Urfahr-Umgebung: Nature, Trails and Experiences

Urfahr-Umgebung offers a wide variety of excursions, from nature reserves and hiking and pilgrimage trails to bathing lakes, museums and regional events. When planning a hotel stay, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on. Would you like to go hiking, spend time by the water, experience culture or include seasonal winter sports? The places and activities below offer some specific ideas.

Nature and Hiking Trails

The Pesenbach Valley in Bad Mühllacken is a nature reserve. Its distinctive features include the Blue Alley, springs and pools, and cyclopean rock formations. The Candle Rock is the valley’s landmark. The Pesenbach Valley hiking trail calls for care: It is marked mostly with a red dot and has an alpine character. Sure-footedness, stamina and sturdy footwear are required; conditions may vary seasonally. Check them before setting out.

Another named route is the 25-kilometre Three Castles Hiking Trail. It starts at Waxenberg Castle ruins and leads via Oberneukirchner Berg to Lobenstein Castle ruins. Piberstein Castle ruins can be reached via Waxenberger Hofwald, Schallenberg and Ahorn. The Wilhering Pilgrimage Trail covers a much greater distance: Its 132 kilometres connect the Danube with the Vltava in six stages. The route passes through twelve municipalities in the districts of Linz-Land and Urfahr-Umgebung in the Mühlviertel region, as well as Vyšší Brod in South Bohemia. Along the pilgrimage trail, 14 churches inspired by Cistercian and Benedictine theology invite visitors to enjoy spiritual experiences. The 25 kilometres of the Three Castles Trail and the six stages of the pilgrimage route offer two different scales for planning an excursion.

Bathing Lakes and Activities

The Danube Cycle Path runs through Feldkirchen an der Donau; from there, cyclists can reach one of the four bathing lakes. The leisure area around the four Feldkirchen bathing lakes is directly accessible from the Danube Cycle Path via a new cycling bridge. The lakes offer opportunities for swimming, sunbathing and playing beach volleyball. This makes it possible to enjoy a cycle ride and time by the water as separate parts of an excursion.

The activities in Feldkirchen also differ considerably: The pump track is a paved circuit with jumps, banked turns and rollers that can be ridden in all directions. The motor skills park is open to everyone free of charge. During the bathing season, a parking fee applies per car. Golf enthusiasts will find an 18-hole championship course and a practice facility with a 9-hole academy course at Golfclub Donau.

Churches, Museums and Regional Experiences

In Pesenbach, the Gothic branch church houses a Gothic winged altarpiece. The Pelmberg Open-Air Museum also brings history to life with vivid details: Pelmberg Farm was first mentioned in historical documents in 1325. The museum includes an 18-metre-long tunnel hewn out of granite that is still accessible. On display are traditional tools, old agricultural machinery and transport items from the pre-industrial era.

The Lebzeltarium offers a different kind of discovery: On more than 300 square metres, it showcases the diverse world of gingerbread. For an excursion with a religious and local occasion, consider the Feast of St Leonard in Pesenbach. It takes place on 6 November and the following Sunday, and attracts thousands of pilgrims from neighbouring parishes, churchgoers and fair visitors every year.

Season and Route Profile

In Bad Leonfelden, the Sternstein family ski area offers opportunities for active winter sports. Check seasonal operations before your trip. In summer, hikers can enjoy magnificent views from the summit of the Sternstein observation tower. The Sternstein Loop can also be assessed by its surface: 40 percent of the route is paved, while 60 percent is gravel or natural ground. This breakdown provides a concrete point of comparison when choosing a route, without indicating anything about walking time or difficulty.

The Kraft-Quelle-Baum Trail has its own highlights: Attractions along the route include the Maria Rast forest chapel and Waxenberg Castle ruins. Together with the pilgrimage route, hiking trails and activities involving water and culture, these offer a wide range of options for different travel interests. Plan your excursions around the themes and dates that matter for your stay.

Discover More Destinations

Engerwitzdorf, Feldkirchen an der Donau, Bad Leonfelden, Altenberg bei Linz, Schild, Ottenschlag im Mühlkreis, Oberneukirchen, Lichtenberg, Goldwörth, Alberndorf in der Riedmark, Ottensheim, Steyregg, Zwettl an der Rodl, Vorderweißenbach, Sonnberg im Mühlkreis, Schenkenfelden, Reichenthal, Gallneukirchen, Walding, Sankt Magdalena, Herzogsdorf, Eidenberg, Weignersdorf, Hellmonsödt, Haibach im Mühlkreis, Gramastetten, Puchenau, Kirchschlag bei Linz, Reichenau im Mühlkreis, Mursberg, Sankt Gotthard im Mühlkreis, Dürnberg

For the main travel overview: Upper Austria.