Grande Granite Loop: Stage 1

Starting place: 4085 Neustift im Mühlkreis

Destination: 4162 Julbach

Multi-day tour

Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz

Short description:

"Summit assault on the (core) mountains of the granite (high)land"

Quality of experience: ******

Recommended season:

March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October

Properties:

Multi-stage route
Scenic
Refreshment stops available
Cultural/historical value
Geological highlights
Botanical highlights
Faunistic highlights

Description:

From the deep Danube gorge, bike to the panoramic-view village Pfarrkirchen im Mühlkreis (840 m), at the southern summit of the (core) mountains! After a dreamlike descent with views of the Alps, the route follows the rural hilly landscape on the western flank of the ridge. The second summit assault leads you to the mixed forest summit of Ameisberg (941 m), the highest point of the (core) mountains! A varied fun descent and hilly ride take you to the northern end of the ridge. Afterwards, you cycle through gently rolling highlands with a harmonious forest-field mosaic to the secluded Kohlstatt. A magnificent start!

Highlights:

Europe's protected area Upper Danube Valley (Rare slope gorge forests)

Pfarrkirchen im Mühlkreis (highest village of the region, panoramic viewpoint)

Ameisberg (highest mountain of the region, observation tower)

Altenhof Castle (architectural jewel)

Accommodation: In a secluded Mühlviertel guesthouse

Directions:

The Upper Danube Valley – With over 90 km (!) one of the longest breakthrough valleys of the Danube. Located in the deep gorge of the Upper Danube Valley – at the Ranna estuary into the Danube – the remote Rannamühl is the starting point for this challenging summit assault stage. First, you warm up cycling downstream along the broad Danube river on quiet side roads. Around 1.7 km after Niederranna, the 550-meter ascent to the summit begins! The first third winds through shady mixed forest in switchbacks along the steep flank of the Danube Gorge. At the legendary Marsbach Castle, once a feared robber baron’s nest, the route climbs even steeper briefly. Then the landscape opens up – an initial sense of elevation provides a welcome feeling of success. Now lush meadows, fertile fields, scattered farm hamlets, small woods, ... pure Mühlviertel rural idyll! Over gentler farm tracks, it goes to a small hill with the mystical installation "Labyrinth of Transformation." The magic of the place naturally invites reflection on the transformation that multi-day bike tours here evoke. Cycling as philosophical inspiration! In the rhythm of the hills, you cycle uphill to the ridge in Emmerstorf. Here, a first view opens on the village of Hofkirchen in the center of a rolling high plateau. After a loop with regenerating descent and enjoyable trail mid-ascent, you stand at the edge of the historic market. Slightly above the village, the installation "Labyrinth of Encounter" recalls historical salt exchange and surprises with an amazing Alpine view! Along a panorama-rich field path, partly steep, you go to the next terrain level. The final climb goes through wonderful mixed mountain forest – initially on trail-like forest paths, finally on a quiet country road – to the panoramic-view village Pfarrkirchen. It is the highest village of the granite (high)land. At the forest edge above the village center, a magnificent panoramic viewpoint (840 m) awaits. Congratulations, you are standing on the southern summit of the (core) mountains! Gorgeous views down bring the sense of height and breathtaking Alpine views unlimited vastness. Then follows a 6 km dream descent full of bliss: historic forest trails with trail character, breathtaking Alpine views while asphalt surfing, flowy forest path fun, ... down to the scenic Altenhof Castle. The inhabited private castle on a terraced hill is an architectural jewel overall: avenue, garden complex, buildings, ...! Once it belonged to the lordship of the Falkensteiners, a powerful noble family largely involved in the development of the original Mühlviertel forests. The route now follows the rural hilly landscape on the western flank of the (core) mountains. After a short fun descent on a meadow path, you overcome a lively Mühlviertel-rural idyll hidden ravine with a substantial climb (160 meters elevation) to Schlag. In the rhythm of the hills, you rush down at speed with short counter ascents to the Aumühle. There begins the second summit assault (410 meters elevation)! Over natural field and meadow paths or lonely farm roads, you cycle past scattered farm hamlets up a ridge. With increasing height, panorama and sweat pores open up. The plateau of Amesedt allows welcome regeneration, then you dive into the summit forest. Short steep sections require riding skill. After a relaxed country road section, you climb through fantastic mixed forest with tricky places the last few elevation meters. At the foot of the forest-surrounded observation tower, you stand at the highest point (941 m) of the (core) mountains as well as the granite (high)land. Congratulations! The castle-like observation tower was built in 1903 for tourism reasons by the way. Today, the tower is irregularly accessible. A varied 3.5 km long descent brings a happy smile: short trail fun in the summit forest, then opens up a delightful scenic cinema at its finest. Mollmannsreith is the lowest point reached. A hilly crossing with 140 meters elevation gain and a fast 2 km descent leads you through lonely conifer forests and hidden farm settlements to Kollerschlag. For the attentive: The name part "-schlag" means "clearing" and recalls the time of development of the Mühlviertel primeval forests: Here at the northern end of the (core) mountains starts a last high excursion into the (core) mountains, a mountain loop with 150 meters elevation gain through shady mountain forests dotted with rural oases. From the farmstead Geretschlag, a gently rolling highland with a harmonious forest-field mosaic pleases to the secluded Kohlstatt. A magnificent start!

