Wachau World Heritage Trail 02: Dürnstein - Weißenkirchen

You start your tour in Dürnstein at the picturesque old part of town. Immediately after the „Kremser Tor“ (gate) you start taking the old donkey track (Eselsteig). There you also find the Wachau saffron garden. Via the old supply path with its stone stairs within the city walls you make your way to the ruin of Dürnstein which was used as prison for King Richard the Lionhearted in the 12th century. You leave the ruin through the north gate and enter a bizarr rock and forest landscape. Your way leads partly through untouched oak and-pine woods and you pass the so called Schlösschen (little castle), the ruined bailey of the castle. After a steep rise you reach the summit of the „Schlossberg“ (castle hill) with the „Starhembergwarte“ (observation tower). Five minutes later you are at the „Fesslhütte“ (cabin) where you find the stamp station and can also take a rest.

This also marks the beginning of the panoramic way to Weißenkirchen, which offers fantastic views of the surrounding area. After approximately five to ten minutes you cross the „Vogelbergsteig“ ( bird hill track). Here its worth to take your time to visit the „Dürnsteiner Kanzel“ taking the way to the left (about ten minutes walking distance). After being back at the crossing you walk right and at the first crossing left and down in a spiral. You pass a boom gate and turn left after that and walk down on a small path. Reaching a wider forest road staying left and after that three times in a row keeping right. This panoramic way, a very easy passable forest road, leads you to the secluded hamlet „Schildhütten“ (cabin) with the winery and tavern of family „Pomassl“ (also stamp station). At the last house the way turns right into the vineyards. Passing old abandoned vineyards and stone terraces which are allready fallen apart, you finally reach vineyards named „Klaus“ and „Achleiten“. Up right you get to vineyard „Achleiten“ with a collection of old rare wine varieties (vine cultivation). Via the so called panoramic way „Achleiten“ you are walking through the vineyards entering „Weitenberg“ a part of the village Weißenkirchen. There you turn left into a narrow walking path and arrive in the old part of Weißenkirchen. You take the historic church trail to the defense church and the wooden stairs to market square with its magnificent Renaissance building „Teisenhoferhof“, where this stage ends.