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Trekking Trails recommended route Stage 10

Wachau World Heritage Trail 10: Aggsbach Dorf - Hofarnsdorf

Trekking Trails · Donau-Niederösterreich
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  • Rast am Luftberg oberhalb von Aggsbach-Dorf
    Rast am Luftberg oberhalb von Aggsbach-Dorf
    Photo: Daniela Matejschek
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    The „Kuenringerfeste“ (fort of the knights lineage Kuenring) todays castle ruin Aggstein, the magnificent Baroque pilgrimage monastery Maria Langegg, less known Dunkelsteinerwald (dark stone wood) with the Buchental (beech valley) and fantastic views of surrounding area between Hohen Stein (rock) and Glauberkreuz (cross) in the vineyards of Arnsdorf are part of the stage from Aggsbach Dorf to Hofarnsdorf.
    moderate
    Distance 17.6 km
    5:45 h
    777 m
    779 m
    699 m
    205 m

    Wachau World Heritage Trail: from Aggsbach Dorf to Hofarnsdorf

    On wood and field tracks you walk from Aggsbach Dorf up to the ruin Aggstein and into the Dunkelsteinerwald. Via Monastery Maria Langegg with its worth seeing museum, library and frescoes you go on through Buchental (beech valley). A short safe and secured climbing section leads you to the „Hohen Stein“ (rock formation). Here you have one of the most beautiful view points in the Wachau. Continuing on downwards the way now leads through Buchental to the rest place „Glauberkreuz“ (cross) in the middle of the Arnsdorf vineyards. Soon after you reach ferry station Arrnsdorf-Spitz. From this point ist not far to the end of this tour at castle Hofarnsdorf.

    Author’s recommendation

    The chartreuse and the blacksmith’s workshop in Aggsbach Dorf are cultural treasures on the Wachau World Heritage Trail. At the blacksmith’s workshop you can experience a forging demonstration but only for groups on request. (Call 0043(0)2753/8337)
    Profile picture of Wachau Nibelungengau-Kremstal
    Author
    Wachau Nibelungengau-Kremstal
    Update: May 21, 2024
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Experience
    Landscape
    Highest point
    699 m
    Lowest point
    205 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Asphalt 19.62%Dirt road 29.12%Forested/wild trail 22.85%Path 23.79%Road 4.58%Via ferrata 0.02%
    Asphalt
    3.5 km
    Dirt road
    5.1 km
    Forested/wild trail
    4 km
    Path
    4.2 km
    Road
    0.8 km
    Via ferrata
    0 km
    Show elevation profile

    Safety information

    The last rise up to „Hoher Stein“ is a climbing part, which is secured with ladders and ropes.

    In case of an emergency call the mountain rescue Wachau: 140

    Tips and suggestions

    For restaurants and accommodation we recommend „Best of Wachau“ businesses: www.bestof-wachau.at. You find  a „Best of Wachau“ member in Aggsbach Dorf.

    Further opportunities for restaurants, taverns and cafes and opening hours:

    Several restaurants are located in Aggsbach Dorf and Maria Langegg. Please note the shortened opening times of restaurants in winter. In Hofarnsdorf there is only one restaurant. Restaurant „Zur Wachau“ family Zeller which is closed from November 8th until March 20th. During the opening period the restaurant is closed Monday and Tuesday. www.zeller-wachau.at; 0043(0)2714/8217

    Restaurant Stumpfer in Schönbühel: Opening times are April, May, June, July, August, September and October from Thursday to Tuesday (Wednesday closed). December till March open from Thursday to Monday (Tuesday and Wednesday closed). Kitchen hours are: 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. and 6p.m. to 9p.m. (on Sunday only till 8p.m.). In November the restaurant is closed. www.stumpfer.com Tel: 0043(0)2752/8510

    Restaurant/guesthouse „Domingo“, Aggsbach Dorf: open year round, warm food all day long (closed on Wednesday) Phone: 0043(0)2753/8353.

    Restaurant/guesthouse „Zur Kartause“, Aggsbach Dorf: open from April to September (closed on Tuesday) www.gasthof-lechner.at; 0043(0)2753/8243.

    Restaurant/guesthouse „Zur Post“, Aggsbach Dorf: March till November open daily except Monday. Sunday and public holiday warm food all day long. During winter time closed December, January and February. Phone: 0043(0)2753/8220

    Restaurant/Hotel Residenz Wachau, Aggsbach Dorf: open from March 27th to October 31st, kitchen hours daily from 11a.m. to 9p.m. From November till January 5th only open on request with reservation (closed from January 5th till March 27th 2016) www.residenz-wachau.at; 0043(0)2753/8221.

    Ruin Aggstein (also stamp station): is open from end of March till end of November. www.ruineaggstein.at; 0043(0)2753/82281

    Wine taverns are located in Hofarnsdorf, Bacharnsdorf, Mitterarnsdorf and Oberarnsdorf. Several taverns are open during winter time. Please see the current calendar for opening hours (Heurigenkalender) at www.welterbesteig.at.

