaus at the market square in Maria Laach. Opening hours always 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 02712/531.
The ski hut on Jauerling also invites you to stop by in summer. Opening hours: Wed, Thu, Sun 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The large parking lot at the ski lift is available free of charge as a motorhome parking space in summer. www.jauerling.at
Leider können wir Ihnen zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt keine Wetterdaten für den Ort anzeigen.
For places to stop for a bite to eat or spend the night, we recommend the "Best of Wachau" establishments: www.bestof-wachau.at. "Best of Wachau" establishments are located in Mühldorf and Maria Laach.
You can find more dining options and opening hours here.
Letzte Änderung: 18 Aug 2026
