The WEG DES HARZES provides information about the hardships of resin transportation, the life of the pitchers and the special features of the black pine.
The WEG DES HARZES provides information about the hardships of resin transportation, the life of the pitchers and the special features of the black pine.
On 10 panels, which are also designed to appeal to children, you can learn about the origin, extraction and processing of black pine resin, the life of the pitchers and the laborious transportation of the resin barrels.
But you can also learn about new products related to the topic, which are very much in line with the trend towards natural products and, thanks to the high demand, are reviving the old craft.
A wooden xylophone can be used to make the sound of various local coniferous woods and a projection board at an elaborately designed station brings to life the contours of the historic buildings of the former resin cooperative on the former factory site.
The well-signposted trail can be easily hiked in one and a half hours.
About the municipality
The market town of Markt Piesting is located in the middle of the largest black pine area in Central Europe, at the foot of the Hohe Wand (Dreistetten district) at the beginning of the Piestingtal valley (also known as the Biedermeier valley due to renowned artists from this period).
Extensive pine forests characterize the landscape in the region.
Markt Piesting is the starting point for many beautiful hiking trails in all directions, most of which lead over gentle elevations into the black pine forests.
From the higher district of Dreistetten in the south-west, the local area stretches up to the Hohe Wand and the Herrgottschnitzerhaus refuge at 825 meters above sea level.
To the north, Markt Piesting borders the market town of Hernstein on an extensive plateau (the Hart) in the middle of the pine forests.
The WEG DES HARZES leads from the center of Markt Piesting - a stretch along the long-distance hiking trail 231 - to the Hernstein Pecherlehrpfad.
Markt Piesting used to be home to the large resin factory where black pine resin (Austrian: pitch) was processed into many products. Until the 1970s, resin extraction and processing was the main source of income for most families in the Piesting Valley. Pitch production in Lower Austria has been listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage since 2011 and is currently experiencing a renaissance due to the growing demand for natural products. In the forests around Markt Piesting, you can still see traces of the historic pitching industry, but you can also see a few pitchers who are still practising this traditional craft.
The route, just under three kilometers long, begins at the large parking lot in Markt Piesting with the first stop and leads first across a small bridge to the “Generationenplatz”—a large playground for young and old.
Returning across the bridge, follow the clearly visible signs along the Piesting River to a large meadow, the site of the former resin cooperative. At a double station, a transparent display panel projects the outline of the historic resin processing plant onto the site and, together with two information panels, provides an insight into how resin was processed in the past.
Around the meadow with its large walnut trees, signs and ground markings lead across a railroad crossing to the large Holy Chapel, where you walk past the first pitch trees on the right and up to Station 4
From there, the trail enters the pine forest. The forest road winds its way upward, passing additional information panels along the way—all the way to a wooden xylophone at the final station.
From there, a well-marked 600-meter connecting trail leads past the “Burned Tree” natural monument to the start of the Hernstein Pitch Nature Trail. The HARZ TRAIL thus connects the two former pitch-harvesting centers of Markt Piesting and Hernstein.
By car, take the Südautobahn and exit at Wöllersdorf—then take the B21 toward Gutenstein!
The train station in Markt Piesting is a 5-minute walk from the starting point!
Places to Stop for a Meal
Piestro Genussbar, Marktplatz 6, Markt Piesting, Tel.: 0664 2105552
Blutalm – Die Genussalm, Alkersdorf 11, 2560 Hernstein, Tel.: 02633 47200 (15-minute walk from the Hernstein Pecher Nature Trail)
Wienerwald Tourismus GmbH
Hauptpl. 11, 3002 Purkersdorf
Tel.: 02231/621 76
Email: office@wienerwald.info
Website: www.wienerwald.info
KEAföhrenen
Talgasse 18, 2753 Markt Piesting
Email: office@keafoehrene.at
Website: https://www.schwarzfoehre.at
Letzte Änderung: 3 Aug 2026
