Wilhering: Farmers’ and Wood-Cutters’ Loop Trail

Description:
SPIRITUAL HIKING ON THE DONAUSTEIG:

The Cistercian Abbey of Wilhering is located on the Way of St. James Upper Austria. East-West-North Route. The Cistercians emerged as a Benedictine reform branch in the 12th century in order to live more simply. Bernard of Clairvaux was particularly important for the further development of this order. From him comes the letter to his former monk Pope Eugene III: "Yes he who deals ill with himself, to whom can he be good? So remember: Treat yourself well. I don't say do it always, I don't say do it often, but I do say do it once in a while. Be there for yourself as you are for everyone else."

History of the Abbey:
In 1146 the foundation of the monastery was made by the Lords of Wilhering. The monastery was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1733, but was magnificently rebuilt. In 1940, the monastery was expropriated under the National Socialist regime. The monks returned to Wilhering after the end of the war.

"Spiritual Centre of Awakening: 
In 1995 the "Spiritual Youth Centre of Awakening" was established. It is run by an association comprising Wilhering Abbey, various religious communities and individual members. On a self-catering basis with simple overnight accommodation, it is popular with many groups.

Tip - a look at the splendour of the flowers in the monastery nursery is a delight. Those interested can create their own perfume here and take it home.

I take with me on the "peasant and woodcutter's round" the text by Bernhard von Clairvaux: 
"Yes, he who treats himself badly, to whom can he be good? So remember: Treat yourself. I don't say do it always, I don't say do it often, but I do say do it once in a while. Be there for yourself as you are there for everyone else."

 

Directions:
From the starting point (ferry landing stage) in Wilhering we do not follow Donausteig Trail, but walk uphill towards the federal road. We follow the road towards Linz, walk past the municipal office and take a right turn after some 100 metres. We walk uphill in-between two houses and keep to the right. We climb the hill on a country lane and enjoy a nice view of Ottensheim and Wilhering. On the other side of the hill we keep to the left after a farm house and take a right turn uphill into Kürnberg Forest after a large company building. We cross the forest and turn westwards after some 3.5 kilometres. The trail leads downhill again and into the long-stretched settlement of Mühlbach. The last section before the houses is a nice narrow pass with a short theme trail. We take a right turn into Lindenweg at a guesthouse and follow the road that merges into a country lane after the last house. Through fields we head for the summit and having crossed it we get to Schönering. We take the underpass of Eferding federal road and continue straight. We take a left turn after the secondary school and keep the present direction until we leave the village at the last farm house. On a gravel-covered trail we hike past another farm (Piesmayr) and keep to the right. Now the trail leads through the cultured landscape and past a guesthouse back towards the Danube. The trail follows the road in north-eastern direction. We take a left turn towards Fall or Ottensheim power station resp. at the next crossing. From Fall we take Donausteig Trail back to Wilhering.

Tip:

Wonderful view at Rosenfeld over the foothills of the Alps, into the Danube valley, into the Mühlviertel up to the Pöstlingberg, panoramic view up to the Alps at the 1000-year-old lime tree natural monument, possibility to visit the Majadini alpacas by appointment, large playground in the village of Schönering with fitness park, culturally interesting Gothic church of St. Stephan with net ribbed vault, shortcut via renaturation of Roßbach or "DementFit" trail.
Worthwhile detour to the power station and the fish migration aid; fish nature trail with 40 'display boards about the native fish species in the Danube, Roman rest area, wire rope bridge, leisure area by the Danube in Ufer, detour further via idyllic Treppelweg to Wilhering Abbey with rococo church, abbey museum, beautiful abbey park and tree nature trail.

 

Equipment:
Hiking backpack (incl. rain cover), sturdy shoes

Additional information:

Wilhering Municipal Office
Linzerstr. 14
4073 Wilhering
Tel.: 0043(0)7226/2255
Fax: 0043(0)7226/3095
E-mail: gemeinde@wilhering.ooe.gv.at
www.wilhering.at