The most beautiful pilgrimage routes

The Way of St James in Lower Austria

It is the most famous pilgrimage route in the world: the Way of St. James. Covering around 360 kilometres, you can also hike in Lower Austria on three different routes in the footsteps of St. James the Apostle.

• Starting in Drasenhofen on the border with Czechia, the Weinviertel Way of St. James leads via the wine town of Poysdorf to Buschberg, the highest point in the Weinviertel, before heading south. On the way through idyllic wine-growing areas, you hike to churches and chapels such as the Maria Oberleis pilgrimage church or the Maria Trost pilgrimage church before reaching the Danube and the town of Krems, which is the destination of the Weinviertel Way of St. James. From here, you can continue your pilgrimage on the Danube Way of St. James.
• The Way of St. James through the Roman remains of Carnuntum begins at the pilgrimage church of Maria am Birnbaum in Wolfsthal on the border with Slovakia and leads via Schwechat to Vienna, where it joins the Vienna Way of St. James after 59 kilometres and 2 days' walking.
• From Purkersdorf, the Way of St. James along the Danube continues through the Vienna Woods and past the monasteries of Herzogenburg, Göttweigand Melk to the famous pilgrimage site of Maria Taferl. 

Austria's oldest pilgrimage route: the Via Sacra

From the federal capital Vienna to Mariazell, Austria's most famous place of pilgrimage has been known as the "Holy Road" for over 800 years. It stretches over 120 kilometres, passing the impressive Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz and the Carmelite monastery of Mayerling through the Vienna Woods and the Mostviertel region – and leads not only to oneself, but also to cultural monuments, churches, chapels and monasteries and through one of the most beautiful landscapes in Lower Austria. Traditional inns and hostels along the route invite you to stop and rest.

• Special feature: The reconciliation tree in Hinterbrühl was once used by pilgrims as a landmark. Today, the old umbrella pine with a crucifix is a destination for all pilgrims who are in conflict with each other. Because here you have to reconcile before continuing your pilgrimage on the Via Sacra!
• Interesting fact: The Via Sacra is 121 km long and leads from Brunn am Gebirge to Mariazell; due to its partly alpine nature, this is a challenging pilgrimage route and is only recommended for experienced hikers!
• Our tip: Guided pilgrimage hike: Experienced pilgrimage guides will lead you on your hike to Mariazell and invite you to pause, reflect and contemplate with contemplations and exercises during the pilgrimage.

On the path of life through the southern Waldviertel region

The Lebensweg (Path of Life) in the southern Waldviertel region is a journey through the stages of life. The Lebensweg connects the Ysper Valley with the Weitental and the Krems Valley ("Kremstal" in German) in a figure-of-eight loop, offering visitors the opportunity to reflect on their own life journey. Each of the 13 stages reflects a section of life – from birth in Nöchling to youth in Gutenbrunn to wisdom in old age in Maria Laach. The individual stages of life are to be reflected upon during this pilgrimage. Along the way, the beauty of the southern Waldviertel region unfolds with its cultural treasures and hidden natural beauty, inviting you to discover and linger.

• Special feature: Along the way, you will repeatedly find "heart points": these are special places or sights along the route, such as the Herzstein near Ysper, the viaduct at Weyrerteich or the herb and snack garden in St. Oswald.
• Good to know: The Lebensweg is 260 km long in total and can be walked in 13 stages. The individual stages are of medium difficulty and therefore also suitable for fit beginners.
• Tip: The Lebensweg is a very customisable pilgrimage route, which many hikers like to walk in individual sections. 

The Francis Way in Lower Austria

The Franziskusweg trail in Lower Austria invites you on a special journey: covering a total of 140 kilometres through the Weinviertel region and almost 40 kilometres in two stages of different lengths through the Vienna Alps, hikers can experience the gently rolling landscape with its typical vineyards and idyllic wine cellar lanes in the Weinviertel region. 
In the alpine south, on the other hand, you can hike past many cultural sights such as St.Anthony's Church and the Klemens Maria Hofbauer Gymnasium through the Vienna Alps. All three routes have in common that they showcase the incomparable natural beauty and rich history of their respective regions. The Franziskusweg is an invitation to slow down and reflect, as well as to search for spirituality – in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.

The newest pilgrimage route: the Bernhardiweg

In the heart of Lower Austria's Waldviertel region, the Bernhardiweg winds its way through the picturesque landscapes around Zwettl. The pilgrimage route connects the parishes of the Cistercian monastery of Zwettl over a distance of around 124.6 kilometres and follows in the footsteps of the order's founder, Bernard of Clairvaux. The Bernhardiweg invites pilgrims not only to spiritual contemplation, but also to conscious deceleration, as a kind of "wellness for body and soul".

• Interesting fact: Zwettl Abbey has existed without interruption since its foundation in 1138 and is the third oldest Cistercian abbey in the world.
• Tip: You can easily plan the length of each stage and how many days you want to walk depending on the time you have available and your physical condition, as the trail is designed so that you can complete it in 4, 5 or 6 days, starting from any point!

Other recommended pilgrimage routes in Lower Austria

• The 78 km Sonntagbergweg is a moderately difficult circular pilgrimage route: from the Sonntagberg Basilica to the Holy Trinity, it leads through the northern Mostviertel region, across the Danube to the Maria Taferl Basilica and back again. 
• The Via Trinitatis also starts in Sonntagberg, but leads 74 km into the alpine south of the Mostviertel region and is correspondingly challenging. 
• The 115 km long Wiener Wallfahrerweg 06 is often referred to as the "younger", sportier version of the historic Via Sacra. It also leads from Vienna to Mariazell, but runs through the more alpine south – the route passes through unspoilt forests and meadows to the place of pilgrimage. 
• The Pielachtal Pilgrimage Trail also leads to Mariazell: the 80 km are a challenging route, but they lead through the charming Alpine foothills, and if you run out of steam along the way, the Mariazellerbahn railway runs along the route as a back-up! 
• Another pilgrimage route with great views is the moderately difficult Marienweg, a 35 km stage leading from Kirchschlag in the Bucklige Welt via Krumbach and St. Corona to Kirchberg am Wechsel. 
• The Klemens Maria Hofbauer Pilgrimage Route is dedicated to the important saint of the Catholic Church and, in his honour, leads from his birthplace Tasovice (8 km east of Znaim) via Retz and Eggenburg on a 150 km route through the Weinviertel to Vienna. 

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