Scheibbs: Town History and Trails along the Erlauf

In Scheibbs, architectural history, routes through the town and activities along the Erlauf come together. The town offers a range of options to help you plan your trip: explore historic buildings, choose a guided tour of the town or consider longer routes on foot and by bike.

Discover castle history and historic buildings

At the beginning of the 17th century, Gaming Charterhouse transformed Scheibbs Castle into a spacious, four-winged castle. Concerts are held from time to time in the arcaded courtyard; the programme varies. The Powder Tower offers a different glimpse into the history of the town wall: it is Scheibbs’ oldest surviving defensive tower and hosts exhibitions. The Flecknertor, meanwhile, is the only surviving gate tower of the town wall.

The Scheibbs Ceramics Museum also occupies a special location: it is housed in a former hammer mill. In Neubruck, the former Töpperwerk tells the story of the site’s industrial past. Its buildings include a chapel, Neubruck Castle, a park and factory halls. Neubruck Castle, also known as Töpper Castle Neubruck, was built around 1820 as a manor house on the site of a large industrial complex. Töpper Chapel Neubruck, originally called St Andrew’s Chapel, opened next to the manor house on 1 September 1834. Its rich fresco programme extends up the walls to the crowning dome.

The Töpper Mausoleum combines a chapel with a crypt below. It was built from locally fired brick made of Neustift tuff. In 1882, the Scheibbs parish office acquired around 300 square feet of land for the cemetery, or just under 100 square metres. Scheibbs Parish Church represents another stage in the town’s architectural history: the late Gothic, three-aisled hall church was built in the early 16th century. In 1645, it was almost completely destroyed by a devastating fire; it was then given a Baroque makeover and expanded with four side chapels.

Explore the town’s history on foot or with a guide

You can explore the “Scheibbser Altstadtrunde” (Scheibbs Old Town Trail) independently. A brochure with a map and information boards along the route explains the history of Scheibbs. If you prefer a guided tour, you may be interested in “Scheibbs im Fluss der Zeit” (Scheibbs Through the Flow of Time): the tour starts at the railway station and lasts just over an hour. Both options focus on the town’s history, but differ in whether you explore on your own or join a guided tour.

Routes, views and nature around Scheibbs

At 844 metres, Blassenstein is considered Scheibbs’ local mountain. At its summit stands the Urlingerwarte, a distinctive landmark of the town. Hiking and longer routes are also part of the Via Aqua: this 75-kilometre circular trail connects Scheibbs, Purgstall, Gaming and St. Anton. Along the route, there are 23 droplet-shaped WASSER-WISSEN (Water Knowledge) stations and several scenic rest stops.

There are three well-marked mountain bike trails around Scheibbs. These include routes over Blassenstein and Ginselberg, as well as a panoramic high-altitude trail between Scheibbs and Purgstall. Cyclists following the Erlauf Valley can take the Erlauftal Cycle Path: it branches off the Danube Cycle Path at Ybbs and Pöchlarn, follows the Erlauf for much of its length and passes through Scheibbs. The options range from routes around town to a cycle path that follows the river for long stretches.

The disused tuff quarry in Neustift, a district of Scheibbs, has a remarkable geological history. It is designated a natural monument. Deposits from the Ursprungbach, a tributary of the Erlauf, formed a substantial limestone tuff bank in Neustift tuff over the past 250,000 years. The porous tuff contains, among other things, fossilised bones and plant imprints.

The Erlauf, swimming and getting here

Scheibbs’ Stadtmole is a terraced riverside area for relaxing, a landing stage for rafting trips on the Erlauf and an event venue. The Wanne Scheibbs all-weather swimming pool adds another swimming option: in the indoor pool area, a 46-metre all-weather slide leads outside and back into the warmth.

Scheibbs can be reached by train or bus. Connected to the Western Railway at Pöchlarn, the Erlauftal Railway runs via Wieselburg and Purgstall directly to the centre of Scheibbs. If you plan to travel by train, check the timetable for your specific travel dates. When planning your hotel stay, you can also consider whether you want to focus mainly on the town’s history, walking routes or cycling activities.

Discover more destinations: Scheibbs, Wieselburg, Oberamt, Gresten, Steinakirchen Am Forst, Göstling An Der Ybbs, Sankt Anton An Der Jessnitz, Großegg, Gaming, Lunz Am See, Sankt Georgen An Der Leys, Reinsberg, Kienberg Bei Gaming, Purgstall An Der Erlauf, Puchenstuben, Lassing, Schliefau, Hochreit, Strohmarkt.

For the overview of the wider region: Lower Austria.