Waldenstein

The Waldviertel municipality of Waldenstein, south of Gmünd, is a well-known place of pilgrimage. The municipal area includes the cadastral communities of Albrechts, Groß-Höbarten, Groß-Neusiedl and Grünbach as well as Klein-Ruprechts, Waldenstein and Zehenthöf. Sport, nature and culture are on the agenda in Waldenstein all year round - with its own sports and culture center, a graduation facility with a natural bathing pond and many beautiful hiking trails.

Waldenstein: excursion tips & action

Tennis, squash and soccer can be played in the Waldenstein sports and culture center - there is now also a padel court and a bouldering block for sporting activities. Numerous events are also held in the culture hall. Well-being and health are the top priorities in the - free to use - graduation facility with landscaped pond and barefoot course. A 13-kilometre Kneipp circular hiking trail leads through all seven cadastral communities of Waldenstein. And speaking of hiking: Many relaxing hiking trails lead through and around Waldenstein.

Waldenstein pilgrimage site with church & museum: "Maria with the hoe"

Today's church in Waldenstein developed over centuries from a Romanesque castle chapel, which was continually expanded. The parish has been a popular place of pilgrimage since 1883. Thousands of pilgrims make the pilgrimage to Our Lady of Grace in Waldenstein every year. The statue of the Virgin Mary, which is venerated at the high altar, is carved from lime wood. The image shows Mary with the baby Jesus and a hoe stuck in her shoulder.

Opposite the pilgrimage church is a museum that is also dedicated to this theme. So why is there a wooden hoe in the shoulder of the baby Jesus? The depiction is intended to illustrate the following legend: Reformation nobles in Bohemia wanted to smash, burn and sink the statue of the Virgin Mary erected in the monastery church. According to legend, however, all attacks failed - which is why the statue survived the ages.