Prottes: Pilgrimage Routes, Wine Cellar District and Oil History

Prottes lies directly on the St. Francis Way in the Weinviertel, a pilgrimage route through the diverse, cultivated hilly landscape of the southern Weinviertel. The gently rolling landscape also shapes the possibilities for a stay: it is well suited to leisurely hikes and cycling tours. In addition, there are trails through the wine cellar district and topics related to oil and natural gas. For planning, the main focuses can be distinguished: pilgrimage, local hiking routes and industrial history.

On foot through the wine cellar district and landscape

Route 1 leads through the wine cellar district and past a number of pretty wine cellars. It also offers an optional ascent from the field edge to the Barbara Cross; from there, the view extends over the Marchfeld. The route thus combines a passage by wine cellars with an optional scenic section. The Barbara Cross is located on one of the highest points above Prottes, in front of well Pro 77. It was erected in memory of employees who lost their lives in oil production operations. At the Barbara Cross, a viewpoint and a memorial to the history of oil production come together.

The St. Francis Way as a regional pilgrimage route

The St. Francis Way in the Weinviertel is around 135 kilometers long and leads through the diverse, cultivated hilly landscape of the southern Weinviertel. You can join and leave the route at any of the 26 participating towns in the region, including Prottes. The total length describes the regional scope; the participating towns show possible entry and exit points. Prottes can therefore be planned as the start or end of a chosen section of the route. In comparison, Route 1 leads through the wine cellar district and offers the optional ascent to the Barbara Cross: a local hiking option instead of the regional pilgrimage route.

Oil and natural gas in the open air and along the cycling route

The oil and natural gas educational trail in Prottes is an open-air museum. Its exhibits also include an operating facility of OMV AG. Along the OMV experience cycling route, 11 information boards provide details about oil and natural gas, including how they are formed. The two thematic approaches set different accents: at the educational trail, a facility is itself part of the exhibition; on the cycling route, the information boards convey content about the raw materials. This allows you to distinguish between an open-air museum with an industrial exhibit and information along a cycling route.

Rest area and cycling infrastructure

The Weinviertel rest area Prottes is intended for the recreation of the local population as well as for guests and day visitors. It has a covered seating area, bicycle racks, a bike service station, a drinking fountain, signposts and an information board. The functions are therefore clearly different: at the rest area, recreation and cycling infrastructure are the focus; the OMV experience cycling route conveys knowledge about oil and natural gas on its information boards. This means that practical rest options and thematic information stand side by side as different aspects of travel planning.

Discover more travel destinations: Marchegg, Matzen-Raggendorf, Palterndorf-Dobermannsdorf, Angern An Der March, Loidesthal, Sierndorf An Der March, Orth An Der Donau, Dürnkrut.

To the main travel overview: Gänserndorf.