Whether it’s the breathtaking view from one of the peaks, the scent of flowers in a mountain meadow, the taste of regional specialities in an alpine hut, the sound of rushing water in the gorges, or the cool touch of a lake on your skin – the Mostviertel mountain area can be experienced with all your senses.
The Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park and the Ybbstal Alps together form the Alpine Mostviertel. Here, unique, unspoilt nature meets pleasure and adventure. The certified hiking villages of Annaberg, Mitterbach, Göstling an der Ybbs and Hollenstein an der Ybbs are the ideal starting points for exploring the Mostviertel mountain area.
If you stay at one of the Wilde Wunder Card accommodation providers in the Alpine Mostviertel, you can not only use mountain railways and excursion destinations for free, but also save money on public transport in the region!
Where the gorges of the Ötscher tell their tale and the waters of the Erlauf show the way.
Deeply carved gorges characterise the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park: wooden walkways and narrow paths follow the natural course of the Erlauf – through narrow rocky gorges, past steeply sloping cliffs and green terraces where the roaring water briefly comes to rest. And towering above it all is the Ötscher – the Mostviertel’s landmark, visible from afar. It shapes the landscape without imposing itself.
The central starting point for all hikes in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park is undoubtedly the Ötscher-Basis Wienerbruck Nature Park Centre – where you’re welcome to be accompanied by nature guides. They lead to places you might otherwise walk right past – to old woodcutters’ trails, plants with surprising effects and spots where you can actually hear the silence.
Tip: Travel on the Mariazellerbahn and hop on and off at any of the 7 stops in the nature park, including the hiking village of Mitterbach. Combined tickets for the train and nature park entry are available online!
Amidst alpine pastures, mountain peaks and crystal-clear waters, a break begins that feels like coming home.
Stretching around theÖtscher, Dürrenstein, Hochkar and Königsberg lies an area that attracts people who want to truly experience nature. In the Ybbstal Alps, trails lead across lush alpine meadows, up to peaks offering spectacular views, into tranquil forests and even into a wilderness area – all places where getting out and about comes naturally and time seems to stand still.
Water has always been the region’s defining feature: the rivers Ybbs and Erlauf showcase its clear, fresh side; the Trefflingfall and Kogler waterfalls reveal its lively side; and Lake Lunz embodies the quiet power of water. Each of these bodies of water, each of these places, is a destination in its own right – and a good reason for a revitalising break.
Tip: Two villages in the Ybbstal Alps – Göstling an der Ybbs and Hollenstein an der Ybbs – have been awarded the title of ‘Austrian Hiking Villages’. They are the ideal starting points for hikes in the region!