Tour and route information

Starting place: 4085 Neustift im Mühlkreis

Destination: 4162 Julbach

duration: 7h 10m

length: 64,3 km

Altitude difference (uphill): 1.730m

Altitude difference (downhill): 1.293m

Lowest point: 282m

Highest point: 937m

difficulty: difficult

condition: very difficult

panoramic view: Dreamtour

Paths covering:

Asphalt, Gravel, Other

Starting point: Rannamühl

Destination: Kohlstatt

further information:

Multi-day tour
Board possible

Along the trail

Ameisberg

Autohaus Stallinger

Under the motto "Ecologically clean", we were awarded the 1st ÖKO model company in Upper Austria in 1996.

Bakery/Pastry Shop/Panoramacafe Bauer

Bakery and confectionery
Panoramic café with conservatory and panoramic terrace.

Cafe-Konditorei Gabriel

For more than 100 years, Gabriel Bakery has been serving customers who love fine pastries and lovingly made cakes and tarts. We warmly welcome you to our bakery and café!

E-Ladestation für Fahrräder

The e-charging station is located on the north side of the municipal office and provides you with free electricity.

Farm Hochgattern

Find new energy at our farm. Our single organic farm is protected by the quiet location, especially for families. Even with your horses, you are welcome. A ride in the morning, walks through the woods and meadows, or just rest under the old apple tree. 2 Holiday Homes for up to 6 persons. Riding for beginners.
NEW: hunting arrowparours with 28 3-D animals. Direct entry at our house, large trainingplace, equipment rental and training services.

Ferienhof Lang Ewald und Johanna

Gästehaus Pension Lang

Gasthaus Höglinger

A typically Austrian tavern, located right in the center of Pfarrkirchen.
Excellent home-style cooking and the old-fashioned lounge offer a very special ambiance.

We recommend the delicious venison and fish dishes as well as the outdoor restaurant area in the warm season.

There is an direct connection to the hiking trail of the holiday region Donau-Ameisberg.

Restaurant - Sunnseit´n

Restaurant of the local golf club - open to the public

Gasthof Greiner

Gasthof Pröll "Wirt z'Karlsbach"

Gasthof Scherrer

Gasthof-Pension Draxler

We offer Austrian, down-to-earth food and all kinds of good wines from our rustic wine cellar. Which you can enjoy with our good Mühlviertler delicacies. Fantastic views of Europe's second longest river and the passing ships. Forget your everyday life, enjoy cosiness and tranquillity.

