Discover Lichtenau im Mühlkreis

For a stay in Lichtenau im Mühlkreis, local building and town history and trails through the characteristic Bohemian Forest landscape offer distinct areas of interest. Cultural highlights include protected historic buildings, several chapels and the history of Lichtenau Castle; outdoors, cycling and hiking trails shape the image of the municipality and its surroundings. If you are looking for a hotel, this distinction can help you choose a destination that suits your travel interests: historical connections or outdoor activities.

Chapels and protected historic buildings

The Toheibl Mill at Hinternberg 5 is protected as a historic monument by official decision; the corresponding register entry is dated 23 June 2026. According to the monument register, as of the same date, an ordinance forms the basis for the protection of the Oedt village chapel, which is also a protected historic monument. The two protection records therefore differ in their stated legal basis.

The Lichtenau Chapel stands at the northwestern exit from Lichtenau, at a fork in the farm track near the Grafenauer farm building and the former district road. It belongs to the Grafenauer family, who look after and maintain it. The description of the site thus identifies both prominent landmarks at the fork and the family responsible for the chapel.

Holy Water spans a different period: the first chapel was built there around 1250; the present chapel dates back to around 1470. These details refer to the first chapel and to the origins of the present chapel, and thus to distinct historical reference points. During the general renovation in 1980, a Lourdes grotto and a war memorial were added beside the Holy Water Chapel in Hörleinsödt. Both were built on the chapel grounds. This cultural highlight therefore brings together the early history of the chapel and a specific addition from 1980.

Another chapel described in terms of its landscape setting is the Heiligenwasser Chapel near Hörleinsödt, close to Haslach. It stands beside a farm track, its white walls standing out against the forest. This contrast between chapel and forest gives its location a different emphasis from the precise descriptions of the roads and buildings near the Lichtenau Chapel.

Trails and views

The Tanzboden Trail passes directly by the Holy Water Chapel. Near Hörleinsödt, the memorial cross offers views across the upper Mühlviertel; on a clear day, you can see as far as the Alps. Views of the Alps are therefore explicitly dependent on good visibility. The trail can be identified by two specific features: the chapel it passes and the viewpoint by the memorial cross. As route conditions can change, check the current trail conditions before setting out.

Cycling and hiking trails run through the characteristic Bohemian Forest landscape in the municipality and surrounding area of Lichtenau. This describes a broad area for outdoor activities, while the Tanzboden Trail is linked to a specific chapel and viewpoint. When weighing up these travel interests, you can therefore choose between a general focus on trails and landscape or the specific features of the Tanzboden Trail mentioned here.

Lichtenau Castle: history and present-day status

Sifrit of Hugenberg was the first known owner of Lichtenau Castle. Today, the castle is privately owned. The mention of the first known owner and the information on current ownership refer to different points in time: a historical connection and its present-day status. Together, they provide both a historical and a current perspective on Lichtenau Castle without conflating the two.

The chapels, mill and castle history focus on local heritage; the trails and views offer a different way to experience the Bohemian Forest landscape.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kleinzell im Mühlkreis, Schlägl, Ulrichsberg, Eilmannsberg, Schwarzenberg am Böhmerwald, Godersdorf, Guglwald, Oepping

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