The parish church of Aigen dominates the townscape on the market square: this neo-Gothic, historicist building uses grey Mühlviertel granite and red bricks from Prussian Silesia. The Calvary Chapel also makes its own architectural statement. It lies north of the town, on the slope of the Bohemian Forest.
Churches and Architectural History
The Calvary Chapel is a Baroque rotunda with open pillar arcades. Inside is a Crucifixion group by Johann Worath dating from around 1650. Its location outside the town and its design clearly distinguish it from the parish church on the market square.
For another perspective on regional history, nearby Schlägl Abbey has an exhibition on the 800-year history of the Premonstratensian order. Also in the vicinity of Aigen im Mühlkreis is the Kultur.Gut.Oberes Mühlviertel collection – Lehner Collection. Covering around 900 m², it uses selected objects to offer insights into the living and working conditions of the people of the Bohemian Forest. Its themes range from agriculture to crafts.
Museums and Visitor Information
The bird museum in the Kulturhaus opened in 1993 in a former primary school. Around 650 exhibits showcase bird species and their habitats: from ponds and fields and meadows to forests, as well as homes, farms and gardens. Recordings of bird calls, which can be played individually, complement the exhibition.
The bird collection in the Kulturhaus is open from 1 May to 30 September on Saturdays and Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. Visits outside these hours are possible by prior arrangement by phone or electronically. Check opening times before planning your visit.
Forest Trails and Moorland
The Aigen-Schlägl forest nature trail starts and ends at the Aigen-Schlägl market square or at the Höhenstraße car park. Its stops include a waterwheel and a resting place on the edge of the forest with sweeping views over Aigen-Schlägl. The trail thus combines a close connection with nature with a specific viewpoint.
The Mühltalblickweg trail runs south of Aigen-Schlägl across the surrounding hills. From there, the view stretches north into the valley of the Große Mühl, with Schlägl Abbey and the Bohemian Forest in the background. The forest nature trail and Mühltalblickweg therefore offer different points of interest: a waterwheel, resting place and views over Aigen-Schlägl on one, and an elevated setting and valley views on the other.
Nearby, the Bayrische Au nature trail leads through the Bohemian Forest into the Bayrische Au raised bog. It ends at a platform overlooking the Lipno Reservoir in the Czech Republic; benches invite visitors to rest there. The raised bog is home to Austria’s only Scots pine raised bog, as well as diverse plant and animal life. This landscape is a destination in its own right, alongside trails directly connected with Aigen-Schlägl.
The demonstration log flume on the Iglbach floating canal is also within the municipal area of Aigen-Schlägl. It can only be reached on foot, via a 2.5 km route, or by bicycle along the floating canal cycle route. This access information is useful for planning because it clearly sets out the options available locally.
Getting There and Finding Your Way
The 57.78 km, single-track Mühlkreisbahn begins at Linz Urfahr station and ends at Aigen-Schlägl station in the municipal area of Aigen-Schlägl. From Ottensheim, it runs in a northwesterly direction. Check current travel information before taking the train.
When choosing activities, you can distinguish between architectural history in town, exhibitions in the surrounding area, and trails through forest and moorland. This makes it possible to plan your visit to Aigen im Mühlkreis according to your interests without treating destinations in town, within the municipality and nearby as if they were the same.
Discover more destinations: Lichtenau im Mühlkreis, Auberg, Helfenberg, Niederkappel, Neufelden, Neustift im Mühlkreis, Sankt Veit im Mühlkreis, Untermühl.
For the main travel overview: Rohrbach.
