Mandelstein

From the platform of the Mandelstein, an impressive view opens up over the gentle landscape of the Waldviertel and, on a clear day, even as far as southern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. Those who want to experience nature in a particularly intense way can hike to the summit, for example from Harbach. Those who prefer a more leisurely pace can reach the viewing platform, which was built in 2013, in around 20 minutes from the hiking parking lot. Ideal for families or excursions with dogs. On the way to the summit, you pass a sound house and a memorial chapel, and below the rocks there is a rare stone archway, which the hiking trail crosses directly - a popular photo motif.

The Mandelstein owes its name to the granite blocks on the summit, which are reminiscent of almonds. Numerous of these impressive stone formations can be admired on the circular trail. The small "wilderness patches" with old mixed beech, fir, maple and spruce forests that once characterized the region are also particularly worth seeing. These remnants of the original forests with deadwood and old trees offer a unique experience of nature.

Idyllic hiking trails lead around the Mandelstein, such as the almost three-hour circular hiking trail 11 from Moorbad Harbach. On this route, hikers encounter two mountains of the Waldviertel, Mandelstein and Nebelstein. The route takes a full day but is easy to complete and can be perfectly combined with other excursions in the northern Waldviertel. The Mandelstein, right on the Lower Austrian-Czech border, is an ideal destination for nature lovers, hikers and families who want to enjoy peace, views and a varied landscape.