Windigsteig
Tranquil forests, gentle hills, lush green meadows, fresh and clear waters invite you to explore the landscape in the market town of Windigsteig. Whether on foot, by bike or on horseback - the well-developed network of paths opens up the landscape to visitors and provides a memorable vacation experience. The scenic attractions, which are already expressed in the mountainous place names such as Waldberg, Lichtenberg and Rafingsberg, trigger positive moods in people through their unobtrusive tranquillity and idyllic beauty; they provide strength and energy. Everyone can find their own personal bliss here in nature.
The market town of Windigsteig with its twelve cadastral communities, nestled in the upper Thaya basin of the northern Waldviertel, extends over an area of 25.49 km² at an altitude of 480 - 550 meters above sea level. The municipality has approx. 1,100 inhabitants. Windigsteig is a parish with its own priest and a very lively parish life.
Numerous very active clubs - particularly well known: Educational and local heritage society, theater and cultural association, brass band and choir community - enliven social life in the community. The tourism association has been particularly active in recent years. On May 21, 2009, a network of hiking trails was opened which, with its numerous themed hiking trails of various lengths, meets the needs of all hiking enthusiasts. Under the motto "The Windigsteiger windmill begins to turn", various attractions were offered throughout the municipality at this opening and large, colorful models of metal windmills were set up. Since then, these wind turbines have been much-noticed eye-catchers at cultural monuments such as Meires Castle or at direct marketers of local products.
For hikers, there is a new footpath link from the district town of Waidhofen/Thaya, just 6 km away, to the municipality of Windigsteig. You can now follow in the footsteps of the former pilgrims along the Capuchin Way of the Cross via the original route from Waidhofen to the ruins of the old pilgrimage church of Maria Rafings and enjoy the magnificent panoramic view from the Rafingsberg.
Other leisure activities are available at the site of the very active curling club, where there is a natural ice rink and curling in winter and asphalt curling and skating in summer. A public sports facility with a natural swimming pond and the St. Nikolaus horse farm with riding facilities in Lichtenberg round off the leisure activities on offer. Two small museums, the Franz Ledinger pipe museum in Rafings and the bee garden and bee museum at the Stögerer apiary in Willings, are also well worth a visit.
There are two inns in the municipality and the Dangl wine tavern in Waldberg, which is popular beyond the local area. Overnight accommodation for guests is available from a private room landlord, the Bogg family in Kottschallings, with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The rest of the infrastructure in the village offers everything that makes a functioning residential area and a good vacation location: bus connection, doctor and hairdresser, kindergarten and elementary school, a store for daily needs and its own bank.
Even if Windigsteig, like the rest of the Waldviertel, is not developed in the sense of mass tourism, this fact can be decisive for people with today's increasingly important values.
