Upper Austria Mariazell Route: A: 6th stage: Maria Seesal - Lunz am See - Lackenhof

Description

The relatively hilly sixth stage of the classic Mariazell route starts at the romantic pilgrimage church Maria Seesal. Located on a hill, hidden in the forest, this church has a very special history. According to legend, the construction of the pilgrimage church dates back to a dream by Helene Wochner, in which a Marian image appeared to her one night as she slept. When she later discovered the same image in a mill, she placed it on a mountainside. The image was followed by a wooden chapel, then a stone chapel, and finally the current pilgrimage church was built above this chapel between 1904 and 1906. Below the church, we hike southwards along winding streets until the path bends and we pass between Gschlief or Spitzkogel and Hamotkogel. Here the trail steadily climbs for a while until we reach Oberhackstock and Haslau. Through beautiful mixed forests and past numerous fish ponds, the path leads us to Bodingbach and Holzapfel, where we stop at an original chapel to take a break. We reach Lunz am See and can make a detour to the right at the entrance of the town to see the Amonhaus – one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Austria. The building was already built in 1551 by an Italian builder. Its richly decorated façade shows various motifs such as hearts, lilies, and dolphins, and the arcade courtyard is often used for exhibitions and concerts. At the Lunzer church, the path leads us along the Seebach creek to the Lunzer Lake, which now lies picturesque before us, nestled between lush green forests. On the southern shore of the lake, we continue on an idyllic gravel path to Schloss Seehof, an impressive building near the lake. After a short climb, we reach Durchlass and hike through the forests to Maierhöfen. Here we now enter the deep forest for a longer time but also enjoy several times the magnificent views of the surrounding mountain landscape. After a long hike, we finally reach Lackenhof. There is a small but very beautiful church with a lovingly designed garden as well as a beautiful cemetery located on the slope.

Starting point of the tour

Maria Seesal

Destination point of the tour

Lackenhof

Route description Upper Austria Mariazell Route: A: 6th stage: Maria Seesal - Lunz am See - Lackenhof

From the Schmiedemeile church along to the Bauernschrot mill, turnoff to the Mitterlehen farmstead (676 m) and on to the pilgrimage site Maria Seesal (524 m). Along the road by the Schwarzen-Ois south to the Fuchslehen farmstead, the marked path leads east uphill to Gscheid (843 m) and further to Bodingbach (662 m). Shortly thereafter, the path to the railway track of the Ötscherland Express leads left towards the south. Along the railway experience path until shortly before the village entrance of Lunz am See, then a path downhill to the road and to the parish church. Now along the main road (towards UNI market), turn right at the intersection into Seestraße, until the Zellerhof guesthouse. Then continue right (small bridge), then immediately keep left and along the lake promenade to Lunzer Lake. Along the shady southern shore up to Schloss Seehof. At the turnoff Durchlass/Maierhöfen steeply uphill to Durchlass (768 m). At Maierhöfen along the Lackenbach uphill to Lackenhof (809 m). From Ybbsitz to Maria Seesal 2 hours, another 3.5 to 4 hours to Lunz, and another 3 hours to Lackenhof.