Schindelmacherweg

From the starting point, head west, passing the community center and the Raiffeisenbank on your left, walking slightly uphill to a wayside shrine, where you’ll then hike through open countryside to the farm road “Graben.” Here, turn left and head uphill for about 150 meters, then turn right and follow winding paths through forests and meadows to the Kleiner Kamp. Passing the ruins of the former Lichtenwalln sawmill, follow the Kleiner Kamp downstream toward Leitenhof. Here, the trail leads downhill to the right, crossing a bridge over the Kamp again, where you then turn left through dense woodland toward Reitern. After leaving the forest, you’ll reach a fish pond with an adjoining livestock enclosure. Now the trail heads uphill again along the farm road toward Reitern. After a short stretch, the final leg of your hike begins. Alternating between forest and open fields, you’ll encounter interesting rock formations time and again as you make your way back to Schönbach. Just before Schönbach, you’ll find a rest area with fresh spring water near the so-called Mach Sawmill. Afterward, we recommend a visit to the Schönbach Monastery School Workshops and Laundry Museum (opening hours available at www.handwerk-erleben.at or 0664 15 46 470) and the Maria Rast pilgrimage church.

Take the A22 and S5 or S33 to Krems; continue on the B3; in Weißenkirchen in der Wachau, turn right toward Ottenschlag; in Ottenschlag, follow signs for Bad Traunstein; in Bad Traunstein, continue straight toward Schönbach