Grande Granite Tour: Total Circuit

Description:
The Mühlviertel Granite Country’s highlands tower above the Alpine foothills, offering magnificent views, pristine mixed forests, amber-coloured streams, a scattering of farmers’ hamlets and much more besides. The old primeval mountains in the area eroded over millions of years, revealing a stunning granite core. In the west of the region stand uplands filled with forests; to the north, there is an idyllic ridge between rivers; and the south is home to a plateau dotted with farmsteads and offering a panoramic perspective. This biking tour allows you to experience the timeless allure of the oldest landscape in Austria, with three mountain peaks, crunchy climbs, flowing downhill stretches, crossings, panoramic views … and a few techy sections along the way. In short, an amazing biking adventure through granite landscapes!

 

Overview:

• Section 1: A dash up to the peak of Granite Country’s highlands and uplands


• Section 2: Past the “North Cape” and ridge between rivers to the top of the Bohemian Forest


• Section 3: Bohemian Forest biking, ridge cruising and summits with iconic views


• Section 4: Plateau with panoramic views and detours down valleys


• Section 5: Bikers’ paradise – smooth sailing along slopes between the mighty Danube and the plateau

Directions:
Stage 1: A dash up to the peak of Granite Country’s highlands and uplands

Starting from the deep Danube Gorge, bike to the village of Pfarrkirchen im Mühlkreis (840 metres) at the southern summit of the bevelled uplands and savour the panoramic views. After a fantastic downhill run with alpine scenery, the route follows the hilly agricultural landscape on the west slope of the mountain range. The second peak dash takes you from the forested summit of Ameisberg, the highest point of the uplands at 941 metres! Enjoyable downhills with a varied backdrop and a hilly stretch then take you up to the north end of the uplands. Then, it is a case of navigating a gently hilly highland with a harmonious patchwork of woodland and fields into the secluded village of Kohlstatt. A spectacular start!

 

Highlights:

• Upper Danube Valley Nature Reserve (rare, forested gorge)


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


• Ameisberg (highest mountain in the region, lookout point)


• Schloss Altenhof palace (architectural gem)


• Overnight accommodation: A secluded Mühlviertel inn

 

Stage 2: Past the “North Cape” and ridge between rivers to the top of the Bohemian Forest

Once you have passed Kohlstatt, you can bike ahead blissfully, Bohemian Forest ridge in view, through a patchwork of gentle hills, forest and meadow on to the northernmost point of the tour. Congratulations! The return journey starts with some wonderful forest biking on the ridge between the Mühl rivers. After seeing Julbach, the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat, you then progress to the meadow-filled valley of the Kleine Mühl river. On the route goes along the slope of the valley and over hidden hinterland hills to Sarleinsbach stream. And last but not least: three breath-taking ridges between rivers, followed by a dash up to the hilltop village of Sankt Stefan am Walde (805 metres) at the summit of the Bohemian Forest.

 

Highlights:

• Northernmost point on the route


• Julbach – the Mühlviertel’s mild weather retreat


• Kleine Mühl, Grosse Mühl and Steinerne Mühl (rivers giving the Mühlviertel region its name)


• Sankt Stefan am Walde (hilltop village, summit of the Bohemian Forest)


• Overnight location: At the summit of the Bohemian Forest in the hilltop village of Sankt Stefan am Walde

 

Stage 3: Bohemian Forest biking, ridge cruising and summits with iconic views

It’s a spectacular way to start the section: glorious high-altitude biking at the top of the Bohemian Forest – with views for miles and miles around as well as some forest trails! At Guglwald, a descent into the Steinerne Mühl valley is sure to delight. After a mountainous trip to the backcountry, you can unwind and savour the seclusion. Back at the Steinerne Mühl river begins a fantastic ascent to the Petersberg ridge with a final stretch of cruising along at high altitude with panoramic views. Some free-flowing downhill fun is followed by a rough-and-ready surge up to the summit at the iconic Hansberg viewpoint (850 metres)! Then comes a prolonged, satisfying descent into the Kleine Rodl valley before heading across and high up to Waxenberg (village with ruins of castle at summit, 748 metres).

 

Highlights:

• Bohemian Forest (Central Europe’s largest forested area)


• Hansberg (summit with iconic views)


• Waxenberg (village with ruins of castle at summit, lookout tower with 360-degree panoramic view, palace)


• Overnight location: Waxenberg

 

Stage 4: Plateau with panoramic views and detours down valleys

From the mountaintop village of Waxenberg, you will whiz effortlessly back down to the idyllic, meadowy Kleine Rodl valley. A short climb through a stretch of forest, then you will be standing at the last ridge of northern Granite Country. Meandering broadly, the route leads down through secluded valleys to Neusserling. This is where the farm-dotted panoramic plateau begins, interspersed with deep, forested mini valleys. Here, sublime biking through cultivated countryside meets fun in the small valleys – with some tricky spots along the way. In Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, a fabulous downhill stretch with views over the Danube Valley to the riverport of Untermühl delivers a perfect ending to the section.

 

Highlights:

• Waxenberg (village with ruins of castle at summit, lookout tower with 360-degree panoramic view, palace)


• Pesenbachtal Nature Reserve (first nature reserve in the Mühlviertel) 


• Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis (area in which famous Neuhauser granite is mined, granite-filtered beer)


• Schloss Neuhaus palace (granite transport – field railway terminates, cable car to Danube begins)


• Untermühl (port on the Danube, location from which famous Neuhauser granite is shipped)


• Overnight location: By the port on the Danube at Untermühl

 

Stage 5: Bikers’ paradise – smooth sailing along slopes between the mighty Danube and the plateau

The grand finale! A unique stretch of smooth sailing along the slopes begins at the Danubeside port of Untermühl, forging through breath-taking ridgeside forests and taking you up to the elevated plain three times and back. Impressive stopover: the 360-degree Donau am Berg panoramic lookout tower (613 metres) at Kirchberg ob der Donau. In the Kleine Mühl valley, the last slope ascent follows, preceding an enjoyable last leg across the Granite Country highlands – with which by now you have perhaps grown very fond. And what a way to wrap it up: a dream 7.5-kilometre descent past the Schlögen Danube Loop – a listed natural wonder – and some relaxed riverside biking along the Danube.

 

Highlights:

• Untermühl Danube river port (toll tower with viewing platform, terminus of Schwarzenberg Canal)


• Donau am Berg lookout tower (360-degree panoramic view, former castle site)


• Obermühl an der Donau (submerged Danube resort, historical salt road)


• Historical market at Putzleinsdorf


• Schlögen Danube Loop (a listed natural wonder)