Description
From one of the highest points in the Bucklige Welt on the border with Styria, take a varied hike on natural field paths, through forests and old farm roads down to Krumbach. Beautiful views of the rural cultural landscape of the Bucklige Welt and the mysterious Waldbauer "Steinkreis" viewpoint shape this route.
Starting point of the tour
Hiking start location in the center of Gschaidt at Gasthof Höller
Destination point of the tour
Krumbach municipal office, town center
Route description WAB - Regional Route E: Gschaidt - Feichten - Krumbach
The start of Regional Route E is located directly on the main road at the Landgasthof Höller in Gschaidt. The first section of the route is defined by the Weg am Wiener Alpenbogen, which we follow for the first few kilometers. We walk along the main road towards the Gschaidt fire station and turn left shortly after the house onto a farm track. The marked hiking trail leads us nearly 200 meters downhill into the valley. We cross the Hochneukirchner Bach and turn right directly onto the road. Not even 10 minutes later, we turn half-left onto the Zöbersdorf farm track. Passing the Trettlermühle, we follow the road slightly uphill, at the fork continue on the left farm track towards Zöbersdorf. After a few minutes, we take a sharp left bend, veering half-right off the road and follow a forest path down to the Tannwaldbach. We hike along the path beside the creek uphill to the valley, alternating between shady forest paths and lonely meadow paths northwards and at the upper edge of a meadow turn right onto a forestry and farm track towards Gumpoldshof. We continue on the access road to Gumpoldshof, steadily slightly uphill. Leaving the forest again, the access road joins another road, where we turn right. A few minutes later, out in the open field, we turn sharply left onto the farm track towards Waldbauer and follow the scenic path up to the edge of a forest hill. Here we leave the farm track and turn right onto the forest path to the Waldbauer Steinkreis viewpoint. Among the trees is the man-made stone circle, about 6 meters in diameter, inviting you to rest and reflect.
We continue walking to Waldbauer and then follow the forest edge further. After a few minutes, at the end of a tree line, we turn sharply right onto a farm track. The Weg am Wiener Alpenbogen leads straight on here to Pichl; from now on, we follow the Zentralalpenweg downhill to Krumbach (marked in red). With gentle ups and downs, we reach the small hamlet of Feichten and turn left at the wayside shrine onto the farm track. We follow the road - after a brief ascent - continuously downhill to Krumbach Castle. A few meters after the ascent to Krumbach Castle, we turn half-left onto a hiking trail and descend into the valley, crossing Schlossstraße. We meet the road again, continue to Unterhaus, and turn left onto Krumbach at the right curve of the main street. Parallel to the B55, we now walk along the Alte Straße, pass the Krumbach Museum Village and then follow the B55 for a few minutes. Before the bridge to Pfarrbach, we turn right onto Marktstraße and follow the left curve to the Krumbach municipal office. Here ends Regional Route E. In Krumbach, there is the possibility to stay overnight at Krumbacherhof as well as continue on Regional Route B to the Maria Schnee pilgrimage church, on Route C to Kirchschlag, or on Route D to Bad Schönau. From Krumbach, buses run to the Edlitz-Grimmenstein train station.
Directions
From Vienna and Graz, take the A2 motorway and exit at Schäffern. Follow the L424 through Schäffern to the crossroads at Laglmühle. Turn left here onto the L423/L126 uphill towards Hochneukirchen-Gschaidt.
Parking
Parking is available at the village square by the church.
Unfortunately, public transport access to Gschaidt is somewhat complicated. Take the train via Wiener Neustadt to Edlitz-Grimmenstein. From there, take buses to Krumbach Abzweigung Hochneukirchen and from there another bus towards Hochneukirchen and Gschaidt. The bus only runs on school days, not on weekends, public holidays, and during holidays. Alternatively, local taxi services are available.
More information can be found at www.oebb.at