The gentle lapping of the water, the singing of the birds and the sun's rays winking through the leafy canopy. Our guest garden in the green invites you to linger. Our nature shows its best side especially in the Danube valley. Many excursion destinations await you, which you can hike to strengthen yourself.

Hildes Radlertreff

Cyclists' meeting on the Danube Cycle Path Passau-Vienna.

Hochgattern

Altitude 650 m

Holiday at the farm - whether old or young, families or grandparents with grandchildren, anyone can take advantage of a relaxing, stress-free holiday with us.

LOCATION:
Our stand-alone organic farm is in a quiet, sunny location on the edge of the forest.
Böhmerwald golf course 6 km, open-air swimming pool 6 km, "bee air" health centre 4 km, tennis, sauna, solarium 2 km, farming museum on the farm.

ACCOMMODATION:
2 separate holiday homes for 6 persons each, one located directly on the farm and another 200 meters from the farm
Secluded location with garden right on the edge of the forest

SPECIAL FEATURES WHICH CHARACTERISE OUR FARM:
While taking a trail ride or a carriage ride with our horses, fishing in the pond, mountain bike riding through the hilly landscape, seeing the animals in the barn or walking in the nearby forest, you'll be able to relax and forget the routine of everyday life.

ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR:
* Families with children
* Holiday with your own horse
Our farm is located on the beautiful Danube-Bohemian Forest riding trail network (6 stalls, 6 areas for fastening horses, paddock and riding arena)

Jausenstation Eschernhof

Traditionelle Hausmannskost, einheimische Köstlichkeiten, feine Jausen-Schmankerl und selbst gemachte Mehlspeisen: Dafür sind wir in der Region bekannt. Wir bieten unseren Gästen eine offene und ehrliche Küche. Auf Vorbestellung gibt es auch warme Speisen wie zB. Bratl in der Rein oder eine Variation aus verschiedenen Schnitzerln. Die Rohstoffe stammen natürlich aus der Region.

Wir beziehen unsere Produkte aus der Region. Unsere Lämmer (Juraschafe) verarbeiten wir im eigenen Betrieb. Unsere Ziegenmilchprodukte stammen ebenfalls aus dem eigenen Betrieb. Auf Anfrage gibt es Ziegenfrischkäse auch zum Mitnehmen.

Quelle: http://www.jausenstation-eschernhof.at

Landgasthaus - Cafe am Weiher

Thank you for visiting...

Nah & Frisch Wöß

Panoramablick Marsbach

Panoramic view of Pfarrkirchen

The Panoramablick is a viewing platform on a small hill, a five-minute walk from the village of Pfarrkirchen!

On a clear day, 47 church spires can be seen from the Panoramablick.
The distant view extends from the Linzerwald forest across the Alpine foothills to the northern Limestone Alps, from the Schneeberg in Lower Austria to the Dachstein and the Zugspitze in Bavaria.

The "Panoramaweg" hiking trail connects the viewing platform.

The new Viscope adventure telescope displays additional information in the viewer's field of vision. For example, when looking through it, you receive information about which mountain you are looking at, which village is currently visible in the respective picture.

For a deposit of 1 euro, you can enjoy the view through the Viscope for 2 minutes.

Castle of Altenhof

The castle of Altenhof was first mentioned documental in 1200 and since 1602, it is in the possession of the count's family Salburg-Falkenstein.

The castle with church, which is 600 m above the Rannatal and 3 km north of the Danube, is located on a terraced peak and was reconstructed after a fire in 1724.
It is situated in a fantastic and history-charged hiking area. The church of the castle is considered as the largest private church in Austria.

The castle of Altenhof disposes of comfortable holiday apartments and houses and offers a great ambience, a baroque church and beautiful premises for weddings, ceremonies and events.

