Garsten: Abbey History, Nativity Scene Art and Trails

Garsten combines abbey history and nativity scene art with trails through the Dambach Valley and other nature and leisure attractions. When looking for a hotel in Garsten, the focus of your stay can help guide you: would you like to explore the former abbey and its art history, or make trails and landscapes the focus?

Abbey History and Nativity Scene Art

The later Benedictine Abbey of Garsten originated as a collegiate foundation established around 1082 by Otakar I of Steyr. In 1108, Otakar II converted the collegiate foundation into a Benedictine abbey; the abbey was dissolved in 1787. These three dates mark distinct stages: the establishment of the collegiate foundation, its conversion and its later dissolution.

The Garsten Abbey Museum presents the historical development and influence of the abbey from its founding in 1082 until its dissolution in 1787. Notable examples of nativity scene art include Marian Rittinger’s baroque boxwood nativity scene from 1705 and Josef Garb’s large blacksmith nativity scene from around 1850. The two works differ both in name and date: the boxwood nativity scene dates from the early 18th century, while the blacksmith nativity scene dates from around the middle of the 19th century.

The abbey church is also an important part of Garsten’s cultural heritage: its interior is a high point of Austrian stucco Baroque. The museum and church thus offer two different ways to explore the abbey’s history: its historical development and collection on the one hand, and the Baroque design of the church interior on the other.

Dambach Valley and Forest

The Dambach Valley, about 5.5 kilometres long, lies southeast of Garsten and is nestled in a horseshoe shape between several elevations: Damberg (807 m), Schwarzberg (838 m), Blabergkogel (748 m), Sonnberg (777 m), Sturzberg (741 m) and Buchberg (542 m). The approximate length of the valley and the elevations of the surrounding mountains provide an overview of the landscape.

At the head of the Dambach Valley lies a forest of about 1,000 hectares that has been used for forestry since time immemorial. Together with the valley’s described shape, this creates a landscape that clearly contrasts with the cultural focus around the former abbey.

Trails and Getting Around

The marked hiking trails starting from Garsten’s town centre begin in “Beserlpark,” near the Lahrndorferstraße/Klosterstraße railway viaduct. A hiking map showing all the trails, elevation profiles and route descriptions is available there. To find your way, you can take into account not only the routes, but also the elevation profiles and route descriptions provided.

The “Biodiversity Circular Trail” passes through species-rich habitats along the Garstner Bach stream and the flowering meadows around Fischeraufstieg. Interactive information boards provide information about kestrels, stream-dwelling species, bees, butterflies and herbs. The trail therefore connects habitats with the animal and plant life featured on the boards.

The “L5 Garsten - Großes Hufeisen” circular route is 28.4 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 872 metres. It starts at Garsten railway station and first leads through the town, past the outdoor pool and over the power station. For planning, you can refer to its length and elevation gain, as well as its named starting point and the first section described.

Other trails also have their own landmarks: the Boigerrunde runs along the Enns into Buchholz, where the traditional Boigerstadl inn is located. The “Ennsmeile” passes the Kraftpark and is illuminated along its entire length. A minigolf course and the Aktivpark Aufwind are also accessible from the Garsten outdoor pool.

Discover more destinations: Pfarrkirchen Bei Bad Hall, Bad Hall, Dietach, Goldberg, Waldneukirchen, Sierning, Losenstein, Ternberg.

For the broader travel overview: Steyr-Land.