Vienna Pilgrim Way: Entire route from Perchtoldsdorf to Mariazell

Description

To offer Mariazell pilgrims an alternative to the Via Sacra, since 1975 the Wiener Wallfahrerweg marked No. 06 was created by the Alpine Club long-distance hikers organization. This runs near the Via Sacra up to Kaumberg. Then it uses marked tourist paths and side streets over Unterberg - Rohr im Gebirge - St. Aegyd am Neuwald, away from the historic pilgrimage road. Variants exist between Maria Raisenmarkt and Unterberg via Weissenbach, Furth and Muggendorf. These routes touch on scenic highlights and avoid the strenuous ascent between Araburg and Kieneck. The Lower Austrian Pilgrim Way connects between Türnitz and Walster the Via Sacra pilgrimage path with the Wiener Wallfahrerweg.

Starting point of the tour

Perchtoldsdorf (from parish church) or Vienna-Rodaun (tram line 60)

Destination point of the tour

Mariazell

Route description Vienna Pilgrim Way: Entire route from Perchtoldsdorf to Mariazell

Day 1 stage: Perchtoldsdorf or Vienna-Rodaun to Mayerling
Stage length: 17.9 km, ascents: 678 m, descents: 613 m, walking time: 07:00 h
The path begins in Perchtoldsdorf at the parish church and leads via the Pastor Karl Seemann Promenade into the Föhrenberge Nature Park to Parapluieberg (Franz Ferdinand shelter, 01:15 h). Through light deciduous woods, it continues via Kammersteiner hut, Kugelwiese and Seewiese – passing Wildegg Castle – to Sittendorf (03:00 h). Via the Füllenberg dairy one comes to the motorway underpass, behind which lies the Heiligenkreuz cemetery. From the cemetery one is soon at the baroque Calvary of the Heiligenkreuz abbey, over which one reaches the abbey in a few minutes (01:30 h). From the abbey one finally reaches Mayerling (01:15 h).
Variant Vienna-Rodaun: In this variant one comes from Vienna-Rodaun (terminus tram line 60) via Schiller Promenade into the municipality of Perchtoldsdorf and goes – past the forest sanatorium – to the Perchtoldsdorf heath. At Parapluieberg one meets the ascent coming from Perchtoldsdorf.

 Day 2 stage: Mayerling via Klein-Mariazell to Kaumberg
Stage length: 24.9 km, ascents: 855 m, descents: 697 m, walking time: 09:00 h
From Mayerling paved paths or field paths lead to Maria Raisenmarkt. It continues through the forest to Holzschlag (@ 02:00 h) and over Nöstach to the pilgrimage church Hafnerberg (01:15 h). The Vienna Pilgrim Way leads from Hafnerberg via beautiful high paths to the active Klein-Mariazell abbey (02:00 h) and further to Kaumberg (03:45 h).
Southern variants via Peilstein to Rohr im Gebirge: From Holzschlag to Peilsteinhaus, over Neuhaus to Weissenbach on the Triesting and to Furth/Schromenau (03:45 h). Here further path division – direct route through Further- and Staffgraben, steep ascent to Kieneck with the Gentian hut (04:00 h) and to Unterberghaus (02:45 h). Easier is the hike in Steinwandgraben via the Jagasitz/Kreuth inn to Thal in Muggendorf and to Unterberghaus (Schromenau – Unterberg 06:30 h). Attention: the southern variants require a different stage division of the overall route.
Valley variant Via Sacra to Kaumberg: From Hafnerberg the Via Sacra runs via Altenmarkt and Thenneberg to Kaumberg.

 Day 3 stage: Kaumberg to Rohr
Stage length: 24.9 km, ascents: 1,309 m, descents: 1,118 m, walking time: 10:45 h
This stage is demanding and requires stamina and fitness: over the mountains several ascents and descents in total 1,309 ascent meters and 24.9 kilometers length! From Kaumberg you comfortably reach the picturesque ruins of Araburg. Shortly after, the Vienna Pilgrim Way leaves the common route with the Via Sacra (which continues into the Gölsental to Hainfeld) and turns south towards Rohr im Gebirge. There follows a longer lonely ridge hike with steep ascents over Veiglkogel and Reingupf to Kieneck with the Gentian hut (04:45 h). You are now on alpine terrain over 1,000 meters above sea level. Caution in bad weather. After the Gentian hut the route continues on alpine terrain to Bettelmann cross and the shelter on Unterberg (02:45 h). Here you have reached the alpine high point of this tour. Now it goes over forest paths down to the valley to the former inn Gries and alongside the road further to Rohr im Gebirge (03:15 h).

 Day 4 stage: Rohr to St. Aegyd
Stage length: 20.6 km, ascents: 603 m, descents: 694 m, walking time: 07:15 h
A simple hiking trail leads from Rohr im Gebirge to Kalte Kuchl in Kleinzell with the Alpine inn Rieder (01:45 h). Attention: in good weather there are many motorcyclists here! From now on begins a hike in a scenically beautiful but very secluded area without catering options. From Kalte Kuchl with little altitude difference via Werasöd into the lonely grounds of the Green and Dry Schwarza (01:30 h). From Tiefental it goes through the Finstergrundgraben to the first slightly hilly upward section of this stage, over a saddle past the neobaroque castle Hochreit built in 1888 by Wittgenstein with a view into the Traisen valley (01:30 h). Over the Hochreit farm in Amt Mitterbach one reaches the Seebach valley. From the Mosbach farm one takes the local road to St. Aegyd, passes the station and soon reaches the center of St. Aegyd (02:30 h).

 Day 5 stage: St. Aegyd to Mariazell
Stage length: 27.1 km, ascents: 869 m, descents: 586 m, walking time: 09:15 h
The forest ditch of the Unrechttraisen leads – increasing more steeply only at the end – to Kernhofer Gscheid (03:30 h). From St. Aegyd there is also the option to reach Gscheid via Kernhof. After Gscheid follows a road section, after which one turns into a forest road and enters Walster valley via Krumbach saddle (junction of Falkenschlucht trail from Türnitz). The route continues along Hubertus lake (on asphalt) to Bruder Klaus church (02:30 h). From here one walks westwards in Walster valley to the turnoff to the moderately strenuous Habertheuersattel. Once there, one descends to Sebastiani path and Rosary path and continues on this to the Mariazell pilgrimage church (03:15 h from Walstern).