Description
Starting from the pilgrimage basilica on the Sonntagberg, we begin today's stage eastwards through a pleasant wooded area to the Türkenbrunnen fountain. The Türkenbrunnen fountain commemorates the so-called "Horse Miracle" in 1529, when Turkish horsemen attempted to plunder the church on Sonntagberg. According to legend, the horses fell to their knees at the fountain - frightened by the holy place - and refused to move on. The Turks were thus forced to turn back. In 1677, a chapel was built next to the spring to commemorate this event. After the fountain, we hike over the Herzogenberg and then along the Panorama-Höhestraße to St. Leonhard am Wald, where we enjoy a break after a rather strenuous climb. Right at the entrance to the village there is a beautiful chapel dedicated to St. Hubertus, from where we have a wonderful view of the valley. A few meters later, in the village center, we come across another chapel and the "Fiakerkirche" of St. Leonhard. The Viennese hackney carriage drivers have been making a pilgrimage to this church every year since 1826, as St. Leonhard is the patron saint of horses, cattle and sheep, among other things. From St. Leonhard, the route descends for a long time, passing beautiful farms and walking through avenues of fruit trees on long bends down into the valley. In Schwarzbach we come to the Urlbach stream and can take a break here at an idyllic chapel on the banks of the stream before climbing back up towards Ybbsitz. On the way to Knieberg, we make a pilgrimage through lush meadows, past comfortably grazing cows to the last hill before our destination for today. From here, we have a fantastic panoramic view of the Prochenberg (1123m) and the Maisberg (942m), as well as the village of Ybbsitz in the valley, which is also the end point of our stage.
Starting point of the tour
Sonntagberg
Destination point of the tour
Ybbsitz
Route description OÖ Mariazellerweg: C: 4. Etappe: Sonntagberg - Ybbsitz
Sonntagberg, then eastward along the Panoramahöhenweg and Long-Distance Hiking Trail 08 to St. Leonhard am Wald; from there, head south past Schmidberg onto Hiking Trail 31, which takes us through Tannhals, Leiten, and Schwarzbach. After passing the hamlet of Mitterriegl, we’ll reach a small chapel where we’ll join the Upper Austrian Mariazellerweg 06 trail to Ybbsitz.
Directions
Coming from Salzburg, take the exit toward Oed (131). Pass through Aschbach and Kematen an der Ybbs to reach Gleiß, where you turn left toward Sonntagberg.
Coming from Vienna, take the Amstetten-West (123) exit and follow Weyerer Straße (B121) to Kematen; in Gleiß, turn left toward Sonntagberg.
Parking
Below the Sonntagberg Pilgrimage Basilica, there is a spacious, free gravel parking lot.
You can take the train via Amstetten to Rosenau/Ybbs. From there, you can reach the Sonntagberg either on foot or by taxi.
