Donausteig stage 4_G05 Mitterkirchen - Grein: “Summit assault - from Machland into the Strudengau”

This Donausteig stage begins in Mitterkirchen. The rural market is located near the Danube in the heart of the broad Danube plain of the Machland. The mighty flood protection systems of the Machland Dam make clear that living with the Danube also always means living with floods - an impressive start to the experience. From here, we hike on rural side roads through the wide fields of the fertile Machland plain. The Celtic village Mitterkirchen allows us an up-close insight into the world of the Celts – unique on the Donausteig! On the way onward, the edge of the Machland plain gradually approaches until we finally reach Baumgartenberg. Here, the magnificent “collegiate church without a monastery” reveals its secret and also tells of the settlement of the Mühlviertel.

In Baumgartenberg begins an attractive loop through the Mühlviertel hills to Burg Clam. Initially, the views stretch wide over the Machland, later small fields, quaint forests, and old wayside shrines shape the hilly landscape. Over rural side roads and old forest paths we reach Burg Clam - a true jewel! Fully furnished and inhabited by the Clam family since 1454, it allows an unusually personal access to history. From here, we hike past the idyllic market of Klam downhill through the wild and romantic Klamschlucht. Mystical rock formations and the splashing of water offer us inspiration - as once to famous poets and painters. In Saxen, we reach the edge of the Machland plain again.

The rural market Saxen is one of the oldest parishes in Upper Austria and amazes with its mighty hall church in the village center. Here begins our summit assault. Over old footpaths, rural estate roads, and leisurely forest paths, we quickly gain altitude. The ascent through the rural cultural landscape fascinates with its magnificent views and wonderful landscape impressions. At the Gobelwarte, we arrive at one of the seven Donausteig summits. We made it - congratulations! Here, on one side, the wide plain of Machland lies beneath us, and on the other, the narrow valley of the Strudengau with the historic town of Grein at our feet. We stand on the border between Machland and Strudengau. On the descent, after just a few minutes, we reach the Donausteig rest area “Gobelwarte” with its unique view - the vastness seems almost endless over the Machland to the Alps! Now it is time to say a final farewell to the Machland. A forested descent takes us down forest roads and hiking trails to the historic town of Grein, the gateway to the Strudengau. Conclusion: A summit assault of a special kind - simply amazing!

Discover the following special features with the Donausteig diary:

- Donausteig starting point “Mitterkirchen”

- Century project “Machlanddamm”

- Wallsee and the Danube limes

- Donausteig rest area “Keltendorf”

- Keltendorf Mitterkirchen - the cattle barons of the Hallstatt period

- Donausteig starting point “Baumgartenberg”

- Baumgartenberg - collegiate church without a monastery?

- Arbing - a piece of Bavaria

- ...

Download: Donausteig diary stage 4_G05 Mitterkirchen-Grein

From the Donausteig starting point on the edge of town in Mitterkirchen we follow the asphalt road over the flood dam eastwards to the Naarn bridge. Before the bridge, turn left upstream. At the Naarn bridge in Labing we cross the Naarn and follow the asphalt road east. After about 100 m, turn half-left. At the next intersection, leave the route of the previous Donausteig stage and turn right toward Lehen. At the end of the road on the right-hand side is the experience museum “Keltendorf Mitterkirchen”. At the T-junction, follow the left street through Kühofen to the former Baumgartenberg monastery. Here between the school sports fields, turn left and continue to cross the railway tracks. At the main road, go left. After about 150 m, a footpath branches off to the right and leads uphill - first along the forest edge, then left over the meadow. The descent into the forest starts to the right, but then leads in a sharp hook back left to the forest edge. From there, the right path takes us to the country inn Rechberger. Here, turn right and cross the main road at the car dealership. Afterwards, the paved farm road Steindl leads uphill over a ridge to the Donausteig rest area “White Cross”. At the striking wooden wayside cross at the next intersection, turn right and pass through a larger depression to a 180° right curve (shortly after the second creek). In the curve radius, leave the asphalt road to the left and follow the forest path to the Donausteig rest area “Mühlberg” in Sperken. Continue on the asphalt road downhill towards Klam. After about 250 m, turn half-right onto a forest path (bike path to Burg Clam) and reach Burg Clam after a few minutes. From the castle parking lot, follow the asphalt road downhill towards Klam, past the Donausteig starting point “Klam” to the bridge over the Klambach at the southern end of Klam. Turn right before the bridge. Now we hike through the Klamschlucht down to Au (part of Saxen). To the left, the settlement street brings us to the T-junction by the Sturmmühle cultural center. There, turn left on the village road towards Saxen. After about 800 m, turn right at the large intersection and follow this road almost straight to the music secondary school. On the north side of the school, a footpath leads directly into the town center of Saxen. We circle the parish church to the south and turn left at the intersection to the Auer inn. There, a footpath leads right uphill between the houses. We quickly leave the urban area. At the next hamlet (2 farms), keep uphill towards the north. Shortly before the striking Hubertus chapel, the path goes straight through the forest. Follow the farm road also straight uphill to the second farm. There, turn left downhill. Over a meadow and forest path, we reach a forest road above a large farm. Follow this to the right through the forest slightly uphill until we reach the votive chapel on the asphalt road. Turn right here and after 50 m again left - over this farm road, we reach the Gobelwarte, the highest point of the stage. From there, continue downhill along the asphalt road to its end at the Plank farm. Half-right, a footpath leads quickly downhill through the forest. At a house, reach a forest road, follow it left. After about 500 m, leave it again and hike on a serpentine path to the edge of Grein. Cross the railway tracks to reach the main road, which we follow to the Donausteig starting point “Grein” on the Danube promenade.

To facilitate your orientation, the Donausteig has its own orientation system - the description can be found here .

• A tour in the experience museum “Keltendorf Mitterkirchen” allows an up-close insight into the world of the Celts! 


• A castle tour at Burg Clam not only opens new access to the experience “Donausteig”, but also impresses with the personal connection of the Clam family living there!


• Discovery trips with a delightful stop! This tour passes directly by the following culinary partner: 
  Radlerbauernhof Moser in Mitterkirchen

WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz, Austria
Tel. +43(0)732/7277-800
Fax. +43(0)732/7277-804
info@donausteig.com

Market town of Mitterkirchen
4343 Mitterkirchen 50
Tel.: +43(0)7269/8255-0 Fax: ext. 25
gemeinde@mitterkirchen.ooe.gv.at
www.mitterkirchen.ooe.gv.at

Tourism Association Grein/Donau
Stadtplatz 7
4360 Grein
Tel./Fax: +43(0)7268/7055
info.grein@oberoesterreich.at
www.oberoesterreich.at/grein