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Today, 11.02.2026
Light rain
Wind speed1,0 km/h
Francis path small round: Pitten - Bad Erlach - Pitten
Hiking tour Starting from Pitten, Market square
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 11,86 km
- Duration: 3:10 h
- Ascent: 193 m elevation gain
- Descent: 193 m elevation gain
This spiritual-cultural pilgrimage circular route at the gateway to the Bucklige Welt leads on easily passable paths, with some gentle inclines, through a varied landscape, passing sights.
- Starting point of the tour
- Pitten, Market square
- Tour destination
- Pitten, Market square
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 11,86 km
- Duration: 3:10 h
- Ascent: 193 m elevation gain
- Descent: 193 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:3/6
- Overall experience:4/6
- Scenery:5/6
- Lowest point309 m
- Highest point442 m
- Round tour
- With refreshment stops
- Accessibility by train and bus
Description
The circular hiking trail leads along easy paths, some with slight ascents, through a varied landscape, past sights, some of which refer to the life and work of St. Francis of Assisi.
In Pitten, it is the Creation Trail, a nature trail as an oasis of peace and contemplation along the Desbordesstiege to the mountain and rock church and on to the tower museum. In Bad Erlach it is the Antonius Church. St. Anthony of Padua was the first theological teacher of the Franciscans in Assisi. The Klemens Maria Hofbauer grammar school in Katzelsdorf was once a Franciscan monastery. The Capuchin or Jakobskirche was also a Franciscan monastery. The friar community invites people to the annual Portiuncula Church Day, which commemorates the origins of the Franciscan movement in Assisi. The "Glass Way of the Cross" in Linsberg/Bad Erlach invites you to follow Jesus' last journey through life and suffering and recalls his stigmata, which St. Francis of Assisi was also allowed to receive in La Verna. At the Mater Salvatoris convalescent nursing and residential home in Brunn/Bad Erlach, people are cared for with dignity until the end. St. Francis also once cared for the sick and lepers.
- Equipment Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes adapted to the route, take sun and rain protection as well as water and a snack. Take your mobile phone and save the emergency number for mountain rescue: 140
- Route description Pitten:Market square (main square) - Aspangerstraße - Bergstraße - Desbordes stairs (Creation path) - Bergstraße (Mountain church/St. George, Rock church, Tower museum of St. George) - Bergstraße - Castle path (Pitten castle/no visit possible) Bad Erlach:Castle path (junction to Ziegelofen and Walpersbach possible) - Hubertus chapel - Brombergerstraße - Main street (Hacker house, parish church/St. Anthony) - Riverside path - Legend path - Wiener Neustadt street - Left mill path (stork chimney) - Old alley (local history museum) - Black path - At the old stream - Underpass Aspang railway - Connecting path to BrunnerstraßeBad Erlach / Linsberg:Thermal path (Glass Way of the Cross, Ulrich church, forest cemetery) - Forest paths - Field pathsSchwarzau / Stfld: Field paths - Border path Bad Erlach / Brunn:Border path - Pitten street (recovery, residential and care home "Mater Salvatoris")Pitten:At Krampenstein - Sheep slopes - Kreith valley path (flood chapel) - Railway street - Alley lane (rose garden, parsonage with arcade courtyard and parish church/St. Martin) - Alley lane - Market square - (junction Wiener Neustadt street to regional museum PIZ 1000 possible) - Aspanger street - Bergstraße - Desbordes stairs (Creation path)
- Parking Free parking spaces are available in the municipalities. Observe regulations for short-term parking.
- Getting there From Vienna:A2, exit Wiener Neustadt South (S4) towards B54, turn off towards Bad Erlach and PittenFrom Graz:A2, exit Seebenstein - B54 - Sautern - Pitten
- Public transport There is a train station in Pitten and Bad Erlach.More information can be found at www.oebb.at and www.vor.at
- Editor’s tip Pilgrim guidance can be requested from Johann Weik: j.weik@gmx.atIt is recommended to walk the path counterclockwise, following the direction of the arrows.Along the pilgrimage routes, there are various sculptures, wayside shrines and picture panels inviting you to pause.On the way, there are many places to stop for food and accommodation.
Recommended period
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Current weather on site
5° to 11°
3° to 8°
Tomorrow, 12.02.2026
Cloudy
Wind speed1,3 km/h
Vienna Alps in Lower Austria, www.wieneralpen.at, +43 / 2622 / 78960
Opening hours: Mon - Thu 08:30 - 16:00 / Fri 08:30 - 13:00
Francis path
j.weik@gmx.at