Eichenhain Nature Park – Hagenbach Gorge – A "Crossing of the Alps"

It’s true: this isn’t a “classic” Alpine crossing in the High Alps! The northernmost tip of the Alps, which this hike takes you across, can at best be described as low-mountain terrain—but it’s still enough for a beautifully varied hike!> We begin our hike at the Klosterneuburg-Kierling01 train station, cross the main road to the bus station, and, passing it on the left, find ourselves in the narrow streets of Klosterneuburg. Passing the abbey, we make our way via Hundskehle—Rathausplatz—Leopoldstraße and Rumplerstraße—Buchberggasse and Donnergasse to the cemetery and steadily uphill through vineyards. Looking back, we’re treated to increasingly beautiful views of the town and the abbey as we gain altitude. Now in the Eichenhain Nature Park, we approach the Haschhof03 —with its fruit trail—over the ridge of the Buchberg02, across meadows and through vineyards, and effortlessly reach the Eichenhain meadow04. This beautifully situated meadow—which gives its name to the entire nature park, spanning over 38 km²—is indeed surrounded by oak trees; scattered chestnut and sweet chestnut trees attest to the area’s particularly favorable climate. Continuing on flat ground for a while, we finally reach the Windischhütte Inn05 after a short climb. We hike a short distance further along the road, but then turn left onto a trail through a beautiful beech forest until we reach a road with little traffic. We also keep to the left on this road before following the signpost to the right after about 200 m toward the Bonka Inn06 in Oberkirchbach. Here we can stop for a meal and enjoy the excellent cuisine before turning right (wooden sign “Rundwanderweg”) to begin the descent to Unterkirchbach. Here we reach the fire station and, after the bridge, turn right onto Klammweg, passing through a residential area and past a large playground to the Hagenbachklamm07 Raptor Breeding Station, home to eagles, vultures, falcons, and other raptor species threatened with extinction.Shortly thereafter, our trail begins its descent via wooden walkways and bridges through the romantic Hagenbach Gorge08. Following a footpath alongside the road through the Hagen Valley, we soon reach St. Andrä. At the church or traffic light, we turn right onto Greifensteiner Straße. We follow this road to Wördern, where we take a footpath (turn left at house no. 65) and walk along Dr.-Karl-Renner-Allee to the St. Andrä-Wördern09 train station.