Der Höchste im Weinviertel

Sturdy footwear, headgear

The Buschberg, at 491 meters the highest peak in the Weinviertel, offers a fascinating view over the impressive hilly landscape. The limestone cliffs of the Leiser Berge form, so to speak, the backbone of the region. Settled many thousands of years ago, the highest points of the landscape still bear the remains of ancient hill forts and fortifications. Archaeology and prehistory come to life at the Museum (MAMUZ) in Asparn a. d. Zaya. If you turn your gaze from Asparn/Z. toward the west, you can already see the two radar domes serving as landmarks on the ridge. The path leads there through fields and meadows, past sheep pastures and over wooded hills. It’s a landscape that takes on a different palette of colors in every season and captivates with its gentle beauty.

With a view of the front of the castle in Asparn/Z., turn left and you’ll soon find yourself on a dirt road. After a short climb, you’ll reach the so-called “Totenweg.” Now a paved farm road, it was already used thousands of years ago by early humans. At the fork in the road, turn left toward Schletz and pass an old quarry. From there, the path descends into the village and then follows the Schletzerbach stream. Where the paved path ends, turn left and head uphill to the Antoni Cross. A little further up, where the forest begins, you’ll be on the Weinviertel Way of St. James, enjoying a tranquil and shaded stretch of the trail.

As you emerge from the forest, the impressive radar dome comes into view, and you’ll follow the road to the Buschberg parking lot and the art-nature project “Sundial – 4 Seasons,” a work of art you can walk through and interact with.

You can now take a leisurely hike up the paved switchbacks to the Buschberg Hut, or choose the more challenging route to the left across the meadow. Once at the top, the size of the radar dome is impressive, and at the Schatzgräberhütte you can find out about the children’s program and events in the region. Now it’s time to treat yourself to some well-deserved refreshments at the Austrian Alpine Club’s lowest-altitude hut, and afterward, perhaps make a short detour to the summit cross.

Then head back down to the parking lot, take a few steps to the right on the road, and immediately turn left into the forest and through the game enclosure toward Michelstetten. To the right of the gate is a revolving door for hikers, and you’ll now be walking for a short distance on a paved farm road. The road then turns left toward the military radar station. Here, the hiking trail leads straight down into the forest. Further down, the road turns left, and here you must continue straight ahead on a narrow footpath downhill. You exit the game enclosure again through a turnstile and soon reach Michelstetten. Passing the Lower Austrian School Museum, the trail leads down into the village to the GH Achter.

Keep to the right there and continue along the road for a short distance, past the Robert Hofer wine tavern, across the intersection toward Buschberg until you reach a cross with three linden trees. Here, the trail leads back through the forest and later crosses the road. You are now on the upper section of the Totenweg, and after a short while, Asparn/Z. Castle comes back into view. Finally, you can enjoy traditional cuisine at GH Schulz. A visit to the wine cellar lane can also be a lovely way to round off the day.

Parking is available right at the MAMUZ parking lot.

At the animal enclosure in Michelstetten, you can take a detour to the “Katzenloch”—a small cave.