alpannonia long-distance hiking trail Semmering - Kőszeg

The official start of the alpannonia® hiking trail is at the Hirschenkogel valley station on Semmering. If you want to make the first ascent from the pass easier, take the gondola lift (operating times: www.semmering.com). The path leads from the summit station to the Sonnwendstein with its magnificent views of the Styrian-Lower Austrian Limestone Alps. From the Sonnwendstein, you then hike over the Arzkogel to the wine trail in the direction of the Feistritzsattel. Along the rest of the trail (almost exclusively in the forest with some beautiful views) there is also some information about the Gebirgsjäger Memorial Trail. At the Feistritzsattel you meet the main path coming from Fischbach, where the trail begins a major ascent to the second highest point, the Hochwechsel at an altitude of 1743m. Even before the Hochwechsel, at the Kranichberger Schwaig, a scenic route begins, which leads over the Hochwechsel, the Niederwechsel to the Mönichkirchner Schwaig. This section offers views of the Vienna Basin, the Graz Basin and far into Hungary. From Mönichkirchen via Hochneukirchen to Bernstein, the hiking trail leads across the hilly landscape of the Bucklige Welt and Burgenland. The route is characterized by sections that alternate between forest and meadows and fields, offering views in various directions. From Bernstein, the trail leads with smaller ascents and descents via Goberling to Unterkohlstätten. Here begins the last major ascent of the trail to the Hirschenstein and Geschriebenstein with 883 meters of altitude. At the summit of the Geschriebenstein and the observation tower on top, you have also reached the Austrian/Hungarian border. The Hungarian section of the alpannonia hiking trail then leads downhill, with a few small climbs, until you finally reach the plain in the center of Kőszeg.

Detailed descriptions and a comprehensive list of accommodation and information addresses can be found on the alpannonia website: www.alpannonia.at