gpx_addressbase_17153
Today, 11.02.2026
Light rain
Wind speed1,8 km/h
Living Water Theme Trail
Hiking tour Starting from Water temple/water park or parking lot of Erlebnisalm Mönichkirchen
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 5,37 km
- Duration: 2:00 h
- Ascent: 232 m elevation gain
- Descent: 194 m elevation gain
The 2.7 km long theme trail invites children and adults to discover, explore, and experience the world of "living water" and its environment.
- Starting point of the tour
- Water temple/water park or parking lot of Erlebnisalm Mönichkirchen
- Tour destination
- Grenzplatz`l
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 5,37 km
- Duration: 2:00 h
- Ascent: 232 m elevation gain
- Descent: 194 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:2/6
- Overall experience:5/6
- Scenery:6/6
- Lowest point992 m
- Highest point1186 m
- Round tour
- Nice views
- With refreshment stops
- Suitable for families and children
Description
On the "living water" theme trail, you can engage with questions about the water cycle from rain through the source to the brook and pond.
Stations along the way:
- Mountain village Mönichkirchen
- Water temple/water park with salaerium
- Drinking station at the reservoir
- Show spring
- Pond on the Schwaig
- Biotope on the Schwaig
- Grenzplatz`l
The Roman water god Neptune, a sandstone sculpture from St. Margarethen and rocks from the Wechsel area greet hikers. In a clearing with a wide view into the Bucklige Welt, you can feel water and different soil types of the forest barefoot on the Kneipp and sensory footpath, such as gravel, pockerl, or stones. Inside a glass building, the salaerium, you are enveloped by a wonderful forest scent and gentle trickling sounds. The brine dripping over twigs enriches the air with fine salt particles, which have a healing effect on respiratory diseases when inhaled. Light moods provide relaxation. Here you can simply exhale, let your thoughts drift, and calm down. At the reservoir, you receive interesting information and questions about water supply and storage in past and present. At a small show spring in the forest, the filtering process of the water immediately after it emerges among stones through a pipe, and again through gravel, can be clearly followed before flowing to the drinking water storage. On the gentle meadows of the Mönichkirchner Schwaig, you finally reach a pond fed by the Wechsel spring, with drinking water quality used as fire-fighting water and for piste snowmaking in winter. A biotope next to the pond is home to a vast number of animals, explained on a display board. At the Grenzbacherl Lower Austria - Styria, you can rest well and enjoy a meal in the Alpine huts before making your way back down to the village, engaging with questions about the water cycle from rain through the source to the brook and pond.
- 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. Bring your mobile phone and save the emergency number for mountain rescue: 140
- Route description From the parking lot of Erlebnisalm Mönichkirchen, it takes about five minutes to reach the water temple/water park. Here, the Kneipp & sensory footpath and the salaerium invite you to try them out and linger. Afterwards, the path leads steadily but gently uphill towards Mönichkirchner Schwaig, where there are stations along the way on the topic of "living water."
- Parking Parking lot of the Sonnenbahn Mönichkirchen.
- Getting there Drive by car from Vienna via the A2, at the Edlitz exit merge onto Wechsel Str./B54 towards Aspang and follow the road B54 to Mönichkirchen. Drive by car from Graz via the A2, at the Knoten Graz-Ost exit turn left onto A2/E66 towards Vienna/Gleisdorf/Laßnitzhöhe/Hungary and continue on A2At exit 95-Pinggau, drive towards Friedberg/B63, Haideggendorf, at the roundabout take the third exit onto B63, right onto B54 and follow the road to Mönichkirchen.Park at the valley station of the Sonnenbahn Mönichkirchen and walk towards the water park.
- Public transport Take the train from Vienna via Wr. Neustadt to Aspang Markt. Then continue by bus to Mönichkirchen until the stop "Hotel Binder". Take the train from Graz to Aspang Markt. Then continue by bus to Mönichkirchen until the stop "Hotel Binder".Then walk to the valley station of the Sonnenbahn Mönichkirchen and head towards the water park. Further information at www.oebb.at
- Editor’s tip For a longer stay, overnight accommodation is offered at the Alpenhotel Enzian or the Bed & Breakfast Koderholt!
Recommended period
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Current weather on site
3° to 7°
1° to 6°
Tomorrow, 12.02.2026
Cloudy
Wind speed2,1 km/h
Further information:
Market town Mönichkirchen
Municipal office no. 18, 2872 Mönichkirchen, www.moenichkirchen.at
Vienna Alps in Lower Austria, www.wieneralpen.at, +43 / 2622 / 78960