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Today, 12.02.2026
Light rain shower
Wind speed2,3 km/h
Hike 3 pilgrimage churches along idyllic trails
Hiking tour Starting from Church at Hafnerberg
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 10,00 km
- Duration: 3:00 h
- Ascent: 248 m elevation gain
- Descent: 248 m elevation gain
The market town Altenmarkt is located in the valley of the Triesting, which also forms the southern border of the Wienerwald Biosphere Reserve. This is the largest connected deciduous forest area in Europe. Therefore, north of the Triesting, typical Wienerwald hiking opportunities dominate over gentle hills, through deciduous forests, over meadows, and past individual farmsteads. The best starting point for these well-developed hiking trails is at Hafnerberg. South of the Triesting rises the steep forested northern flank of the Hocheck, the easternmost thousand-meter peak of the Alps, offering hikers a longer route to the shelter hut and the observation tower. Besides 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 can partly be explored 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
Description
This hike already begins with a highlight, namely the baroque pilgrimage church “Our Dear Lady” at Hafnerberg, which should be visited before starting the hike to see the baroque high altar and the ceiling fresco. From the church, you then reach the bright pine forest with just a few steps, where a Way of the Cross with 14 stations leads slightly uphill to the Fuchsbauern chapel. Along the way, you pass a mystical place with a hole stone. A small detour takes the hiker to the mystical place Druidenstein, a rock needle on a mountain crest. On the way to the Fuchsbauer farm, you pass the calendar with the Visur hill and further hole stones. The view extends here from Peilstein over St. Pankraz and, in the other direction, from Reisalpe over Araburg to the Hocheck. After the turnoff at the Hübner Cross, you descend through the forest into the Eisgraben via the Ganslsteig path, following the valley a little before climbing to the Schacherkreuz. Along an easy forest road, you will soon reach Klein Mariazell, going slightly downhill. Before stopping at the Kirchenwirt, you should definitely visit the newly renovated baroque basilica of Klein Mariazell (a former monastery church).
The path to Altenmarkt now runs along the road until shortly before the village, where you reach the third pilgrimage church of this circular hike, the Altenmarkt pilgrimage church, crossing a large meadow past the Kögl Cross. This is the oldest church in the upper Triesting valley, whose origins date back to the 11th century. After visiting this church and the idyllic cemetery, you walk along a road to the plague column “Black Mother of God” and through a settlement to Hofnerbruck and the Nepomuk chapel. A steep ascent on a forest road leads back to Hafnerberg.
- 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
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Current weather on site
3° to 9°
2° to 8°
Tomorrow, 13.02.2026
Cloudy
Wind speed6,6 km/h
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