Guided tours in the castle for groups only on appointment. Call us: +43 7285 262
Charge per person: 2 €

Schloss Marsbach Castle

The castle is situated on a narrow ridge that slopes steeply down to the Danube and has the character of a fortress. The location is so favourable that the Danube can be seen and controlled from Niederranna to the Schlögener Donauschlinge. This played an important role in monitoring Danube traffic and later for the robber barons.

Marsbach was first mentioned in a document in 1075 as "Morspah", making it the oldest aristocratic residence in the upper Mühlviertel. The castle is situated on a narrow ridge that slopes steeply down to the Danube and has the character of a fortress. The location is so favourable that the Danube can be seen and controlled from Niederranna to the Schlögener Donauschlinge. This played an important role in monitoring Danube traffic and later for the robber barons.

Marsbach was once the seat of a robber and rapacious family. Wernhard von Morspach, mentioned in 1187, belonged to this family. In the first years of the 13th century, the Marsbachers appear primarily in Passau documents, with Otto being named as a Passau ministerial in 1226.

Marsbach Castle, castrum marspach, was one of the fortresses that caused such damage to the Bishop of Passau that King Henry VI was prompted to take action against it in 1222 with a declaration of eighths. Henry of Marsbach was forced to hand over the castrum marpsach to the Bishop of Passau to make amends for the damage caused to the bishopric. The subjugation was repeated in 1255 by Otto von Marsbach. He wanted to take possession of Marbach Castle before the death of his father Ortolf, attacked the castle and chased his father away, who was forced to seek refuge in Passau. An arbitration ruling by Duke Henry of Bavaria, to which Otto had submitted, ended the dispute between father and son in 1268. However, Otto himself did not give up his claims and seized the castle in 1269, from where he made the Danube and the roads between Passau and Eferding unsafe as a robber baron together with Pilgrim von Falkenstein and Chunrad von Tannberg. 1529 The administration of Passau's possessions in the Mühllande (Mühlviertel) was moved to Marsbach. The former district court in Neufelden was also transferred to Marsbach. After the secularisation of the diocese of Passau, Marsbach came under Austrian administration, became a chamber estate in 1805 and was publicly auctioned off in 1824.

Stories about Marsbach
The Mortsbachers harmed their feudal lord, the Bishop of Passau, wherever they could. In 1222, they plundered Passau's property to such an extent that the imperial ban was imposed on them. Bishop Gebhard did not know how to defend himself against them. His successor, Bishop Rüdiger, however, marched on the castle with his army and forced Heinrich von Marsbach to hand it over to him until he had repaired the damage he had caused. However, nothing changed thereafter, except that the lords in the bold castle above the Danube, who were addicted to intrigue, quarrelling and feuding, also fell out with each other. Otto, for whom his father Ortolf had lived too long, attacked the castle one day with the Tannbergers and chased away the old man, who had to seek protection in Passau. According to the arbitration judgement, the misguided man was to leave the fortress with his father in return for a settlement and only receive it back after his death. But the father did not pay. Instead, he sold the castle to the Passau family so that nothing would fall to the thuggish young man after his death. When the neighbouring Falkensteins and Tannbergs also got involved in this affair, which was not unusual at the time, a feud between all parties was due. Rudolf of Habsburg summarily confiscated Marsbach in favour of the empire for breach of the peace and handed the property over to his son Albrecht. However, the people of Passau forced the duke to hand Marsbach over to them. The Marsbachers had long since died out when Othmar Oberheimer, = the last feudal knight =, established himself within the walls of the old castle. It was only after his execution that Marsbach once again belonged to the people of Passau, who established an administrative centre in the castle. Between 1561 and 1598, Bishop Urban had the already dilapidated complex rebuilt in the Renaissance style. After 1803, it became an imperial chamber estate and was auctioned off in 1824. In 1957, the castle was converted into a castle hotel. The hotel went bankrupt and the castle stood empty for several years until it was acquired by its current owner, Mr Georg Stradiot.