    More opportunities for accommodation are in Aggsbach Dorf, Oberarnsdorf,Hofarnsdorf, Mitterarnsdorf and Bacharnsdorf.

    For easy and convenient organization of the tours its good to have the Wachau-Nibelungengau-Kremstal application. Just download for Android or iPhone

    Start

    Aggsbach Dorf, blacksmith’s workshop
    Coordinates:
    DD
    48.291475, 15.407125
    DMS
    48°17'29.3"N 15°24'25.7"E
    UTM
    33U 530198 5348777
    w3w 
    ///carton.rosemary.crass

    Destination

    Hofarnsdorf, castle

    Turn-by-turn directions

    From the blacksmith’s workshop in Aggsbach Dorf, where this tour starts, you are walking further to the crossing. Opposite of restaurant „Zur Kartause“ you turn left and start your rise up to the ruin Aggstein. Passing Pestkreuz (plague cross) you reach the parking lot in front of the ruin and walk on uphill through the „Herrenwald“ (wood) and the Aggsteingraben (trench). The ruin dating back to the 12th century once was residcence oft he Kuenringer lineage and knight „Georg Schreck vom Walde“ (Georg fright of the wood). Because of its imposing size and historic importance ruin Aggstein belongs to the most important castles in Austria. Inside a rustic tavern invites you to come in for a refreshment stop (only with entrance fee). After the relaxing rest you follow the wood path to monastery Maria Langegg, where you can visit the pilgirmage museum. From Maria Langegg you continue on again into the Dunkelsteinerwald. Your way leads to the way side shrine „Goldreut“ and the „Friedrichsfelsen“ (rock). Now you have the choice for an excursion  to the Hohen Stein (rock), which you can reach via a short climbing section.

    Hoher Stein is one of the most beautiful view points in the Wachau offering great views . Continuing on downwards the way now leads through Buchental to the rest place „Glauberkreuz“ (cross) in the middle of the Arnsdorf vineyards (where the opening ceremony of the Wachau World Heritage Trail held place in May 2010). A few hundred meters later you arrive at main road B33. You follow this road to the right and soon after to the left just until above the ferry station between Arnsdorf and Spitz. Don’t walk down to the station just keep straigh on. Parallel to the river the way leads into Hofarnsdorf where you take the left to reach castle and church oft he village. The castle from the Biedermeier period directly built next to the Danube is privately owned and can only be seen from the outside. With a wonderful view of Spitz with the “Tausendeimerberg”, vineyard Atzberg and the red gate on the opposite shore you round off your tour.

    Public transport

    The villages can be reached 7 days a week by public transportation. Its possible to get back to the start of the tour.

    At the south bank (WL 720: trainstation Krems-Mautern-Rossatz-Arnsdörfer-Aggsbach Dorf-Schönbühel-trainstation Melk) buses are operating every two hours seven days a week. Aggsbach Dorf and Hofarnsdorf are directly connected with the trainstations Krems and Melk. On the north shore (Bus WL 715 from trainstation Krems via Dürnstein-Weißenkirchen-Spitz-Aggsbach Markt-Emmersdorf-Melk trainstation) hourly buses depart 7 days a week. Spitzer Graben (WL 718 connection between Spitz and Mühldorf) operates from Spitz departing every two hours. Info www.vor.at .

    Wachautrain operates on weekends and public holidays (3 times a day) more information: www.noevog.at

    At the nature park Jauerling (bus WL 722, www.naturpark-jauerling.at) and to Göttweiger Berg (hill) bus WL 723 operate on weekends and public holidays as shuttle bus service with fixed tours and have to be called one hour prior of departure. Phone: 0043 810 810 278 to make reservation and more info at www.vor.at.

    Stations for the bike rent system „nextbike“ (1€ per hour) are located in Aggsbach Dorf and Hofarnsdorf. www.nextbike.at

    Timetable ferry Arnsdorf to Spitz: March to October. The ferry is not operating on weekends during winter time. More information here.                                       

    Directions

    Highway A1 until exit Melk, following B33 to Aggsbach Dorf or Hofarnsdorf.

    Parking

    At the chartreuse in Aggsbach Dorf or in the center of Hofarnsdorf.

    Coordinates

    DD
    48.291475, 15.407125
    DMS
    48°17'29.3"N 15°24'25.7"E
    UTM
    33U 530198 5348777
    w3w 
    ///carton.rosemary.crass
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    Hiking boots, raincoat, enough to eat and drink, a trail map and maybe a list of open taverns. You can find an equipmentlist on www.welterbesteig.at section service/tips.

    Similar routes nearby

    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 07: Aggsbach Markt - Emmersdorf
    • Aggstein - Melk (Welterbesteig 10 und 9)
    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 06: Maria Laach - Aggsbach Markt
    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 08: Emmersdorf - Melk
    • Wachau World Heritage Trail 11: Hofarnsdorf - Rossatz
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    17.6 km
    Duration
    5:45 h
    Ascent
    777 m
    Descent
    779 m
    Highest point
    699 m
    Lowest point
    205 m
    Multi-stage route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Flora

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    • 3 Waypoints
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