Garsten combines a clearly defined monastic history with trails through valley and forest landscapes. This gives you two distinct areas to focus on when planning your trip: cultural history and art on the one hand, and routes and landscapes on the other. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Garsten, you can first consider which of these aspects you want to shape your stay most.
The Monastery, Church and Nativity Scene Art
The dates mark successive milestones: Around 1082, Otakar I of Steyr founded a collegiate monastery, which later became Garsten Abbey. In 1108, Otakar II converted the collegiate monastery into a Benedictine abbey; the abbey was dissolved in 1787. This allows the foundation, conversion and dissolution to be distinguished chronologically.
The interior of Garsten Abbey Church is a highlight of Austrian Baroque stucco work. The abbey museum traces the abbey’s history and influence from its foundation in 1082 until its dissolution in 1787. Notable examples of nativity scene art include Marian Rittinger’s Baroque boxwood nativity scene from 1705 and Josef Garb’s large blacksmith’s nativity scene, dating from around 1850. These dates provide two different chronological reference points: an exact year and an approximate period of creation.
Dambach Valley and Hiking Trails
The Dambach Valley, about 5.5 kilometres long, lies southeast of Garsten and is nestled in a horseshoe shape between Damberg (807 m), Schwarzberg (838 m), Blabergkogel (748 m), Sonnberg (777 m), Sturzberg (741 m) and Buchberg (542 m). Of the elevations listed, Schwarzberg is the highest and Buchberg the lowest. At the head of the valley is a forest area of about 1,000 hectares that has been used for forestry since time immemorial.
The signposted hiking trails starting from Garsten’s town centre begin in Beserlpark, near the railway viaduct at the junction of Lahrndorferstraße and Klosterstraße. There you will find a hiking map showing all the trails, elevation profiles and route descriptions. The starting point thus combines an overview of the routes with information on elevation profiles.
The Biodiversity Circular Trail passes through species-rich habitats along the Garstner Bach and the flowering meadows around Fischeraufstieg. Interactive information boards provide details about kestrels, stream dwellers, bees, butterflies and herbs. The trail therefore covers a range of local habitat topics: the boards specifically feature stream wildlife, insects and plants.
Another route option is the Ennsmeile: it passes the Kraftpark and is illuminated throughout. These features distinguish it, for example, from routes described mainly in terms of elevation gain or notable destinations.
Routes and Other Activities
The “L5 Garsten – Großes Hufeisen” circular route is 28.4 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 872 metres. It starts at Garsten railway station and initially leads through the town, past the outdoor swimming pool and over the power station. Its length and elevation gain provide two specific figures for assessing the route. The Boigerrunde, by contrast, is characterised by its route along the Enns to Buchholz and the traditional Boigerstadl inn located there. The routes thus have different features in the foreground: for the Großes Hufeisen, the route statistics; for the Boigerrunde, its course and destination area.
A mini-golf course and the Aktivpark Aufwind can be accessed from Garsten outdoor swimming pool. Together with the cultural and historical attractions and the routes described, Garsten is a destination where you can choose to focus your trip on monastic history, landscapes or a range of activities.
Discover More Destinations
Goldberg, Rohr Im Kremstal, Steyr, Bad Hall, Ternberg, Sankt Ulrich Bei Steyr, Maria Neustift, Adlwang
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