Description
Wachau World Heritage Trail: Rossatz to Unterbergern
The stage from Rossatz to Unterbergern links Danube landscapes with panoramic highland paths. From the wine village of Rossatz, the trail runs between the Pritzenau Danube floodplain and orchards to a beautiful sandy riverside beach. Through the Rossatz vineyards and the nature reserve at Toter Berg, the route continues into the quiet woodlands of the Dunkelsteinerwald.
The climb to the Pemexel (508 m) opens broad views towards Krems, before the path continues across the panoramic Bergerner Höhe. A rest stop at the Ferdinandswarte offers another viewpoint, and the route then follows peaceful field and meadow paths to the stage destination of Unterbergern.
Walking the Wachau World Heritage Trail reveals, step by step, why the Wachau is a UNESCO World Heritage region. Finely curated World Heritage Spots make the defining World Heritage Highlights visible—the interplay of cultural landscape, traditional viticulture, exceptional natural habitats and the Danube as a shaping force.
Thanks to excellent rail connections, a relaxed and sustainable journey to the Wachau is straightforward. Within the region, a dense public transport network makes all stages easy to reach by bus, train, ferry and boat, allowing stages to be combined with great flexibility.
The Wachau World Heritage Trail also holds the Austrian Hiking Quality Seal. This certification represents high standards in route design, waymarking, safety and infrastructure, confirming the trail as a reliable, high-quality walking experience at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Starting point of the tour
Rossatz, church square
Destination point of the tour
Unterbergern town center
Route description Wachau World Heritage Trail 12: Rossatz-Unterbergern
We cross the church square in Rossatz, pass the town hall, and follow the path down to the right towards the orchards at the bottom. We pass the tennis court and at the next intersection continue straight ahead, cross the Danube cycle path and soon reach the Rossatz floodplain where we turn right. We now hike exactly along the floodplain and orchard border to the beautiful sandy beach with the bike ferry. Here there is a fantastic view of Dürnstein on the opposite Danube bank. Past the campsite, we reach Rossatzbach. At the village fountain at the other end of the street, we hike up to the main road B33 on the right. We follow the road a few meters to the right and then immediately turn left at the first junction. Our path now leads through the Rossatz vineyards. We pass the vineyards Frauenweingärten, Mugler and Goldberg and pass the ruined Biritor.
Here in the Seegraben begins our ascent to the Pemexel in the Dunkelsteinerwald forest. After an initial large loop, we hike past the Toter Berg and reach after the last ascent the 508 m high Pemexel. From the wooded summit, we enjoy a view towards Krems-Stein. After the Pemexel, we reach a wide forest road. We go left and reach the Red Cross after 20 minutes, where we turn left. After half an hour, we cross the main road, walk briefly on the asphalt, turn left into the forest, and reach the Bergerner Höhe, where wonderful panoramic views await us. A short piece further, at the Donauleiten, we turn left and stroll along the forest edge. Next, the view from the Ferdinandswarte awaits us before we reach the stage destination Unterbergen.
Directions
A1 to the Melk exit, then continue on B33 to Rossatz or from Mautern on the country road to Unterbergern
Parking
At the public parking lots in Rossatz (Mettener Platz near the church square or below the church square) or in the center of Unterbergern.
Travel to Rossatz is possible with the Wachau buses of line 720 Krems-Rossatz-Melk or Melk-Rossatz-Krems from the train stations Melk or Krems.
Unterbergen can be reached by regional bus 489.
There is a Nextbike rental station in Rossatz at the campsite, www.nextbike.at
Bike ferry Rossatz-Dürnstein:
In April and October only Fri, Sat, and Sun, public holidays from 10:00 to 17:00. In May and September daily from 9:30 to 18:00. In June, July, and August Mon-Fri from 9:30 to 18:00, Sat, Sun, and public holidays from 9:00 to 18:30.
