Discover Zwettl: Nature, Trails and Culture

Nature, outdoor activities and culture give a trip to Zwettl a variety of possible focuses. Panoramic views, hiking trails and first-hand insights into crafts and wildlife offer different starting points for planning. If you consider in advance whether you want to focus on a walk, a longer route or a cultural destination, you can organise your outings according to your own interests.

Landscapes and wildlife encounters

Loschberg in Waldhausen is 800 metres high. In good weather, the panoramic view extends across the Waldviertel landscape to Jauerling, as well as to Ötscher and Schneeberg. Weather conditions matter for these views, so bear this in mind when planning to take in the landscape.

Kottes-Purk is in Zwettl District, in the forested hills of the Waldviertel and in the valley of the Kleine Krems. In Kottes, Weidenauer Distillery offers tastings and tours of its production process. These focus on fine brandies and liqueurs made from hand-picked fruit. Check the dates for tastings or tours before you travel.

In Waldhausen, Crooked Creek Ranch can be visited by appointment made by phone. It is currently home to nine alpacas, four horses, one dog and two cats. If you plan a visit, confirm the appointment by phone again before travelling. That way, it remains part of your trip plans rather than being assumed to be a spontaneous stop.

Hiking trails at different scales

The trails vary in both their themes and the way their duration or length is specified. The Waldhausen circular hiking trail starts at the sports ground; the hike is listed as taking about five hours. The Höllfall Trail, by contrast, is described as five kilometres long. This circular trail starts in Pretrobruck near Arbesbach, leads through the forest to Höllfall and then back again. Wet conditions may affect access.

Longer routes are also among the options: the Kremstal Trail is more than 90 kilometres long and can be started in Kottes. The Waldviertel Cultural Trail 665 is a circular hiking trail of approximately 102 kilometres. Its route runs from Zwettl via Zwettl Abbey, Friedersbach, the Ottenstein recreation centre, Rastenfeld, Rastenberg, Brand and Loschberg to Waldhausen. A clearly named starting point and a detailed circular route offer different approaches to planning.

Kottes has had an ore and nature trail since 1995. It covers geology and the human use of the region’s natural resources. The Wiesenreith Eco Trail is also a circular hiking trail, but focuses on landscape and agriculture.

Bears, water and forest

BÄRENWALD Arbesbach is a sanctuary run by animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS for bears in need. Visitor activities include bear watching, a visitor trail with information stations, an exhibition and play areas. BÄRENWALD is also the starting and finishing point of the Bärentrail hiking network. Check seasonal opening dates before your visit; it is also best to confirm in advance the current arrangements for guided tours with information about bears.

The area around Höllfall is designated both a natural monument and a European protected area. Small waterfalls make their way over and between thousands of granite boulders. Together with the forest section of the Höllfall Trail, this makes for a distinctive landscape focus; the area’s protected designations and its described water-and-granite scenery shape how it is classified.

Crafts, history and train journeys

The Arbesbach Blacksmith Museum features a restored hammer mill with original-style reconstructed and refurbished water wheels in operation. Schwarzenau Castle is a Renaissance castle; the former fortress was first mentioned in a document in 1150. The grounds include a park and a pond.

The Waldviertel Railway connects Groß Gerungs and Gmünd with historic steam and diesel locomotives, offering views of the landscape along the way. It also runs between Gmünd and Litschau. If you plan a journey, check the timetable in advance. When choosing a hotel, it may help to decide first what matters most to you: the options listed range from a hike with a stated duration to a trail with a specified length, as well as wildlife watching, crafts and a train journey. Discover more destinations: Friedersbach, Rosenau Castle, Schönbach, Bärnkopf, Ottenschlag, Municipality of Groß Gerungs, Griesbach, Bad Traunstein, Zwettl, Lower Austria, Gutenbrunn, Schwarzenau, Kottes, Rappottenstein, Schoberhof, Arbesbach, Bernreith.

For the broader travel overview: Lower Austria.