Monasteries Emperor Artists Route
Mountain bike tour Starting from Thallern/ Gumpoldskirchen
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Distance: 59,43 km
- Duration: 5:15 h
- Ascent: 599 m elevation gain
- Descent: 599 m elevation gain
A very special cycle route for touring with a "trekking e-bike" or "e-MTB bike" describes what made the Vienna Woods so special as the seat of monasteries, the imperial family and artists on a very varied 60 km route.
- Starting point of the tour
- Thallern/ Gumpoldskirchen
- Tour destination
- Thallern/ Gumpoldskirchen
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Distance: 59,43 km
- Duration: 5:15 h
- Ascent: 599 m elevation gain
- Descent: 599 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:5/6
- Overall experience:6/6
- Scenery:6/6
- Lowest point176 m
- Highest point433 m
- Round tour
- Nice views
- With refreshment stops
- Suitable for families and children
Description
Why heaven found a piece of earth here, how artists were inspired and where the emperor spent his summer holidays - all this can be experienced on the Kaiser Künstler Tour. Just "cycling along" .... is definitely not enough! ... The 60 km trekking route through the Vienna Woods is as varied as the abundance of Excursion destinations and traces of times gone by with a modern twist.
Numerous wine taverns, Wienerwald cycling partners and typical Wienerwald inns provide enjoyable stops along the way!
Highlights:
- along the Wiener Neustädter canal, the Schwechat river, the Mödlingbach stream
- through the sun-drenched vineyard landscape
- Spa and imperial town of Baden
- Beethoven House in Baden
- romantic Helenental valley
- Top Excursion Destinations: Laxenburg Palace Park, Römertherme Baden, Heiligenkreuz Abbey
- Mayerling Carmel (Mayerling hunting lodge)
- typical deciduous forest and wide meadows in the Vienna Woods Biosphere Reserve
- Sparbach Nature Park
- Route description Route description: Loop: The Monasteries Emperor Artists Route is a loop that offers varied and sporty riding pleasure on exciting combined cycle paths and trekking trails. The 60 km long loop should only be done with an e-trekking or e-mtb bike!We recommend starting in Gumpoldskirchen – ride to the Spa Cycle Path (EuroVelo 9) – continue south on the Spa Cycle Path to Pfaffstätten – at Pfaffstätten: turn off from EV9 immediately after the underpass of Badnerstraße (No. 212) to the intersection Hauptstraße/Rudolf-Kasper Gasse. From here follow the Vineyard Cycle Path to Pelzgasse in Baden (near Dobelhoffpark). Then enter the Helenental on the Helenental route = 1st section on Helenental Cycle Path. Note the turnoff to Augustinerhütte via the bridge over the Schwechat and continue on the Helenental route to Mayerling, then onwards to Heiligenkreuz and to Siegenfeld. In Siegenfeld briefly follow the Reisetberg route to a “Materl” – from there the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route is signed along Gaadener Straße B11. After a short ride on the federal road and a new cycle path section, you reach Hinterbrühl and Höldrichsmühle. From here continue on the Mödlingbach cycle path toward Mödling and further to Biedermannsdorf. Here the Spa Cycle Path (EuroVelo 9) crosses; ride further to the intersection Gumpoldskirchen/Vineyard Cycle Path – here continue again on the Vineyard Cycle Path section back to Gumpoldskirchen/Freigut Thallern.Surface: Asphalt 69%, gravel 19%, forest/meadow 12%Experience in stages:Those who want to take it easy choose the experience on the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route adapted to their riding skills."Emperor" stage: Laxenburg to Baden Character: Easy!The route runs comfortably along the Wiener Neustädter Canal on the Spa Cycle Path (EuroVelo 9). At Pfaffstätten, leave EuroVelo 9 immediately after the underpass of Badnerstraße No. 212 and ride to the intersection Hauptstraße/ Rudolf-Kasper Gasse. From here, follow the Vineyard Cycle Path or stay in the center of the imperial city Baden, where imperial delicacies await.Special highlight of the stage:*Tasting with lounge character: Freigut Thallern – regional wine shop, new spirit between monastery walls *Moonlight concerts _ Imperial City Baden"Monasteries" stage: Baden to HeiligenkreuzCharacter: Athletic!From Baden center, follow the Vineyard Cycle Path into the romantic Helenental. Note that after the bridge towards Augustinerhütte, you are already on an MTB/ trekking route along the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route, which demands quite a bit from the cyclist until Karmel Mayerling and further to Heiligenkreuz Abbey. This stage