Upper Austria Mariazell route: A: 5. Waidhofen an der Ybbs - Ybbsitz - Maria Seesal

Description

The fifth stage of the Mariazell Trail starts in the medieval town of Waidhofen an der Ybbs. The townscape is characterized by the imposing fortified towers, the baroque churches and Schloss Rothschild. After a really worthwhile tour of the town, we leave the town on Arzbergstraße and hike uphill on a narrow road with little traffic. We come to two pretty resting places - one under a mighty willow, one by a chapel and enjoy a wonderful view of Windhag. Through the hilly landscape of the Mostviertel region, we make a pilgrimage from farm to farm and chapel to chapel. From the last hill before Ybbsitz, we have a fantastic panoramic view of the Prochenberg (1123m) and the Maisberg (942m), as well as the village of Ybbsitz in the valley. The Ybbsitz Blacksmiths' Center is particularly famous for its artistic metalwork and traditional blacksmithing. Everywhere in the village we discover interesting sculptures, old machines, forges and other references to the old craft. In 2010, "Forging in Ybbsitz" was even added to the list of Austria's intangible cultural heritage. We start at FeRRUM (World of Iron) on the "Blacksmith's Mile", an interesting three-kilometre-long themed trail, and walk out of the market, where we pass the adventure bridge, for example. At Bauernschrotmühl, we have a wonderful view of the interestingly shaped Prochenberg and hike uphill to Mitterlehen. Here, at the small chapel, we also have a fantastic panoramic view of the mountains to the east. From Mitterlehen, it is not far to the romantic pilgrimage church of Maria Seesal.

Starting point of the tour

Waidhofen/Ybbs

Destination point of the tour

Maria Seesal

Route description Upper Austria Mariazell route: A: 5. Waidhofen an der Ybbs - Ybbsitz - Maria Seesal

From the Upper Town Square, Ybbstor, Ybbsitzerstraße to Florianibrücke over the Ybbs, on Arzbergstraße (marking 06) on a paved road to the Schilcher farmstead (562 m), further to the municipal border of Ybbsitz (about 3 hours from Waidhofen/Ybbs) and via the panoramic high trail over Kleineck (631 m), Großeck, Oberriegl (612 m), Zwirch, to Ybbsitz (414 m).

From the church, along the blacksmith’s mile to Bauernschrotmühle, turnoff to the Mitterlehen farmstead (676 m) and further to the pilgrimage site Maria Seesal (524 m). On the road along the Schwarze Ois southwards to the Fuchslehen farmstead, the marked trail uphill to the east to Gscheid (843 m) and further to Bodingbach (662 m). Shortly after, heading south, the path leads left to the railway tracks of the Ötscherland-Express. Along the railway experience trail until shortly before the beginning of Lunz am See, a path downhill to the road and to the parish church. Then along the main street (towards Unimarkt), right at the intersection into Seestraße, to Landhotel Zellerhof. Now right further (small bridge), then immediately keep left and along the lakeside promenade to Lake Lunz. Along the shaded south shore to Schloss Seehof. At the junction Durchlass/Maierhöfen steeply uphill to Durchlass (768 m). Along the Lackenbach at Maierhöfen uphill to Lackenhof (809 m). From Ybbsitz to Maria Seesal 2 hours.