THE PATH OF SALT - Linz to Rainbach im Mühlkreis

Historically interesting hike on partly lonely paths and asphalted side roads, sparsely signposted in the Czech Republic, very well signposted in Austria, again and again you come across the easily recognisable route of the former railway line. The horse-drawn railway hiking trail runs from Linz South Station (km 0) to St. Magdalena (km 5.8), on to Gallneukirchen (km 19.1), Neumarkt im Mühlkreis (km 35.4), Lest (km 40.2); Rainbach im Mühlkreis (km 60).
Interesting bridge structures, well-preserved railway guard's cottages and a mighty station building of our country's first railway can be seen on this hiking trail. As most of the hiking trail in the municipality of Rainbach runs along the former route of the horse-drawn railway, you often hike along existing railway embankments, often through shady forests. The museum in Kerschbaum has been set up in the former stables of Kerschbaum station. Here you will also find the first railway station restaurant on the European continent. It is open from May to October every Sunday from 1 - 4 pm  (in August Wed - Fri from 2 - 4 pm) Here you can take a nostalgic ride on the 500 metre-long original replica horse-drawn railway line.
 
TURNING
St. Madgalena: Gasthaus Auf der Wies, Gasthaus Lüftner, Oberwirt 
Neumarkt im Mühlkreis: Gasthaus Ochsenwirt
Kefermarkt/Lest: Gasthof Mader *** Lest/Kefermarkt
Rainbach im Mühlkreis: Gasthaus zur Pferdeeisenbahn, Gasthof Blumauer
 
UNTERKUNFT
Engerwitzdorf: Hotel Kreuzwirt
Gallneukirchen: Hotel Waldheimat
Kefermarkt/Lest: Gasthof Mader *** Kefermarkt
Freistadt: Hotel FREIGOLD in Freistadt, Hotel Hubertus, Pension Pirklbauer, Hotel Goldener Hirsch (Freistadt is 3.5 km from the hiking trail)
Rainbach im Mühlkreis: Gasthof Blumauer, Gasthof Scherb and at Reiterhof Stöglehner 
 
POINTS OF INTEREST
St. Magdalena: Linzer Pferdebahnpromenade St. Magdalena
Rainbach im Mühlkreis: large and small Edelbruck bridge, horse-drawn railway station with Kerschbaum horse-drawn railway museum, Rainbach bridges and viaducts, Kronbach bridge,
Waldburg: Waldburg Viaduct, Mini-Agrimundus Waldburg Museum
Freistadt: Salzhof Freistadt, Freistadt Castle Museum, Freistadt Brewery Gallery,