Description
The first part from Krems through the vineyards of the lower Traisen valley offers, besides numerous refreshment options, also some natural surprises. From the state capital St. Pölten, the route leads over the Traisen valley cycle path and with the ascent to Rudolfshöhe further elevation awaits. Back in the Traisen valley, you switch over the Kaiserkogel into the Dirndltal, which is now crossed by numerous, partly not to be underestimated climbs on the various MTB trekking routes of the communities from north to south.
With the Josef-Franz hut at Geisbühel there is a nice opportunity to rest (and on weekends also to stay overnight!) and to taste one or another Dirndl product. The gently rolling alpine foreland is then replaced by more alpine terrain.
From Puchenstuben onwards, the route runs in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park with absolute natural highlights to forest and water, before you roll leisurely to the finish at the famous pilgrimage church Mariazell.
Starting point of the tour
Krems, main station
Destination point of the tour
Mariazell, Basilica
Route description Multi-day route Krems - Mariazell
From Krems main station, follow the Danube cycle path upstream out of town to Mautern - there cross the bridge or the Danube. From Mautern on side roads to Furth and further over a prolonged first ascent at the foot of Göttweig Abbey. On quiet side roads, continue over Eggendorf and Höbenbach to just before Theyern, where you continue on the Paraplui route (MTB trekking route) in the opposite direction. You go up to Paraplui mountain and from there continue on the "Water to Wine Tour", also in the opposite signposted direction. Passing through Inzersdorf ob der Traisen, past Walpersdorf Castle to Ederding, where you switch to the "Herzogenburg grapevine louse tour" and follow it (again opposite) to Herzogenburg to the Traisen valley cycle path. Leisurely cycling upstream along the river to the state capital St. Pölten.
In St. Pölten, follow the signposting to the Traisen valley cycle path (about 1.5 km). The first kilometers lead now flat upstream along the Traisen on the cycle path heading south and traffic-free out of the city. In Reith near Wilhelmsburg, turn against the signposting onto the "Sagenstein tour" to the first quite steep (!) ascent to Rudolfshöhe with the first refreshment possibility at Ochsenburger hut.
Back in the valley at Wilhelmsburg, follow another flat kilometers on the Traisen valley cycle path before turning right in Rotheau and a few kilometers later again right opposite the "Kaiserkogel round". Over Meiselhöhe, you climb the Kaiserkogel including the associated hut and roll down against the "Kaiserkogel trail" into the Pielach valley to Rabenstein.
The next section runs against part of the "Geisbühel route", where at the top a short out and back section to the Josef-Franz hut makes a worthwhile detour with refreshment and - on weekends - overnight accommodation. Descent to Tradigist and there sharp left onto the "Dörfl on the Eben route" (again wrong direction) to just before Kirchberg.
Then follow the "Loicher panorama tour" (in the "correct" direction) to the Günter chapel near Wallerbach. There turn left down into the valley and at the L102 turn left again towards Schwarzenbach. Some kilometers downstream to the junction right into the Taschlgrabenrotte and at Waitzgraben turn into the "Eibeck round" and follow its signposting in riding direction. Past the Eibeck Alm, the route continues until you turn left in Wies onto the "Frankenfelsberg round" (wrong), to Laubenbachgegend.
The "Mariazellerbahn route" begins and/or ends directly at Laubenbachmühle station and starts in this direction with the longer, but not too steep ascent over Puchenstuben towards Turmkogel and Wastl am Wald. From now on you are in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park amid beautiful forest scenery and with nice views of the Ötscher "from behind". Passing through the dreamy Gösing, continue to Reith from where you come over a short section of the "Ötscher trekking route" and a short ascent up to Annaberg.
Continue on the "Annaberg-Hubertussee route" (in the signposted direction) - over the Walster origin and Ulreichsberg to the rustic Wuchtl hostess near the idyllic Hubertus lake. Via Fadental, you reach Mitterbach to the last natural highlight including numerous refreshment options - the crystal clear and wonderfully refreshing Erlauf lake. From there only a few more kilometers to the finish at Mariazell in front of the famous pilgrimage basilica.
