Explore Unterweitersdorf along hiking trails with clearly different focuses: the Horse-Drawn Railway Hiking Trail follows a specific route through the Gusental valley and traces the history of the railway line; other routes lead to a forest chapel, a viewpoint overlooking the town or notable sites along the way. There are also traces of the area’s mill and local history. When planning, it therefore helps to start by deciding whether you prefer longer routes, a circular trail or individual historical destinations.
Hiking Trails with Different Foci
Numerous marked hiking trails cross the municipality; most begin at the municipal office. Before setting out, check local availability and trail conditions.
The Horse-Drawn Railway Hiking Trail leads from the Unterweitersdorf sports field through the Gusental valley to Neumarkt. The route is listed as 10 km long, with a walking time of about 2.5 hours. On the Neumarkt–Unterweitersdorf section, the trail follows the original horse-drawn railway line for all but a few short stretches; it also includes an adventure trail with nine stations.
The Legend Hiking Trail is 5.2 km long, with a stated walking time of about 1.5 hours. It is just under half the length of the 10 km Horse-Drawn Railway Hiking Trail, and takes about an hour less to walk. The Cultural Trail offers a different focus: it is a circular route of about 5.5 km along the former horse-drawn railway line or through the valley of the Kleine Gusen, and is suitable for wheelchair users and strollers.
The other named trails also lead to different destinations. The U7 hiking trail runs from Unterweitersdorf via Pfaffendorf to Loibersdorf; parts of the route follow the horse-drawn railway line and pass through the “Kleines Gusental” landscape and nature conservation area. The U1 “Zur Waldandacht” (Forest Shrine) hiking trail lies above the town and offers views over Unterweitersdorf and towards Wartberg. Along the U2 “Durch den Austerwald” (Through the Auster Forest) hiking trail are the historic boundary stone of the three municipalities of Hagenberg, Wartberg and Unterweitersdorf, as well as the “Teufelssitz” (Devil’s Seat). The U6 “Maria im Föhrenwald” (Mary in the Pine Forest) hiking trail leads via Lindach to the forest chapel.
History, Mills and Traces in the Gusental Valley
The route of the historic horse-drawn railway runs through the valley of the Kleine Gusen in Unterweitersdorf, where numerous noteworthy viaducts can still be seen. This means you encounter the history of the horse-drawn railway not only on the named hiking trail, but also in the local landscape.
The first records of WeiglmĂĽhle date from around 1481. Its mill equipment, some of which is more than 100 years old, has been preserved in its original condition. WeiglmĂĽhle has been used as a restaurant since 2000; the snack station is a possible place to stop, provided it is currently open. Check before visiting.
The “Franzosengrab 1809” (French Grave 1809) memorial stone stands by the Sonnleitner farm in Hattmannsdorf. It commemorates fighting in the Unterweitersdorf area in 1809: a skirmish on 7 May and an engagement on 19 May. Those involved were a French-Württemberger Jäger regiment that had entered the Mühlviertel, and the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Hussars and Lindenau Infantry.
Kleines Gusental and Cycling
Parts of the municipality lie within the “Kleines Gusental” nature and landscape conservation area. The area is also suitable for cycling, offering another way to experience the landscape alongside the hiking trails.
Discover more destinations: Wullowitz, Liebenau, Hagenberg Im Mühlkreis, Kaltenberg, Königswiesen, Pregarten, Pierbach, Lasberg.
For the main travel overview: Freistadt.
