Sankt Georgen an der Gusen combines memorial sites with hiking trails, nature and regional offerings. The history of the Gusen concentration camp and the underground facility “Bergkristall” has left a lasting mark; at the same time, there are specific route details and an arrival point at the ÖBB station.
Memorial Sites and Local History
The AUDIOWEG GUSEN is an art project by Christoph Viscorsum. It leads from the Gusen Memorial to Sankt Georgen an der Gusen and is about six kilometres long, including the return journey. Through headphones, you can hear the voices of survivors, contemporary witnesses from the local population, perpetrators and former guards.
From the beginning of 1944, an underground factory was built by DEST near the centre of Sankt Georgen an der Gusen under the codename “B8 Bergkristall”—under the strictest secrecy and in murderous working conditions. It was DEST’s second-largest underground factory and was intended for the series production of Messerschmitt jet fighters (Me 262).
The local history museum displays mementos belonging to prisoners of the Gusen concentration camp, as well as a model of the underground tunnel complex “Bergkristall”, built by prisoners. The memorial trail is marked with monuments. The Human Rights Trail ends at the House of Remembrance and the “Bergkristall” concentration camp memorial site in Sankt Georgen an der Gusen. The forms of remembrance place different emphasis: on the audio trail, you hear voices through headphones, while the local history museum displays objects and a model.
Hiking Trails and Route Choices
The Legends Trail is 10 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 180 metres. Since 2008, the Beautification and Hiking Association in Sankt Georgen an der Gusen has offered two permanent IVV hiking trails. The shorter of the two routes is also 10 kilometres long and goes around the town over the hills that surround it. For planning distances, the audio trail, at about six kilometres including the return journey, can be compared with the 10-kilometre hiking routes.
The Danube Heights Circular Hiking Trail passes through Sankt Georgen an der Gusen and continues via Frankenberg and Kruckenberg to Mauthausen. Its route connects the town with a continuation via these two named stops to Mauthausen.
Nature, Cycling and Regional Offerings
Weingraben is a natural monument and wetland biotope in a disused quarry, about a 30-minute walk from the town centre. Cyclists also have a clearly named connection to the municipality: the Danube Cycle Route from Passau via Linz to Hainburg passes by Sankt Georgen an der Gusen.
The farmers’ market offers regional and seasonal products from local producers. The range includes meat, bread, doughnuts, pastries, fruit, vegetables, cheese, honey, jams, eggs and pasta. Aquarella has a 25-metre swimming pool with direct access to the “Fun Pool”. The topics described therefore range from history and outdoor activities to nature, regional products and swimming.
Getting There
A free park-and-ride facility with a connection to the public transport network is located right next to the ÖBB station in Sankt Georgen an der Gusen. This means there is a parking facility directly at the station, which also provides access to public transport.
Discover more destinations: Grein An Der Donau, Naarn Im Machlande, Bad Kreuzen, Wansch, Münzbach, Arbing, Ried In Der Riedmark, Baumgartenberg
Return to the regional travel overview: Perg.
