Description
After just a few meters of warm-up, you reach the idyllic Erlaufsee, a natural jewel of the Mostviertel. Turquoise-green water with a view of the Gemeindealpe - that motivates! The route continues downhill along the Mariazellerbahn line, alternating on asphalt and natural paths, over the Josefsberg to the Ötscher base at Wienerbruck. Quietly off the main road, you go on- and off-road into the small mountain village of Annaberg and along a gravel path through the forest to the Walster spring. A longer downhill section leads to the romantically located Hubertussee, where stopping at the Wuchtelwirtin is worthwhile. Good nourishment is also recommended for the following climb through the Fadental on gravel. The climb is not very long but partly quite steep. One last short counter climb to Mitterbach and you roll directly to the impressive basilica of Mariazell. Pure nature on this route with lots of culture at the end.
Starting point of the tour
Mariazell train station
Destination point of the tour
Basilica Mariazell
Route description Gravel tour culture in nature
From Mariazell train station (St. Sebastian) follow the bike path to Erlaufsee. Turn right there and continue along the state road to Mitterbach town center. Then follow the signs "Mariazellerbahn line" – first along the main road B20, which you leave after a few kilometers to the left and ride on a natural path via Sepplbauer up to Josefsberg (same named place). After the descent, the route turns right shortly before Wienerbruck – the small detour to the Ötscher base in Wienerbruck including Erlauf reservoir is worthwhile. Continuing on the route, follow the signposting "Annaberg Hubertussee route" and after passing JUFA and a short climb, reach the small town center of Annaberg.
About 1 km later, you turn right from the main road and follow a descending gravel path to the Walster spring. Further to Ulreichsberg and on partly very potholed asphalt, you find yourself in a dreamlike natural environment, which reaches its highlight with the arrival at Hubertussee. Riding almost all around the lake, you turn left and enter the Fadental where after a small descent the last, partly quite steep climb through the Schindlgraben and down to Mitterbach leads.
From there via St. Sebastian directly into the town center of Mariazell with the world-famous pilgrimage church.
