MTSZ
MTSZ térképportál
Turista Magazin
TuristaShop
Kéktúra
Gerecse50
A kéktúrázás napja
recommended route
Stage 10
Hiking Trail
· Thayatal
07 Eastern Austrian Borderland Trail, E10: Langau – Hardegg
-
Church in LangauPhoto: Elisabeth Pichler, Alpenverein Weitwanderer
Leisure center with lake, a castle, mother-of-pearl manufactory, and the smallest town in Austria – this stage has a lot to offer.
In Langau we start eastward, soon turn north, and reach the leisure center with the mining lakes after crossing the B30. The small detour to the lakes should not be missed. The next town is Riegersburg with Riegersburg Castle. Yes, it no longer has the same name as the town. It looks a bit neglected from the outside but is said to be well preserved inside (unfortunately not open for visits).
Before, in, and after Felling we have to walk long stretches along the road, which is, however, very lightly trafficked. In Felling, there is Austria's only mother-of-pearl button manufactory. Otherwise, the place is quite remote near the border. Only at the forester's lodge do we leave the road and hike on beautiful forest paths, gently descending in two hairpin bends to Hardegg, where we finally meet the Thaya again.
During the Iron Curtain times, this was the “end of the world,” the bridge impassable. That is long past, and you can – passport in hand – easily cross to the other side of the river. Unfortunately, Hardegg Castle is closed. However, it is an impressive sight, the “Majesty of the Thaya Valley.”
Author’s recommendation
The visitor center of the Thayatal Nature Park (https://www.np-thayatal.at/de/pages/start-63.aspx) is located a bit off our route on the high plateau towards the south, but it is worth a visit. There is a lot of information, ongoing events, and an enclosure where, with some luck, one can observe the very shy and rare wildcats.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Gasthaus ThayabrückeTips and suggestions
Information on the Austrian long-distance hiking trails can be found at https://www.alpenverein.at/weitwanderer/
Closures, route changes, etc.: https://www.alpenverein.at/weitwanderer/neues/index.php
Roadbook
Langau near Geras (450 m, K) – Riegersburg (449 m, 1 ½ hours) – Hardegg (309 m, K, 2 hours)
Freizeitpark & Bergwerksee Langau
Erlebnis Perlmutt Manufaktur
Freizeitgemeinde Langau
Guckkastenmuseum Hardegg
Gasthaus Thayabrücke
Waldbad Hardegg
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Train to Hötzelsdorf-Geras, bus to Langau. Or train to Hollabrunn, bus to Horn and then to Langau.
Coordinates
Book recommendation by the author
Erika & Fritz Käfer, Günther Eigenthaler, and Gert Kienast, 07 Eastern Austrian Borderland Trail: From Waldviertel to the Seewinkel and into the East Styrian Thermal Region, Publisher: ÖAV Section Long-Distance Hikers, EAN: 9998850034041. Available via freytag & berndt
Book recommendations for this region:
Equipment
Every backpack should include: rain, cold, sun protection, first aid kit, mobile phone (European emergency number 112), sufficient fluids, hiking map of the region.
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions