Hartkirchen can be explored in different ways, depending on your interests: floodplains and a nature reserve sit alongside several routes, church architecture and places of remembrance. If you are planning a stay, you can first choose your preferred focus: nature, exercise, architectural history or remembrance. The routes each have a different emphasis—one has clearly specified route details, one offers a detour to a church, and another is defined by a castle ruin and a viewpoint.

Nature among floodplains and moorland

In Hartkirchen, the Aschach floodplains invite you to enjoy nature. The Predigtstuhl Nature Reserve is located within the municipality and covers 25.6572 hectares. The Rund ums Moos route also passes through the moorland and offers a view of this distinctive landscape with its rich animal and plant life. The nature-related features therefore vary considerably, ranging from the floodplains and a designated protected area to a route through the moorland.

Routes with different highlights

The Hartkirchen Fitness Circuit is just over 4 km long and has 11 stations. It can be completed with an all-terrain stroller. Its length, number of stations and this specific suitability give you several factors to consider when choosing a route. The Hartkirchen Circular Trail offers a detour to Hilkering Pilgrimage Church. A highlight of the Schaunberg Loop is Schaunberg Castle Ruin, which offers a view across the Eferding Basin. You can choose according to your preferred route experience: route details and stroller suitability, a detour to a church, or a castle ruin and a viewpoint.

Churches and architectural history

Hilkering Pilgrimage Church combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements. The nave—the elongated main area of a church—is Romanesque; the chancel, tower and sacristy are Gothic. The church was given a Baroque style in the 17th and 18th centuries. This sequence makes the church a specific destination for anyone interested in identifying different styles through architectural history. A Baroque well chapel also stands on its south side.

Another chapel with its own history is Hubertus Chapel: the Hartkirchen Hunting Society built it in 1991. Together with the different construction phases of the pilgrimage church, it shows that the local sacred buildings do not all date from the same period.

Places of remembrance

Almost 6,000 people from the First World War are buried at Deinham War Cemetery. Three memorials there commemorate the dead of both world wars. The number refers to those from the First World War, while the memorials commemorate both wars. This clearly distinguishes the site from the churches and chapels: the focus here is on the war dead and public remembrance.

Practical information

Hartkirchen has an EV charging station and a bicycle service station. If you plan to use either one, check availability before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Aschach an der Donau, Fraham, Sankt Marienkirchen an der Polsenz, Haibach ob der Donau, Alkoven, Stroheim, Hinzenbach, Eferding.

Go to the higher-level travel overview: Eferding.