Saxen: Discover Hiking and Culture

Visitors looking to combine a stay with hiking and culture will find several clearly distinct themes in Saxen: trails with different routes, the Klamschlucht gorge, and a narrowly defined Strindberg heritage. The parish church and the Sturmmühle also offer concrete points to consider when planning your trip. To decide whether Saxen suits your plans, you can first weigh up whether you are most interested in trails through the valley and countryside, nature in a gorge, or historical and architectural themes.

Choose hiking trails by length and route

The S1 Reitsteig is about 7.2 kilometers long. It leads from the center of Saxen up to Reitberg. The S2 Lettenweg measures about 7.5 kilometers and also starts in the center, following Saxner Bach and passing through the Lettental valley. The two routes are similar in approximate length; their described routes differ, with the S1 climbing uphill and the S2 following the stream and valley.

The S6 Machlandweg is also about 7.5 kilometers long. It leads via Eizendorf and along the old Naarn through Saxendorf, then back to Saxen. The S7 Höhenwanderweg is about 9 kilometers long; along the way, views extend across the entire Machland region to the foothills of the Alps.

On the S3 Waldhexrundweg, you can choose between a shorter and a longer option. This adds a route with two options to the selection. Taken together, the routes described have different highlights: a climb up Reitberg, Saxner Bach and the Lettental valley, the return route along the old Naarn, and views across the Machland region. The approximate distances help you compare trail lengths; which option suits your plans depends on the route you prefer.

Klamschlucht: Gorge, Waterfall, and Route

The Klamschlucht gorge, about two kilometers long, begins below Clam Castle in Klam and ends in the village of Au, west of Saxen, at the Hintermühle, where the Machland plain begins. The hike through the gorge starts in Saxen at the Sturmmühle Cultural Center and leads uphill to Clam Castle. After descending from the viewing platform, a wooden walkway leads to the waterfall.

The microclimate is also part of the Klamschlucht's described character: it is damp and shady, encouraging lush vegetation. Both the route through the gorge and its distinctive landscape are highlights of this destination. The combination of trail, viewing platform, wooden walkway, and waterfall provides several concrete landmarks along the way, while the vegetation shapes the natural environment.

Church, Strindberg, and Dornach Castle

Saxen Parish Church is a two-aisled Gothic hall church with a Romanesque core. Its patron saint is Saint Stephen, and inside the church is a Rococo pulpit. The architecture and the pulpit highlight two different aspects of the building: the church interior and its historical character, and a specific piece of its furnishings.

The Strindberg Museum in Saxen explores the Swedish playwright August Strindberg's stays in Saxen and Klam between 1893 and 1896, as well as the works he created during that time. It is the only museum outside Sweden dedicated to August Strindberg. This period gives the literary theme a clear historical context. Another connection to Saxen: in 1893, August Strindberg and his then-wife, Frida Strindberg-Uhl, lived temporarily at Dornach Castle.

Dornach Castle is a Neo-Baroque castle with an octagonal tower topped with battlements. Other architectural features described include Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque stucco ceilings. Strindberg and his then-wife's temporary residence there in 1893 is a distinct historical connection; the castle's architecture can be considered separately.

The Sturmmühle and Regional Dining

The mill museum at the Sturmmühle inn in Saxen is housed in a wooden mill extending over four floors that is practically fully operational. It offers insights into grain processing and can be visited individually. The museum thus adds a tangible craft to the historical and landscape themes. The Sturmmühle's Mühlenstüberl serves regional specialties and homemade pastries. Whether you are drawn to Saxen for its hiking trails, cultural history, or milling traditions, there are different reasons to include each of these themes in your own travel plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Langenstein, Sankt Thomas Am Blasenstein, Ried In Der Riedmark, Rechberg, Klam, Arbing, Luftenberg An Der Donau, Schwertberg.

To the higher-level travel overview: Perg.