An old packhorse trail to Bohemia passed through Sankt Oswald bei Haslach. The salt trade of the markets of Rohrbach, Neufelden and Haslach made it an important salt trading route. For your travel planning, this offers a historical perspective on the town: the packhorse trail and the Schwarzenberg Floating Canal represent different economic connections. Church art, memorial sites, and marked hiking and cycling routes complement these themes. This allows you to focus your stay on history, culture or outdoor activities.
The floating canal and the historic economy
The Schwarzenberg Floating Canal was built around 1800 and served profitable timber harvesting. It is best preserved within the municipal area of Sankt Oswald. One of the most dangerous sections of the entire canal system is located near Morau; it remains unchanged to this day. Unlike the packhorse trail, with its links to Bohemia and the salt trade, the canal is centred on timber harvesting. Its construction period, former use and state of preservation near Morau each give the canal a distinct historical significance.
Church art and remembrance
The high altar of St. Oswald Parish Church was carved in 1894 by Josef Keplinger of Ottensheim. This dated work adds a concrete example of ecclesiastical craftsmanship to the history of trade routes and infrastructure. The Reichenau Room offers a different perspective: it documents the fate of the displaced persons and includes a room dedicated to Adalbert Stifter. The Reichenau Memorial commemorates the destroyed villages. The themes thus range from woodcarving and a literary dedication to remembrance of displacement and destroyed places. These are clearly distinct points of interest for a culture-focused trip: the altar draws attention to craftsmanship, while the room and memorial focus on remembrance.
Hiking and cycling
The “Short Loop” on the Steilstufenweg runs for around four kilometres along the historic floating canal and starts and ends in Sankt Oswald bei Haslach. The approximate four-kilometre distance gives you a general guide for planning; local trail conditions can change, so check them before setting out. The Günterreithersteig is one of three trails designated by the municipality. Before you arrive, check whether the municipal hiking map is available. When choosing, you can consider whether the Short Loop’s approximate distance or the municipal designation of the Günterreithersteig is your first point of reference.
Well-marked cycling and hiking routes pass through the forests around Sankt Oswald bei Haslach and the landscape of the Upper MĂĽhlviertel. This offers two different scales for planning a tour: a specific, described loop along the canal and routes through a larger landscape. When choosing, it makes a difference whether you focus on a particular trail with an approximate distance or the wider landscape. Individual routes may change; bear this in mind when planning your tour.
Discover more destinations: Niederwaldkirchen, Schönegg, Oepping, Helfenberg, Sankt Veit Im Mühlkreis, Hörbich, Lichtenau Im Mühlkreis, Haslach An Der Mühl.
Return to the regional travel overview: Rohrbach.
