Sankt Magdalena: Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade, Nature Trail and Church

Sankt Magdalena brings together a historic route and tangible examples of nature and architecture. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Sankt Magdalena, the area’s different local and route features can help you plan: the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade brings history and woodland together, while St. Magdalena Church reveals several phases of construction. The nature trail and hiking routes each have their own focus. You can therefore start by considering whether landscape, architecture or a particular route should take priority during your stay.

The Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade between history and woodland

The Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade follows the historic route of the Linz–Budweis horse-drawn railway, which opened in 1832. Its historical connection is therefore tied to a specific railway line: the promenade follows its historic route. At the same time, it passes through a near-natural mixed forest. Old trees, deadwood and diverse habitats provide living space for numerous animal species. The history of transport and the woodland landscape are presented here as distinct themes. This is useful when planning if you are looking not only for a single historical point of interest but also want to take the promenade’s natural surroundings into account.

St. Magdalena Church and its phases of construction

St. Magdalena Church was built around 1110 as a chapel. The central nave of the Late Gothic church, with its net vault, is still preserved today. A net vault is a vault whose ribs form a net-like pattern. The church tower was given a new appearance in 1768: it was redesigned as a Baroque façade tower with an onion dome. These three details—the early chapel, the surviving Late Gothic central nave and the tower’s transformation—bring different periods in the building’s history to life. If you are interested in architecture, the church offers more than a single architectural detail; its features point to different periods and styles.

Nature trail and practical gardening tips

The St. Magdalena Nature Trail runs along the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade. Its information boards were redesigned in 2025 and offer practical tips on how to encourage nature in your own garden. Its focus therefore extends beyond the woodland along the promenade: the boards connect the trail’s nature theme with ideas for your own garden. This distinguishes the nature trail from a hike whose route is oriented primarily around named stops or a particular path. When choosing, it may therefore be important whether you are more interested in the woodland landscape or in practical advice on nature-friendly gardening.

Hikes and their different points of interest

The hike “On Old Paths – A City Walk from Linz to Oberbairing” begins in the Sankt Magdalena district. Along the way, it passes the parish church and the thousand-year-old linden tree. Its named waypoints connect the hike with a building and a tree. The “Idyll Along the Horse-Drawn Railway” route has a different focus: it begins at St. Magdalena Church and then follows the Horse-Drawn Railway Promenade. Access by Linz AG tram lines 1 and 2 via the Harbachsiedlung stop is specified for this route.

The two routes can therefore be distinguished by their stated points of interest: “On Old Paths” focuses on the parish church and the linden tree as stops, while “Idyll Along the Horse-Drawn Railway” connects its starting point at the church with the promenade and specifies a tram connection. Check the tram timetable before travelling. This allows you to plan around the route and its stated transport connection without conflating the two different route ideas.

Discover more destinations: Hellmonsödt, Puchenau, Sonnberg Im Mühlkreis, Goldwörth, Ottensheim, Haibach Im Mühlkreis, Oberneukirchen, Herzogsdorf

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