Annaberg bei Mariazell lies in Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park, at an elevation of 700 to 1,400 metres, between Mariazellerland and Ötscherland. For planning, two distinct perspectives go hand in hand: the Via Sacra pilgrimage route and its church art, as well as trails and activities in the mountain landscape. Whether you want to experience Annaberg mainly for its culture or its outdoor attractions, you can plan your visit around these highlights.

Via Sacra and St. Anne’s Pilgrimage Church

Annaberg is a stop on the Via Sacra, the pilgrimage route to Mariazell. The route runs from Annaberg via Joachimsberg, Wienerbruck, Josefsberg, Mitterbach and St. Sebastian to Mariazell. St. Anne’s Pilgrimage Church houses an Anna Selbdritt group dating from 1440, attributed to Jakob Kaschauer. The monks of Lilienfeld Abbey built the first chapel on the church grounds as early as 1217.

The Annaberg Way of the Cross is also part of this cultural focus. Prof. Sepp Gamsjäger created it in 1973, with 14 picture panels. The original images were fired onto enamel plates and placed in 14 frames along the Via Sacra as far as Annaberg Parish Church. This lets you relate the church art to the course of the pilgrimage route without treating the individual stations and the church as the same destination.

Portrait and watercolour seminars are held in and around Gamsburg every year. You can also take riding lessons and join riding programmes in Annaberg all year round. These add two more ways to shape your stay alongside its cultural highlights, without requiring a specific event date.

Hiking Trails and Nature Trail

The Annaberg Nature Trail is located in the Ötscher-Dürnstein Landscape Conservation Area. Its 21 stops offer insights into the forest ecosystem. The hike is rated moderate and is 1.56 kilometres long. For a different hike, the Annaberg–Weißes Kreuz–Hennesteck–Annaberg route starts at the car park by the municipal office. You can choose between a short, forest-themed nature trail and a hike whose waypoints are named in its title.

The Tirolerkogel route reaches an elevation of 1,377 metres at its highest point. From there, it offers views of Ötscher, Dürrenstein, Gemeindealpe, Gippel, Göller, Schneeberg and the Hochschwab group. Snowshoers, ski tourers and tobogganers also use this route. If you’re looking for a different way to get around, the Annaberger Lifte provide another starting point: a lift ride takes you to an elevation of 1,300 metres, from where a short hike loops around the reservoir and continues to the summit of Hennesteck.

Cross-Country Skiing, Cycling and Other Activities

The Annaberg cross-country ski trail is seven kilometres long. It runs from the car park to Tirolerkogel, around Scheiblingberg and onto a high plateau. Both a classic track and a skating track are available. The two styles give you a clear choice, while the trail’s length and route outline its character.

The publicly accessible Annaberg Mini Bike Park has the Pumptrack, Skillstrack, Flowline and Skillsline trails. The Flowline is 700 metres long. The Annaberg Zipline offers a different kind of experience: it runs along four parallel cables and descends 386 metres in elevation along its course. At Niki’s Alpine Adventure, activity stations featuring games, puzzles and stories invite you to join in. There is also a motor skills course directly beside the ticket office at Annaberger Lifte.

Getting There and Parking

Postbus route 169 runs directly from Vienna to Annaberg. Check the timetable before travelling so you can plan your journey accordingly. Free parking is available directly behind the church at the Annaberg municipal office, Annarotte 14, 3222 Annaberg. Alternatively, you can use the car park at Annaberger Lifte, Annarotte 126, 3222 Annaberg. These starting points are particularly useful when planning the hike mentioned above and activities at the lifts.

Discover more destinations: Lilienfeld, Erlaufboden, Rohrbach an der Gölsen, Sankt Veit An Der Gölsen, Sankt Aegyd Am Neuwalde, Hohenberg, Kleinzell, Eschenau An Der Traisen.

Back to the regional travel overview: Lilienfeld.