“Charge your batteries here” could have been taken from an advertisement slogan, had I not really felt this way up here: The Waldviertel forest district in Lower Austria, close to the northern border with the Czech Republic, is especially worth seeing at this time of year. With the Indian summer in full swing, the golden coloured leaves, the beautiful nature & warming rays of sunlight have more than animated us to travel here on this weekend in September. In German we say, “let your souls hang out among the tree tops”, or something like that. 😉 Well, it is actually possible to do so from one of the many modern lookout towers, offering a view over the entire forest & hiking district of the upper Waldviertel area.
Places such as “Blockheide Gmünd” or the swamplands of Schrems beckon us for a (nature) visit – mystical, special, all the ponds, rivers & forests often shrouded in mist and lending the area its special charm. The Waldviertel district, we learn, is full of hidden treasures ..
Hiking in the high north of Austria really means taking a distance from everyday life …
… even if “everyday life”, as in my case, is only one and a half hours away by car in the city of Krems an der Donau. The northern Waldviertel is worlds apart, its rhythm determined mostly by nature – people, we feel, are simply guests here in this pristine surroundings that can be explored in a myriad of options, including hiking, trekking, (motor) cycling or on horseback. We finally opt for three of the area’s most magnificent hiking trails, including the city of Litschau and its Herrensee lake walk, the “Blockheide Gmünd” nature granite park featuring huge rocky boulders as well as the wetlands around Schrems – there is even a small pool where you can cross part of the wetlands bare feet. Cool!
Powerful places: The hiking destination of the Upper Waldviertel leads you on to many beautiful spots like this one.
Here at the nature park “Blockheide Gmünd”, we try moving the so-called “wobble stones”: Massive granite boulders that sit atop others and may be moved if pushed or pulled from the right angle. Fascinating!
Off we go climbing one of the first lookout towers on our days of exploration: The Blockheide park Gmünd features views all across the Waldviertel and into the adjacent Czech Republic.
Of course, part of our experience is stopping for traditional food here in the north of Austria: Typical bread rolls spiced with salt & poppy seeds are served to us in Litschau.
Thank you, dear Otto Böhm for hosting us at the visitor information centre in Litschau and serving us “Mangerl” bread: We really enjoyed our time up here!
A walk around the Herrensee lake in Litschau works wonders … Peace … Tranquility … Heaven.
View of the city of Litschau overlooking Herrensee lake in one of the northernmost districts of Austria.
A mighty “ladder to heaven” set right in the wetlands around Schrems as well as typical northern hospitality at the “hemp villlage” Reingers: The Waldviertel does not cease to surprise you.
I told you: A lot of hidden – or indeed obvious? – treasures are offered here in the Waldviertel. Who would have thought that we were greeted so warmly at the hemp village Reingers (“No, we are not stoned here and no, we are not about consuming drugs either”, our guide laughs) – after all, the season has already come to an end two weeks ago. “During the summer months, between June and September, we had more than 2.000 people visit us”, she carries on to tell us with pride. “The hemp village grows in popularity.” Hemp, of course, being only used for tea, natural fibre insulation, etc. Of course!
Just before, the clear blue sky has beckoned us to walk the wetland trail in Schrems, including a visit to the “famous ladder to heaven”. The name unveils a mighty wood and steel structure including dozens of step “leading to heaven”: Once you reach the top above the trees, it is really what you feel like overlooking the entire northern Waldviertel district. Powerful places to connect with nature, …
The “ladder to heaven” reaches all the way above the tree tops and is one the area’s most magnificent viewing platforms.
Looking good: Views over the wetlands in Schrems …
… on a beautiful, sunny afternoon in Waldviertel, Lower Austria
Just a little later, we learn all there is to know about growing hemp for different purposes in the hemp village Reingers.
Of course, we must not forget to buy some fresh, organic hemp leaf tea there with special medicinal properties beneficial for our health … yes! 😀
Learning all there is to know, and feel, about the special character of place of the Lower Austrian Waldviertel … A destination truly worthwhile visiting!