Start at Berg municipal office - Bratislava view
The starting point of this easy hiking loop is the Tri-border fountain in the heart of the village of Berg. The artistic fountain, made of water-surrounded glass, symbolizes Austria's close connection with the nearby neighboring countries Hungary and Slovakia, which you will repeatedly see during the hike.
At first, follow the main street slightly downhill, but at the first opportunity turn left into the side street “Am Bühel.” After a parking lot, the gently ascending Kirchbergweg to the left leads into the only short steep section of the tour, at the end of which the first resting point invites you to linger. Here, you have a stunning distant view of Bratislava: behind the last fields and meadows of Austria, the old town and prefabricated buildings of the city rise seamlessly, clearly indicating the course of the border or the former Iron Curtain.
Bratislava view - Königswarte
From here, continue uphill on an asphalt footpath through a small woods. To the right of the path, the remains of an old field bunker can be seen. Through the trees on the left side, the romantic view of the village of Berg peeks through; it lies nestled at the foot of lush vineyards. Beyond that stretch the wide fields of Burgenland. After a few minutes, you pass a sign for the Peter and Paul Chapel, which is just a few meters off the main path on a dreamy clearing. It recalls the first village church that stood here until it was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1773.
The narrow road then forks and turns right after a gate into a well-graveled wide walking path.
From now on, this path winds gently along the soft ridge for about 1.5 kilometers without notable detours or curves. Benches placed at regular intervals offer the chance to rest and enjoy the surrounding nature. The shady mixed deciduous forest of ashes, beeches, and oaks around accompanies hikers with the constant rustling of the treetops, which form a high arching canopy over parts of the path. In summer, the leaf cover provides pleasant shade; in autumn, it presents a colorfully picturesque spectacle.
Summit
At the summit plateau, the forest opens onto a sunny clearing crowned by the Königswarte at its highest point. Adjacent to it is a fenced building complex with several large satellite dishes - the telecommunications reconnaissance facility of the Austrian Armed Forces. At the foot of the lookout tower, you can sign the summit book and take a hiking stamp as a souvenir. Those who want to go higher can climb the 23-meter tower and will be rewarded with an impressive 360-degree panorama. In good weather, you can see west across the Vienna Basin to the foothills of the Alps and further south the sparkle of Lake Neusiedl. As Austria’s easternmost elevation, there is also a wide view beyond Bratislava into Slovakia and south of the Danube into Hungary. From the forest northeast of the mountain, the imposing tower of the Pottenburg ruins rises about a fifteen-minute walk away.
Königswarte - Wind View Rest Area
After a rest or picnic at one of the cozy table and benches, you can stroll back along the climbed path to Berg or choose the more challenging descent via the southwest slope. This begins behind the pasture gate on the west side of the plateau. The animals grazing here are very curious but peaceful. Caution is advised with children and dogs nevertheless. The path leads briskly downhill over the dry grassland, past the path variant “Old House.” Shady woods alternate with sunny meadows. To the right of the path runs the fence of a wildlife enclosure, and with some luck, you may see fallow deer or observe wild boars. After a last decline where the rough path winds down the forest in switchbacks, it leads through the cool valley incision of the Hindlerberg. Exiting the forest, you soon reach the paved road that leads left back to the starting point in the village.
Along the sunny slope, you can again several times enjoy the view of the vineyards and wind farms. Halfway to the village, there is also a possibility to take a break at a rest area.
Wind View Rest Area - municipal office
Shortly after the village sign, you pass the starting point of the wine educational trail, which wine enthusiasts should not miss. The wooden wine press is definitely worth a photo stop.
In the village area, you soon meet the main street again, which leads you back to the municipal office and the Tri-border fountain.
