Circular trails in Laaben lead through beech forests and orchards, along small streams and to viewpoints; Türkenstein and Schöpfl add to the hiking destinations. The routes differ in scenery, destination and starting point. You can use these differences to plan a practical itinerary for your stay: first choose the hikes you want to shape your visit, then plan your journey and accommodation accordingly. Specific information about starting points, buses and parking applies to individual routes.

Forest trails with different highlights

The “Kleiner Laaben Circular Hiking Trail” starts at Laaben’s main square. It leads through beech forests and orchards, offers views and runs alongside a small stream. The circular trail via Pyrath and Brand also passes through beech forests, with old sunken lanes along the way; on the return, a small stream accompanies the route back to Laaben. Both trails combine forest and water. The trail from the main square is marked by orchards and views, while the sunken lanes are a distinctive landscape feature of the route via Pyrath and Brand. These differences can help you choose a route based on the kind of scenery you would like to experience rather than its name alone.

Türkenstein and views from the Matraswarte

The “Großer Türkenstein Circular Hiking Trail” starts at the Gasthof zur Glashütte in Laaben. It passes through alder, oak, maple, spruce and beech forests, as well as mixed woodland. The variety of forest types gives it a different focus from the two trails whose descriptions highlight beech forest. The route also leads to Türkenstein, which is associated with the events of 1683. This adds a historical connection to the landscape experience, which you can include as a separate focus in your day’s plans.

For a hike with a view, the Franz-Edurard-Matraswarte is a notable destination: it was built in 1898. From the Matraswarte on the summit, you can see the hills of the Waldviertel, Ötscher, Schneeberg and the Danube Valley. The named viewpoints thus extend from the hills of the Waldviertel to the Danube Valley and also include two well-known mountains in Lower Austria.

Schöpfl as a hiking destination

Schöpfl can be climbed from Laaben in about two hours. This approximate duration gives you a useful guide for planning the hike. Schöpfl is also home to the Schöpfl-Schutzhaus, a mountain refuge operated by the ÖTK (Austrian Tourist Club). Schöpfl is the highest mountain in the Vienna Woods in Lower Austria; this distinction also makes it an interesting destination for hikes focused on the region.

Getting there and planning your accommodation

For the circular trail via Pyrath and Brand, you can include the ÖBB bus to the Laaben Hauptplatz stop in your plans. The stated public transport route to the “Großer Türkenstein Circular Hiking Trail” is by ÖBB bus to Laaben/Klamm, getting off at the Glashütte stop. Check the timetable before setting off and plan your hiking day around the stop for your chosen trail. Parking is available at Laaben municipal office for the Elsbeerweg Laaben.

When looking for a hotel in Laaben, it is best to start by deciding which hikes you want to shape your stay. Beech forests, orchards, old sunken lanes, viewpoints and a summit destination each offer a different experience. Then coordinate your accommodation plans with the starting point and suitable transport for your chosen route. This way, you can decide what you want to discover in Laaben before comparing accommodation options for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Brunnrotte, Maria Anzbach, Neustift-Innermanzing, Zagging, Hofstetten, Grünsbach, Statzendorf, Frankenfels

View the main travel guide: Sankt Pölten.