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Today, 11.02.2026
Light rain shower
Wind speed1,6 km/h
Pielachtal cycle path
Cycling tour Starting from Melk
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 56,93 km
- Duration: 4:00 h
- Ascent: 190 m elevation gain
- Descent: 1 m elevation gain
Relaxed cycling from Melk to Loich-Dobersnigg.
- Starting point of the tour
- Melk
- Tour destination
- Loich station, Dobersnigg district
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 56,93 km
- Duration: 4:00 h
- Ascent: 190 m elevation gain
- Descent: 1 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:2/6
- Overall experience:5/6
- Scenery:5/6
- Lowest point210 m
- Highest point399 m
- Stage tour
- With refreshment stops
- Suitable for families and children
Description
The Pielach river has carved its way over millennia, shaping an incomparable pre-Alpine valley. It springs near Schwarzenbach, right in the impressive Mostviertel mountain world, bubbling lively down into the land of gentle hills where it becomes wider and calmer. After its 70-kilometre journey, it flows into the Danube near Melk. Two kilometres west, directly in Melk, the Pielachtal cycle path begins, which leisurely and without major elevation changes opens up the romantic spots of the lower and middle Pielach valley. Especially in the lower course, the Pielach has largely escaped major regulation and hard reclamation and is still allowed to meander freely in parts. Steep banks, glide shores and gravel bars offer one of the last refuges for many endangered plants and animals. The middle Pielach valley – also called Dirndl valley – and home of Cardinal König – offers views of a lively rural cultural landscape. From Ober-Grafendorf to Loich, the cycle path follows the well-known Mariazell Railway and allows the combination of bike and train.
- Equipment No special requirements for the bikes. Helmets are mandatory for children under 12 years.
- Route description The Pielachtal cycle path starts at Melk Abbey, directly on the Danube cycle path. Up to Ober-Grafendorf, the cycle path mostly runs on low-traffic side roads through fields and meadows: the names of the villages along the route are: Spielberg, Pielach, Albrechtsberg, Loosdorf, Großsierning, Haunoldstein and Prinzersdorf.Shortly before Völlerndorf, you cross the main road and then cycle along the Pielach to Ebersdorf, where there are leisure and dining opportunities at Lake Ebersdorf. From Ebersdorf, you continue along the Pielach to the underpass of the Pielach bridge in Ober-Grafendorf. From there, you can make a detour to the town centre (café, inns, shopping opportunities, etc.).You then continue along the Pielach on the scenically attractive Pielach promenade. After one kilometre, you cross the Werksbach, and immediately afterwards turn left onto the asphalted path with the grass strip in the middle.Before Wantendorf, the route sharply turns left along the Pielach, before Klangen the riverside path merges into the priority road, to which you attach after turning right on Pielachstraße through Klangen. Before the railway crossing, turn left into Mühlbachgasse. Directly on the route are the TEH Herb Demonstration Garden (always freely accessible), the Motor Skills Park (free access) and the Weinburg Climbing Centre.At the next crossing, go straight ahead on the embankment path next to the Pielach, passing a small reservoir; then the route branches sharply right, passing through Doktor-Tschadek-Straße until you meet the tracks of the Mariazell Railway. Here you turn left and follow the rails to Grechtlerstraße, into which you turn right and then turn left onto the cycle path parallel to federal road 39. This leads you safely to Hofstetten-Grünau (gastronomy and accommodation).In the built-up area, you cross the B39 again, through Linhartstraße to the railway crossing, then left along the tracks to just before the station, turn right at the emergency station and immediately left again, continuing along Baesbergstraße. After leaving Hofstetten-Grünau, you first cross Kilber Straße, then the railway. Now begins a nice, narrow cycle path, which leads, accompanied by the Pielach and the tracks of the Mariazell Railway towards Mainburg.From here, continue past the Mainburg stop and alongside the railway to Rabenstein an der Pielach (gastronomy and accommodation). After passing under the road bridge, the cycle path bends up to it; a detour to cool off at the Pielachtal river and outdoor pool is recommended here. After crossing the Pielach at the cultural and community centre, the route merges through the narrow lane onto federal road in the town centre of Rabenstein an der Pielach. Worth seeing here is the baptismal church of Cardinal König.Keeping right, you cycle a short distance on the B 39 and then turn onto the pedestrian and cycle path that runs parallel to the federal road. After a short time, you cross it, and from now on the cycle path runs 3.5 kilometres parallel to the federal road. Shortly after the former Lindenhof pension, you leave the federal road and turn right onto the footbridge over the Pielach. After the bridge, keep left and reach Kirchberg via the Cardinal-König-Weg.Those who want to enjoy a view of Kirchberg from above turn shortly before the town centre (before the adventure pool) from Stolzgasse onto "Am Kirchenberg" and reach the viewing platform on Kirchenberg after a short ascent, located directly next to the parish church of Kirchberg an der Pielach. Visit the Skywalk, the Cardinal König bust, and one of the local businesses.In the centre of Kirchberg, you then cross the Pielach and the federal road. First, follow Bahnhofstraße, turn into Poststraße and pass through the courtyard of the castle to Turmweg, at the end of which you cross the railway and follow the tracks. After another crossing of the rails, the cycle path moves away from the railway line; before Mühlhof bridge, turn left. Cycling alongside the Pielach, you reach Loich station in Dobersnigg and the end of the cycle path (Pielachtal cider tavern).From here, you can cycle on the state road into the village of Loich – distance = 2 km, then another 2 km to Hammerlmühle.
- Parking Parking in Melk in the Wachauarena / Hubbrücke area
- Getting there West motorway A1, Melk exit
- Public transport Starting point: Melk Abbey, directly on the Danube cycle pathIn the upper section, the cycle path can be combined with the Mariazell Railway. The destination is Loich station.
- Editor’s tip Stop in the Dirndl valley at one of the numerous gastronomy establishments along the route and refresh yourself with a glass of dirndl juice.
Recommended period
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Current weather on site
3° to 7°
3° to 8°
Tomorrow, 12.02.2026
Light rain
Wind speed1,0 km/h
Mostviertel Tourism GmbH
Töpperschloss Neubruck, Neubruck 2/10, 3270 Scheibbs
T +43/7482/204 44, F +43/7482/204 44-87
info@mostviertel.at,www.mostviertel.at/radfahren