Wachau World Heritage Trail 08: Emmersdorf - Melk

Your tour starts at market road of picturesque Renaissance village Emmersdorf and you walk through the viaduct underneath the Wachau train, then left into Rote Kreuz Straße (Red Cross Street). At the next diversion the way lights up right to castle Rothenhof (also accommodation). Now you take the left and immediately after the right into the small road called Waldweg (wood way). After about 250m you turn right again taking the Jägersteig (hunters track) and leave the village. Via pathes passing woods and meadows you reach Rantenberg. To your left you pass a fence where you normally can see donkeys, then you walk on and at the street you turn left an reach the stamp sation (at family Schroll, Wachau donkey adventures). Staying on the right side you cross the hamlet (only a few houses). After the last house in Rantenberg you turn left into a field track. After about 5 minutes you are at the diverson to the observation tower (Dachbergwarte), which is closed. The way leads downhill to hamlet Hain.

In the village you turn left once and then twice to the right. The way leads downwards, and you walk underneath the Wachau train track reaching imperial castle Luberegg (built in the 18th century). The tavern „Haferkast’n“ ( hay chest ), which invites you for a rest, is located in the castle. At the pedestrian crosswalk you cross the federation road B3, afterwards stay on the right and walk parallel to the road until leisure center Luberegg (there is a Danube lake with a sandy beach - beach use only at low tide). Now taking the left the way leads over a bridge to the isle Luberegg and to the Danube. After the bridge you turn right and walk next to the Danube always walking towards the hydroelectric power station Melk. Via the power station you cross the stream and reach lion isle of Melk. You are walking a short while downstream along the Danube and soon after you turn right and reach the alluvial forest. One more time you turn right pass a boom barrier and get to Saint Leopold’s bridge, cross the road and reach the main square of Melk (Melk abbey thrones on a rock above you).