gpx_addressbase_16370
Heart Stone Route - Yspertal No. 34
Hiking tour Starting from Ysper, Market square
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 9,13 km
- Duration: 3:00 h
- Ascent: 373 m elevation gain
- Descent: 373 m elevation gain
The strange stone shapes of the Ysper valley have always fascinated people, as numerous legends and myths prove. Their secrets have not yet been revealed. The 5 m high Heart Stone - after which two circular hiking routes are named - reminds some of the human organ, while others - inclined to geomancy and esotericism - recognize female forms and life symbols here; they consider the granite block a double cult stone. In any case, it is a highly interesting stop on a round route that also leads to other strange stone figures, such as the "Skull" - which can be climbed on a staircase - or the "Stone Kornmandl". A route that one gladly remembers.
- Starting point of the tour
- Ysper, Market square
- Tour destination
- Ysper, Market square
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 9,13 km
- Duration: 3:00 h
- Ascent: 373 m elevation gain
- Descent: 373 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:4/6
- Overall experience:5/6
- Scenery:5/6
- Lowest point500 m
- Highest point823 m
- Round tour
- Nice views
- With refreshment stops
Description
Ysper - forest nature trail past stone "riding horses", "sliding stones", to the "Stone Kornmandl" and the rock castle "Life and Death" (= Skull and Dragon Stone) to the Heart Stone.
The Heart Stone is a so-called pass-through stone of 5 meters, which at first glance immediately resembles a standing human heart.
Oral tradition and old folk belief say that the Heart Stone is a female double cult site, since passing through it serves fertility but also the shedding of diseases, sufferings, bad things, and sins.
- Route description From Ysper, the path leads along the road towards St. Oswald to the entrance of the forest nature trail; then follow the marking, and after about 400 m the path branches off to the left onto a gravel road, from where it goes uphill on beautiful forest paths through tall mixed forests to the Weißberg. There it joins the circular route from St. Oswald (see route No. 11). Stages include the "Large Riding Stone" and the legendary "Stone Kornmandl". Shortly afterwards, near the tool shed, a short side path leads to the "Skull" and the Weißberg cross. Back at the shed, continue on the path to the imposing "Heart Stone". There the paths split again towards St. Oswald and Ysper. Walking a few hundred meters towards Dorfstetten, you will see the Hauswiesenmoor (special plant world – please do not enter!). On the return route, you pass some viewpoints, encounter the panorama path and the forest nature trail, and reach the market square of Ysper again.
- Parking Market square in Ysper.
- Getting there A1 exit Ybbs - Danube bridge Persenbeug - B36 into the Ysper valley
Recommended period
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
TVB Ysper-Weitental
3683 Yspertal, Hauptstraße 9
(T) +43 7415 6767-25
(E) info.yw@waldviertel.at
Waldviertel Tourism
3910 Zwettl, Sparkassenplatz 1/2/2
(T) +43 2822 54109
(E) info@waldviertel.at
(I) www.waldviertel.at
Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026