Description
The first section from Krems through the vineyards of the lower Traisen Valley offers numerous places to stop for refreshments as well as some natural surprises. From the provincial capital of St. Pölten, the tour leads along the Traisental cycle path and the ascent to Rudolfshöhe adds a few more metres in altitude. Back in the Traisental valley, you cross over the Kaiserkogel into the Dirndl valley, which is now crossed from north to south with numerous climbs, some of which should not be underestimated, on the various MTB trekking routes in the municipalities.
The Josef-Franz-Hütte on the Geisbühel offers a lovely opportunity to take a break (and at weekends also to stay overnight!) and sample one or two Dirndl products. The gently undulating Alpine foothills are now replaced by more alpine terrain.
From Puchenstuben, the tour runs through the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park with absolute natural highlights of forest and water, before rolling comfortably to the finish at the famous Mariazell pilgrimage church.
Starting point of the tour
Krems, main railway station
Destination point of the tour
Mariazell, Basilica
Route description Multi-day tour Krems - Mariazell
From Krems main railway station out of town, follow the Danube cycle path upstream to Mautern - cross the bridge or the Danube there. From Mautern on side roads to Furth and onwards via a long, first ascent at the foot of Göttweig Abbey. The route continues on quiet side roads via Eggendorf and Höbenbach until shortly before Theyern, where you continue on the Paraplui route (MTB trekking route) in the opposite direction. It goes up to the Paraplui mountain and from there continues on the "Water to Wine Tour", also in the opposite direction of the signposts. It goes through Inzersdorf ob der Traisen, past Walpersdorf Castle to Ederding, where you change to the "Herzogenburger Reblaus-Tour" and follow this (again in the opposite direction) to Herzogenburg to the Traisen Valley cycle path. Cycle comfortably upstream alongside the river to the provincial capital of St. Pölten.
In St. Pölten, follow the signs for the Traisental cycle path (approx. 1.5 km). The first few kilometres now lead flat upstream along the Traisen along the cycle path heading south and traffic-free out of the city. In Reith bei Wilhelmsburg, turn against the direction of the signs onto the "Sagensteintour" for the first quite steep (!) ascent to the Rudolfshöhe with the first refreshment stop at the Ochsenburger Hütte.
Back in the valley in Wilhelmsburg, there are a few more flat kilometres along the Traisental cycle path before turning right in Rotheau and then right again a few kilometres later towards the "Kaiserkogel route". Over the Meiselhöhe, you climb the Kaiserkogel and the associated hut and cycle down the "Kaiserkogel route" into the Pielach Valley to Rabenstein.
The next section runs against part of the "Geisbühel route", where a short out and back section to the Josef-Franz-Hütte makes a worthwhile detour with refreshment stops and - at weekends - overnight accommodation. Descend to Tradigist and then take a sharp left onto the "Dörfl- auf der Eben-Route" (again reversed) to just before Kirchberg.
Continue along the "Loicher Panoramatour" (in the "right" direction) to the Günterkapelle chapel near Wallerbach. Turn left down into the valley and then left again at the L102 towards Schwarzenbach. A few kilometres into the valley until you reach the turn-off to the right into the Taschlgrabenrotte and at Waitzgraben turn into the "Eibeck-Runde" and follow the signs in the direction of travel. The tour continues past the Eibeck-Alm until you turn left in Wies onto the "Frankenfelsberg-Runde" (reversed) to Laubenbachgegend.
The "Mariazellerbahn route" begins and/or ends directly at Laubenbachmühle railway station and starts in this direction with the longer but not too steep ascent via Puchenstuben towards Turmkogel and Wastl am Wald. You are now in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park in the midst of fantastic forest scenery and with beautiful views of the Ötscher "from behind". The route continues past the dreamy village of Gösing to Reith, from where you take a short section of the "Ötscher Trekking Route" and a short climb up to Annaberg.
Continue along the "Annaberg-Hubertussee route" (in the direction of the signposts) - via the source of the Walster and Ulreichsberg to the rustic Wuchtl inn near the idyllic Hubertussee lake. Via Fadental you reach the last natural highlight via Mitterbach, including numerous refreshment stops - the crystal-clear and wonderfully refreshing Erlaufsee. From there, it's just a few kilometres to the finish in Mariazell in front of the famous pilgrimage basilica.
