Hike 3 pilgrimage churches along idyllic trails

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10,00 km
Duration: 3:00 h
Ascent: 248 m elevation gain
Descent: 248 m elevation gain

The market town of Altenmarkt lies in the Triesting valley, which also forms the southern border of the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve. This is the largest closed deciduous forest area in Europe. To the north of the Triesting, hiking opportunities typical of the Vienna Woods therefore predominate over gentle hills, through deciduous forests, across meadows and past individual farmsteads. The best starting point for these well-developed hiking trails is on the Hafnerberg. South of the Triesting rises the steep, wooded northern flank of the Hocheck, the easternmost one-thousand-meter peak in the Alps, offering hikers a longer tour to the refuge and viewing tower. In addition to the enjoyment of nature, it is also the sacred buildings along the Via Sacra that attract many visitors to Altenmarkt. Three pilgrimage churches (Klein Mariazell, Hafnerberg and Altenmarkt) are located in the municipality and are connected by this scenically varied hiking trail. Around Hafnerberg and Nöstach there are many mystical places, places of power, which are also worth a visit and some of which can be hiked individually.

Starting point of the tour: Church at Hafnerberg

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 10,00 km
Duration: 3:00 h
Ascent: 248 m elevation gain
Descent: 248 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
3/6
Overall experience:
5/6
Scenery:
5/6

Lowest point396 m
Highest point563 m

Round tour
With refreshment stops

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Description

This hike begins with a highlight, namely the baroque pilgrimage church "Unserer lieben Frau" on the Hafnerberg, which you should visit before starting the hike to see the baroque high altar and the ceiling fresco. From the church, it is only a few steps to the sparse pine forest, where a Way of the Cross with 14 stations leads slightly uphill to the Fuchsbauern Chapel. You pass a mystical place with a perforated stone. A short detour takes hikers to the mystical Druidenstein site, a rock needle on a hilltop. On the way to the Fuchsbauer farm, you pass the Kalendarium with the Visurhügel and other perforated stones. The view here extends from Peilstein via St. Pankraz and in the other direction from Reisalpe via Araburg to Hocheck. After the junction at the Hübnerkreuz, you descend via the Ganslsteig path through the forest into the Eisgraben, which you follow for a while into the valley before ascending to the Schacherkreuz. You soon reach Klein Mariazell via a comfortable forest road, going slightly downhill. Before stopping for refreshments at the Kirchenwirt, you should definitely visit the newly renovated, baroque basilica of Klein Mariazell (a former monastery church).

The path to Altenmarkt now leads along the road until just before the village, where you cross a large pasture, past the Kögl cross and reach the third pilgrimage church on this circular hike, the pilgrimage church of Altenmarkt. This is the oldest church in the upper Triestingtal valley, with origins dating back to the 11th century. After visiting this church and the idyllic cemetery, you walk along a road over to the "Black Mother of God" plague column and through a settlement to the "Hofnerbruck" and the "Nepomukkapelle". A steep ascent on a forest road leads back to the Hafnerberg.

safety instructions Livestock on the pasture in front of Altenmarkt
Equipment Normal hiking equipment
Route description From the parking lot north of the church, follow the signs to Kleinmariazell: WWW 06 red-white-redVia Sacra circular hiking trail, “Mystical places, Druidenstein and Calendar” and climbs steeply at the chapel “In honor of Moricus”. (The panorama circular hiking trail branches off to the right here.)On a forest road over a saddle and then on a beautiful, wide hiking trail, you pass 14 stations of the Way of the Cross. After passing through a gate of the 14th station and a hole stone, the bright meadows around the Fuchsbauer chapel are reached. The path leads slightly downhill to another gate, in front of which you climb briefly left on a path to a wooded hill where the Druidenstein is located. Back to the gate and flat across the meadow, you come to the Fuchsbauer farm (Calendar, hole stones) along which you walk eastwards with a view. 300 m after the farm, you reach the Hübner Cross and turn left on the asphalt road following the red-white-red marking. After another 200 m, a path branches off to the left from the road to the meadows, and you follow the signs WWW 06, red-white-red marking, Via Sacra circular trail, Kleinmariazell 1 h, on this meadow path with beautiful views. Soon you enter the forest, cross a shallow ditch, and continue to follow the red-white-red marking downhill. This is how the “Gansl Steig” is reached, which leads steeply, partly muddy and rocky through the forest down into the Eisgraben. Cross the road and then cross the Klauswies creek on a bridge opposite. 30 m after the bridge, turn right onto a meadow path (red-white-red), which leads into a wider hiking path through spruce forest. After a wooden footbridge, follow a path along a brook until a forest road is reached. Only 30 m to the left on the forest road, then a discreet, initially overgrown path branches off to the left (signpost). This leads uphill, partly wet and muddy, until another forest road is reached again. Shortly after, turn left on this to reach the saddle with the Schachner Cross. At the forest road junction, go straight ahead (signpost and red-white-red marking) on a forest road that initially leads in 3 switchbacks and then comfortably along a brook to Kleinmariazell. Left or right around the monastery wall leads to the Kirchenwirt and the basilica. From here 1:45 h.From the basilica, turn south towards Altenmarkt and follow the valley road (signposts Via Sacra circular trail, 3 churches circular trail, Altenmarkt; WWW 448) until after 700 m you reach St. Corona street. Follow this country road to the left (Via Sacra circular trail) for 1.2 km. Immediately after the last house, a turnstile leads onto a pasture (yellow sign: Via Sacra circular trail, Altenmarkt and sign Warning cattle drive). The meadow is crossed via partly inconspicuous meadow paths, slightly uphill and then staying above the slope, reaching the Kögl Cross. After a stretch through the forest, the Altenmarkt pilgrimage church comes into view.Leave the cemetery now through the lower gate, do not follow the yellow signs Via Sacra, Vienna Pilgrim Way (which shortly leads to the main square of Altenmarkt), but turn left on the road (sign: Via Sacra circular trail, 3 churches circular trail, Hafnerberg). Past the “Black Mother of God” always follow the road straight ahead (marking WWW 404, red-white-red), leaving the town area and briefly descending through forest to the “Hofnerbruck”. Cross the bridge and on the other side, ascending briefly, you reach the “Nepomuk chapel” and the federal road B 11. Cross the road and then left on a partly steep forest road (blue marking) back to the starting point Hafnerberg.
Parking Parking lot near the church Hafnerberg (parking lot north of the church)
Getting there A2 South Motorway exit Leobersdorf, on the Hainfelder Bundesstraße B 18 until just before Altenmarkt, turn right onto the B 11 towards Alland, up to Hafnerberg. Alternatively via the A 21 exit Alland or Mayerling, to Alland and then turn onto the B 11 to Nöstach and continue to Hafnerberg.
Editor’s tip In addition to the three pilgrimage churches, there are also other beautiful excursion destinations in the Triesting Valley. More information can be found here! The following dining options are available:Landgasthof zum Schwarzen Adler Updated on: 09.06.2021

Recommended period

Wienerwald Tourism
Main Square 11, 3002 Purkersdorf
Tel.: 02231/621 76
E-mail: office@wienerwald.info
Website: www.wienerwald.info

Leader Region Triestingtal
Leobersdorfer Strasse 42, 2560 Berndorf
E-mail: office@triestingtal.at
Website: www.triestingtal.at

Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026