Homecoming in Faith, No. 20
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Hiking tour Starting from Schnaps Glass Museum Echsenbach, Kirchenberg 4, 3903 Echsenbach
The circular hiking trail leads mostly through mysterious forests and is worth seeing the Beichtvaterloch, the Heimkehrermarterl and an abandoned quarry with a groundwater pond and a water wheel.
The circular hiking trail leads mostly through mysterious forests and is worth seeing the Beichtvaterloch, the Heimkehrermarterl and an abandoned quarry with a groundwater pond and a water wheel.
The "Coming home in faith" hiking trail is a circular trail that starts at the Schnapps Glass Museum, the first and only one of its kind in Austria. Right at the start, you pass the parish church. This is dedicated to St. James the Elder. A special feature of the parish church is that it consists of 2 naves. The next attraction is the Confessor's Hole - a grotto with a statue of the Virgin Mary in the parish forest. This was a secret meeting place for Christians during the Lutheran Reformation. The trail continues to the Heimkehrermaterl, which was erected in 1976 by the ÖKB Echsenbach in memory of all those who returned home from the war. The path continues to an idyllic pond. There used to be a quarry here. Passing a water wheel, the trail continues through the forest to the recreational area, which invites you to linger, play and swim. In the archangel stone circle, a place of power, you can find peace and recharge your batteries.
Make sure when choosing your route that it matches your fitness level. Check if the restaurants you want to visit along the way are open. Pack your loaded mobile phone and maps in your backpack. For cross-border routes, always carry a passport or ID card.
Sturdy footwear, functional clothing, sun and rain protection, maps, if necessary telescopic poles, first aid kit (blister plasters), sufficient provisions (snacks, muesli bars, fruit, water).
Starting from the Schnaps Glass Museum, the path leads you past the parish church into Kirchengasse. After the first curve, turn right onto a narrow path into the parish forest. On your hike, you will discover a grotto on the right in the forest: the Confessor's Hole. You cross the L8099 and then stand directly in front of the Homecomers' Memorial. Above the memorial, turn left onto a field path. Along the Franz Joseph Railway with views of the Thaya, after about 1.5 kilometers you reach an idyllic pond – a little further in the forest there is a water wheel. You finally come out of the forest on a small hill, from where you can already see the recreational area. From there the path leads you to the widely visible parish church and back to the starting point, the Schnaps Glass Museum in Echsenbach.
Free parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the starting point at Gasthof Klang, at the municipal office or at the parish church.
Vienna: A 22 and S 5 or A1 and S 33 to Krems - B 37 to Zwettl - in Zwettl direction Waidhofen/Thaya on B 36 - in Wolfenstein turn onto L 65 and drive to Echsenbach.
Linz: A 7 towards Freistadt - S 10 to Freistadt - B 38 to Zwettl - in Zwettl direction Waidhofen/Thaya on B 36 - in Wolfenstein turn onto L 65 and drive to Echsenbach.
Take the train to Schwarzenau, then continue by regional bus 728 to Echsenbach. Your exact route can be planned with the route planner of VOR anachb.vor.at
Due to a great playground and geocaching points, this path is particularly suitable for hikes with children.
After the hike, you can refresh yourself at the Gasthof Klang, Marktplatz 6, 3903 Echsenbach, which is about 200 meters from the starting point.
Market Municipality of Echsenbach
3903 Echsenbach, Kirchenberg 6
(T) 02849 /8218
(E) gemeinde@echsenbach.at
(I) www.echsenbach.at
Waldviertel Tourism
3910 Zwettl, Sparkassenplatz 1/2/2
(T) +43 (0) 2822/54109
(E) info@waldviertel.at
(I) www.waldviertel.at
Letzte Änderung: 3 Aug 2026