At an altitude of around 850 metres, Ottenschlag lies amid lush green, densely forested hills. Themes for a stay here include hiking trails, a mountain bike route, castle architecture, the Upper Village Pond and a small airfield.
Hiking, Cycling and Cross-Country Ski Trails
When hiking, you can compare three routes by distance and stated difficulty. The 5,000 Steps Trail is a 3.5 km circular route that starts at the motorhome parking area in Ottenschlag; it takes one hour to walk. The Hubertus Trail is rated easy, measures 4.3 km and has 42 metres of elevation gain. At 9.9 km, the Pond Trail is the longest of the three; it is rated moderate and includes 189 metres of elevation gain. Distance and elevation gain allow for a direct comparison; the walking time is an additional planning factor for the circular route. Check the latest route information before setting out.
The Highland Route adds a mountain biking option to the selection. It is a 20.2 km family/trekking mountain bike route with 293 metres of elevation gain. Its distance clearly sets it apart from the hiking routes listed above; the elevation gain adds total ascent as another point of comparison. This means you can take length and ascent into account as two concrete factors when planning your bike rides.
When there is enough natural snow, three cross-country ski trails are available in Ottenschlag. The trails start at Florianiplatz, behind the fire station; free parking is also available there. If you are planning to go cross-country skiing, check the snow conditions before travelling. The natural-snow requirement is an essential part of seasonal planning for this option.
Castle, Village Pond and Airfield
Ottenschlag Castle combines a clear historical timeline with distinctive architectural details. Construction of the present-day castle building began in 1523 around an early medieval hilltop fortress; the castle dates from the 16th century. Three distinctive round towers and a splendidly decorated Renaissance portal add to its architecture. The year 1523 marks the start of construction of the present-day castle building, not its completion. The reference to the early medieval hilltop fortress points to a much older historical layer. Those interested in historic architecture can consider the construction date, the fortress and the design as separate points of reference.
A central island in the Upper Village Pond can be reached via a footbridge, and there are also small coves. Facilities include a water slide for toddlers and a diving board. These features relate to different aspects of the pond: the footbridge provides access to the island, the coves add variety to the shoreline, and the slide and diving board are two specific facilities. For travellers with toddlers, the slide’s age information is a helpful detail; the diving board is another feature.
Ottenschlag Airfield is small, has a grass runway and has delighted aviation enthusiasts for more than 60 years. This adds an aviation-related attraction to the area’s nature, cycling and architectural history.
Discover more destinations: Arbesbach, Schoberhof, Bernreith, Schwarzenau, Zwettl-Niederösterreich, Gutenbrunn, Gemeinde Groß Gerungs, Schloss Rosenau
Return to the overview of destinations: Zwettl.
