Maissau: Culture, Wine and Amethyst
Accommodation in Maissau
Maissau is located on the Manhartsberg, on the border between the Weinviertel and Waldviertel regions. Cultural attractions, wine-growing traditions and trails offer different themes to consider when planning a trip, alongside activities related to amethyst. If you are looking for a hotel in Maissau, first consider what you would like your stay to focus on: architectural history and a museum, a wine cellar lane and wine, or outdoor activities.
Cultural History and Winegrowing
The town parish church of St Vitus was rebuilt in 1768 in the late Baroque and Neoclassical styles. It has an organ dating from 1756 with a positive organ in the gallery and musical putti. The two dates mark different points of reference: 1756 relates to the organ, while 1768 is the year of the rebuilding. The church therefore brings together architectural and musical history, although the two dates do not refer to the same history of its construction.
The Gottfried von Einem and Lotte Ingrisch Museum is in OberdĂĽrnbach, within the municipality of Maissau. It displays original furnishings and a piano. These different objects give the museum its own distinctive focus: while the town parish church is associated with architectural history, an organ and putti, the original furnishings and piano are the highlights here. OberdĂĽrnbach is the specific location of this cultural attraction.
The Maissau wine cellar lane offers a welcoming atmosphere for strolling and relaxing, and is a living testament to the region’s winegrowing culture. At the traditional Stein-Wein Festival, winemakers and artists open their cellar rooms; guests enjoy fine Maissau wines and hearty local specialities. If you are interested in attending the festival during your trip, check the dates in advance.
The lavender display garden in Unterdürnbach features more than 50 different varieties of lavender. Information boards explain the plants, their uses, processing and effects. The garden thus combines a variety of lavender cultivars with information about their characteristics and uses. For those interested, it offers a different way to explore the region’s selection: the garden’s themes include both the plants themselves and the information about them.
Amethyst, Cycling and Hiking Trails
The Maissau Amethyst World is located directly above Europe’s largest amethyst deposit. Visitors can dig for amethysts in the amethyst treasure-digging field; the Maissau Amethyst World also has a weather-protected gold-panning facility. The two activities offer different experiences: the treasure-digging field is devoted to amethyst, while the gold-panning facility focuses on panning for gold.
Maissau has a network of twelve new hiking trails that pass through vineyards, sunken lanes and clearings. The Hohlweg nature experience is a romantic walking path that has been made accessible again and is used by many animals. The descriptions provide different kinds of orientation: the trail network is defined by its number of routes and landscape types, while the Hohlweg highlights its restored accessibility, character as a path and use by animals.
The Amethyst Cycle Path passes through Maissau and begins and ends at the Maissau Amethyst World. This gives cyclists a clearly identified starting and return point. By contrast, the hiking trail network is described as a selection of several routes through different landscapes. These offer two different ways to find your bearings when planning a trip: a cycle route with a named start and end point, and a hiking network characterised by its trails and landscape types.
Discover more destinations: Limberg, Ebersbrunn, Pulkau, Jetzelsdorf, Ravelsbach, GroĂźmeiseldorf, Hohenwarth-MĂĽhlbach am Manhartsberg, Hollenstein
For the higher-level travel overview: Hollabrunn.