offers not only idyllic spots along the Schwechat but also hundreds of years of stories from the two monasteries for spiritual moments. Special highlight:*Refreshment away from bath & pool: cooling off at idyllic places by the Schwechat in Helenental – "poetic moment"*Heiligenkreuz Abbey: surprising: chart-topping monks"Artists" stage: Heiligenkreuz to LaxenburgCharacter: Athletic!Well fueled with the fine monastery cream slice, you start this stage on the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route via the Helenental and Reisetberg routes to Siegenfeld and further to Gaaden, where you briefly ride on the Badenerstraße B11. Enjoying the typical Vienna Woods deciduous forest, continue to Hinterbrühl, where it becomes clear why artists like Schubert and Beethoven were inspired here in this southern-tinged, elegant, and nature-loving landscape. After a stop at Höldrichsmühle under lindens for a Schubert cake, continue on the flat Mödlingbach route to Biedermannsdorf and from there back to Laxenburg.Special highlight: *Destination in Laxenburg – "Feel like the emperor on summer retreat: boat ride on the pond landscape of Laxenburg Castle Park"
- Public transport Alternative arrival by South Railway to Mödling or Badenby carby bicycle over the Triesting-Gölsental cycle path or the Danube cycle path (coming via Vienna and Schwechat) onto EuroVelo 9A and EuroVelo 9.
- Editor’s tip Overall a very varied and beautiful cycling route!The continuous signage "MTB-Trekking-Route_Monasteries Emperor Artists Route" guides the way starting from Laxenburg.Ride this route exclusively with an e-mtb bike or trekking e-bike!Use this first cycling route between Laxenburg, Gumpoldskirchen, and Pfaffstätten to warm up well so you can fully enjoy the rest of the route!You are especially on MTB trekking routes in forest areas. All MTB routes are separately signed and may sometimes be signed in the opposite direction; do not be confused by this and stick to the signage of the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route! We recommend doing the route in at least 2 stages. It is particularly convenient to stay overnight at one of the numerous bett + bike accommodations along the route!
Recommended period
Experience in stages:
Those who want to take it easy choose the experience on the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route adapted to their riding skills.
"Emperor" stage: Laxenburg to Baden
Character: Easy!
The route runs comfortably along the Wiener Neustädter Canal on the Spa Cycle Path (EuroVelo 9). At Pfaffstätten, leave EuroVelo 9 immediately after the underpass of Badnerstraße No. 212 and ride to the intersection Hauptstraße/ Rudolf-Kasper Gasse. From here, follow the Vineyard Cycle Path or stay in the center of the imperial city Baden, where imperial delicacies await.
Special highlight of the stage:
*Tasting with lounge character: Freigut Thallern – regional wine shop, new spirit between monastery walls
*Moonlight concerts _ Imperial City Baden
"Monasteries" stage: Baden to Heiligenkreuz
Character: Athletic!
From Baden center, follow the Vineyard Cycle Path into the romantic Helenental. Note that after the bridge towards Augustinerhütte, you are already on an MTB/trekking route along the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route, which demands quite a bit from the cyclist until Karmel Mayerling and further to Heiligenkreuz Abbey. This stage offers not only idyllic spots along the Schwechat but also hundreds of years of stories from the two monasteries for spiritual moments.
Special highlight:
*Refreshment away from bath & pool: cooling off at idyllic places by the Schwechat in Helenental – "poetic moment"
*Heiligenkreuz Abbey: surprising: chart-topping monks
"Artists" stage: Heiligenkreuz to Laxenburg
Character: Athletic!
Well fueled with the fine monastery cream slice, you start this stage on the Monasteries Emperor Artists Route via the Helenental and Reisetberg routes to Siegenfeld and further to Gaaden, where you briefly ride on the Badenerstraße B11. Enjoying the typical Vienna Woods deciduous forest, continue to Hinterbrühl, where it becomes clear why artists like Schubert and Beethoven were inspired here in this southern-tinged, elegant, and nature-loving landscape. After a stop at Höldrichsmühle under lindens for a Schubert cake, continue on the flat Mödlingbach route to Biedermannsdorf and from there back to Laxenburg.
Special highlight:
*Destination in Laxenburg – "Feel like the emperor on summer retreat: boat ride on the pond landscape of Laxenburg Castle Park"
Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026