Description
The Via Sacra, the „Holy Road“, is the oldest and probably also the most popular pilgrimage route in Austria. On the traditional route there is a wide range of places to stop and overnight as well as guided hikes.
For over 800 years, simple believers as well as princes and emperors have been pilgrimaging on the Via Sacra from Vienna to Mariazell, the most important pilgrimage site in Central Europe. The long tradition has left a rich pilgrimage heritage: from the southern outskirts of Vienna at Spinnerin am Kreuz to Mariazell line wayside shrines, chapels and historically significant churches. Spiritual stations include the Heiligenkreuz monastery, the Klein-Mariazell basilica, the Lilienfeld monastery as well as the pilgrimage church Annaberg on the first „Holy Mountain“ of the Ötscherland. Pilgrim-specialized inns have been providing for the believers from early on. Today, the certified Via Sacra hosts are the best addresses for stopping and overnight stays.
An advantage of this route is the „Mariazell bus“ (from Vienna/Südtiroler Platz via the A21 to Alland and further on the Via Sacra, from Lilienfeld also as an express route via West motorway/St. Pölten).
This bus connection makes it possible to hike the Via Sacra in sections as day hikes. Schedule at www.postbus.at.
Starting point of the tour
Brunn am Gebirge
Destination point of the tour
Mariazell
Route description Via Sacra: complete route from Brunn am Gebirge to Mariazell
Stage 1: Kaumberg - Hainfeld - Rohrbach - St. Veit - Lilienfeld
The Araburg (with hostel) is reached within an hour from Kaumberg. On the Via Sacra pilgrimage route one transits to the Gölsental following on to Hainfeld and Rohrbach, after which along the Gölsen one hikes to St. Veit with its -Dom of Gölsentals- (6 hours from Kaumberg). Further travel continues on the very rewarding mountain route with two increases through Staff - Wiesenbach - Vordereben to Lilienfeld (3 ¼ hours). Accommodation is in Lilienfeld.
Stage 2: Lilienfeld - Schrambach - Freiland - Lehenrotte - Türnitz - Annaberg.
The route in the Traisental, through Schrambach - Freiland - Lehenrotte, is accomplished consistently on flat walking and cycle paths, from Freiland to Dickenau partially along the Bundesstraße 20. From Dickenau one reaches, through the Eibentaler Klamm (gorges) forest paths and promenades, which far away from the road lead to Türnitz (4½ hours). Through the -Langen Wald- of the Türnitzschlucht, with its Baroque Stations of the Cross and the Chapel Siebenbrünn, a path along the main road leads up to Annabild-Reit (completed 2008). From there one reaches via a shortcut the Anna-Wallfahrtskirche (pilgrimage church) situated on the "1st Holy Mountain," with its view of the Ötscher, and which now accompanies the original Pilgrimage route (3 ½ to 4 hours). Accommodation is in Annaberg.
