Donausteig stage 3_S06 Linz - Enns: "Anton Bruckner and the perfect landscape symphony"

The magnificent Main Square in Linz is the starting point for this Donausteig stage. From here, we take the tram to Ebelsberg, a district of Linz on the southeastern edge of the Linz Basin. Once an independent market town, Ebelsberg entered world history through its strategically important crossing over the Traun River. From the pleasant village center, we hike uphill through urban residential areas until we leave them behind at the motorway bridge. Then one of the most beautiful rural cultural landscapes of Upper Austria begins: gentle rolling hills, fertile fields, traditional orchard meadows, the largest four-sided farmsteads in Upper Austria... the Traun-Enns Ridge region!

Along old footpaths and field paths once used by Anton Bruckner, we hike over our first ridge (= hilltop) to the Donausteig rest stop "Ölkam" in the homonymous farming village. This turns out to be a prehistoric settlement area with a mystery thousands of years old. Across the fields of the next ridge, we reach the rural dispersed settlement of Rohrbach. After a short stretch along the main road, farmers' paths in the settlement of Leitnerberg lead us back to the next ridge. Through a short forest section we finally reach the Ölberg above the St. Florian Monastery. Here the size of the monastery complex impressively opens up before us. A short descent brings us to the St. Florian Monastery, the highlight experience of this Donausteig stage! The mighty monastery is a jewel of Baroque art and holds many special features for us. For example, the tombs of St. Florian and the musical virtuoso Anton Bruckner are located here. From the historic market of St. Florian, we hike across the wide Ipfbach valley. Our backward glance reveals the monastery in all its splendor and confirms its position as the spiritual center of the region. Passing the beautiful four-sided farmsteads of the farming hamlet Weiling, we reach the next ridge via country roads. Here we see the mighty city tower of Enns for the first time, our stage destination. Another atmospheric descent and ascent and we stand in front of the elegant Tillysburg Castle. The complex enchants with its light architecture and a wonderful view over the wide Danube valley. After a short descent, we cross the Kristenbach valley on a side road and reach the historically significant farming village of Volkersdorf. From here we hike our last ridge and arrive after a small forest section at the Donausteig rest stop "Rabenberg". Here a key viewpoint of the Donausteig opens up to us – three different landscapes and the historic city of Enns! A short descent brings us along the Moosbach valley to the first settlement of Enns. A few meters uphill, we follow the ridge downhill into the picturesque old town of Enns, the oldest city in Austria. The Traun-Enns Ridge region – a special kind of Donausteig experience!

Discover the following highlights with the Donausteig journal:

- Traun River salt from the Salzkammergut

- Ebelsberg – a piece of world history

- Cannonball in the house wall

- On the trail of Anton Bruckner

- Four-sided farmsteads or "Of the glory of the farmers"

- Donausteig rest stop "Ölkam"

- Meditation – the view inward

- Donausteig rest stop "St. Florian"

- ...

Download: Donausteig journal stage 3_S06 Linz-Enns

From the Main Square in Linz, we take tram line 2 to the station Ebelsberg (Fadingerplatz). Our hike starts there. We follow the main road further out of town. At the large Y-junction, we continue uphill on the main road to the left. In the long left curve about 180 m later, turn right onto a foot and cycle path. The path crosses the middle of the cemetery (on our left) and becomes Resselstraße. Going straight ahead, we soon reach the intersection with the wide Hartheimerstraße. We follow this uphill on the opposite side of the street to the next intersection (traffic lights). There turn right and uphill along Florianerstraße (L654) under the motorway underpass until shortly afterwards a paved road branches off to the left. Here steps lead left over the embankment, and a beautiful footpath begins (a gas station is on the left). At a crossroads, we meet a paved road. We follow this downhill. After a sharp left turn, a field path leads us in a right curve over the hill to the Donausteig rest stop "Ölkam". We cross the junction in the rural village of Ölkam straight ahead. After a right curve uphill, the paved residential road becomes a field path. At the T-junction turn left downhill. Leaving the transmitter station on the left, continue downhill along the field path to the main road junction in Rohrbach. The main road takes us left to the settlement Leitnerberg. At the inn Rohrbäcker, the Donausteig forks left into the residential street "Im Binderlandl". Shortly after, we hike uphill on a gravel road to the forest edge. There left. A few meters further into the forest, turn right on a footpath to the paved road by the settlement at the forest edge. Continue on this road. At the next junction, stay generally straight to remain on the hill. At the next junction with the Ölberg chapel (pavilion character, figurative depiction), turn right and follow the footpath downhill toward St. Florian Monastery. Before the last stairway down to the monastery church, turn right. This paved road leads past the Donausteig start point "St. Florian" and loops widely to the main entrance of the St. Florian Monastery. From here, follow the road downhill in a long left curve to the marketplace of St. Florian. We leave it on the east side and immediately turn right (in front of the municipal office). Then follow Leopold-Kotzmann-Straße to the left. After a sharp right bend, cross the tracks of the Florianerbahn, then the paved road turns into a field path. At the forest edge turn left. The footpath later takes us over a bridge across the Ipfbach to the main road L566. There left and immediately right up Weilinger-Straße. At the T-junction left. We follow the road through the farming hamlet Weiling generally eastward. Before the last house on the right, turn right and hike up the paved road in a long S-curve. At the junction at the ridge's peak, turn left. A long S-curve leads us down to a T-junction in Oberndorf. Here left. After about 250 m, turn right onto the field path around the farm uphill to the gravel road. Left to a paved road and follow it right to Tillysburg Castle. Before the castle, a footpath begins on the left, which leads us around the castle on the east side and downhill to the inn Weberberger. Here briefly right and then left along the paved road to Volkersdorf. At the T-junction right along the main road to a large farm (opposite the bus stop). Now left uphill via Roggenstraße. The paved residential street becomes a field path. After crossing the new B309 (tunnel), follow the paved road junction left through the forest. About 50 m before the next farm (on the left side of the path), a short detour straight ahead leads to the Donausteig rest stop "Rabenberg". The main route, however, turns right downhill here. In the valley, follow the Moosbachl on its east bank. Passing underneath the motorway, we finally reach a paved road again in Enns. Turn right uphill here. At the next junction, again right uphill and along Perlenstraße until the main road. Follow this left downhill. Turn right at the next street (Gürtlerstraße). After a left curve, this runs parallel to the main road toward the old town. At the former barracks, it becomes Kasernenstraße. At the end of the street, it bends left, immediately thereafter turn right and continue straight over the main road toward the old town. Shortly along Wienerstraße and then left uphill to the church square. North of St. Mary's parish church, through Kirchengasse and then left along Pfarrgasse to the Baker's Tower (corner of Bräuergasse). Here briefly left and then right past Carl Adam Kaltenbrunner Park. Linzer Straße finally leads us right directly onto the town square of Enns.

To help you orient yourself, the Donausteig has been equipped with its own orientation system – the description can be found here.

With the music of Anton Bruckner in your ears, the unique rural cultural landscape of the Traun-Enns Ridge region becomes a perfect symphony! In addition, a tour through the magnificent St. Florian Monastery opens new perspectives on the "Donausteig" experience.

Besides your personal hiking equipment, there are no special requirements.

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