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SignpostPhoto: Mostviertel Tourismus / Gerald Demolsky
Water has always played a central role in people's lives. Water is vital in the truest sense of the word.
Places near water have always been preferred settlement locations, waterways still serve as transportation routes today and mills and hammer mills were once operated with the power of water.
The Via Aqua circular hiking trail, which is signposted throughout, takes you to the most beautiful water spots in the Erlauftal and Ötscherland in the middle of the Mostviertel. With many water-related encounters, panoramic viewpoints and interesting water knowledge stations along the way. At these 23 stations, hikers learn interesting and exciting facts about water. The drop-shaped boards provide information about highlights along the way as well as water rites in religion, water as a source of energy, the two water saints, water in music and water as a natural remedy.
Suggested stages:
- Erlaufschlucht loop: 4 km
- Purgstall - Freithöhe - Scheibbs: 14 km
- Scheibbs - Neustift - Kienberg - Gaming: 15 km
- Gaming - Trefflingfall - Hochbärneck: 20 km
- Hochbärneck - St. Anton/Jeßnitz - Purgstall: 22 km
Author’s recommendation
The route along the water offers numerous opportunities for a refreshing break with a jump into the cool water.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileSafety information
The signage along the Via Aqua is currently being recorded, revised and improved. In some areas, it may therefore occur that the signs are not continuously present. Recommended companions are the NÖ app and the Via Aqua hiking map. We thank you for your understanding!
Tips and suggestions
Natural monument Erlaufschlucht, www.erlaufschlucht.at
Trefflingfall, www.naturpark-oetscher.at
Purgstall an der Erlauf, www.purgstall-erlauf.gv.at
Scheibbs - the town on the river, www.scheibbs.gv.at
Gaming - the GeBIERgsdorf, www.gaming.gv.at
St. Anton an der Jeßnitz, www.st-anton-jessnitz.gv.at
Roadbook
The first highlight already awaits hikers in Purgstall an der Erlauf : the natural monument Erlaufschlucht, a wild romantic rocky landscape with bridges and viewing platforms over the Erlauf. The Via Aqua continues through the town of Purgstall, past the Fragner Fountain and to the old wash place at the Erlauf bridge. Then it goes up to one of the most beautiful viewing mountains, the Freithöhe at 653m above sea level.
Next stop is the district capital Scheibbs with the city pier at the Erlauf harbor. Via Neustift the path leads through a forested ridge towards Kienberg to Gaming. A section of the path takes the Via Aqua on the GeBIERgsweg Gaming. At the Bierbrunnen, a rest area at the Weigl Pond invites you to a sip of beer from the two breweries in Gaming. Along the Erlauf you will discover the Steinmanderl, lovingly piled river rock formations - a highlight before reaching the guesthouse Schindlhütte.
Through the Vorderen Tormäuer, the Via Aqua leads to the Eibenboden entrance of the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park. Right on the creek bed of the here still narrow Erlauf lies the next highlight on the route, the Trefflingfall, the largest waterfall in Lower Austria.
The ascent leads very close to the rushing water of the Trefflingbach into the adventure village Puchenstuben.
Right through the nature park you reach the Hochbärneck Alm with alpine inn, lookout tower and herb garden. Then follows the descent into the town St. Anton an der Jeßnitz with the pilgrimage church, the Way of the Cross on Kalvarienberg, the Antonibründl and the Bruderlade Museum. At Neubruck, you cross the Lueger Aqueduct of the 2nd Viennese high spring water pipeline and can take a look at the restored and newly revived area of the Töpper castle Neubruck with pond and potter chapel. Via the Töpperweg you return to the town of Scheibbs with the jubilee fountain at the town hall square and the city pier on the Erlauf. Along the Erlauf, the Via Aqua leads along the bank of the Erlauf back to the starting point of the Via Aqua in Purgstall.
Hochbärneck lookout post
Jelinekwarte
Aussichtsturm Hochbärneck
Astrostation Hochbärneck
Erlauf Gorge Purgstall (Erlaufschlucht)
Almhaus Hochbärneck
Schindlhütte - no service in the moment
Erlebnisdorf Sulzbichl
Trefflingfall
Museum im Ledererhaus Purgstall
Science Center - Kurioseum
The prisoner-of-war camp in Purgstall an der Erlauf
Purgstall an der Erlauf
Stadtgemeinde Scheibbs
St. Anton an der Jessnitz
Community Gaming
Ötscher Dripstone Cave
Padel-Tennis
Schloss Neubruck
Public transport
The places along the Via Aqua are well accessible by public transport.
The Erlaufbahn runs from St. Pölten (direct connection) or from Pöchlarn hourly via Purgstall to the final station in Scheibbs.
Mostviertel bus lines run in the Erlauf valley (stations e.g. in Scheibbs and Gaming), postal buses stop in Scheibbs and St. Anton/Jeßnitz.
All information regarding connections and schedules at www.vor.at or www.oebb.at
Directions
Motorway A1 to Ybbs, continue on B25 towards Purgstall an der Erlauf
Parking
Parking available at the entrance of the Erlaufschlucht (paid)
Free parking available at the outdoor pool and at the Purgstall train station
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Folder "Via Aqua", available at Mostviertel Tourism, www.mostviertel.at/prospekte
Equipment
Sturdy footwear, rain protection if necessary
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
User Questions