The Three Castles Hiking Trail starts at the ruins of Waxenberg and leads via Oberneukirchner Berg to the ruins of Lobenstein. It is 25 kilometres long in total. You can reach the ruins of Piberstein via Waxenberger Hofwald, Schallenberg and Ahorn. Exploring the area on foot means encountering a variety of trail themes: castles, protected landscapes and a pilgrimage route that extends far beyond the region.

Hiking Among Castles, Nature and a Pilgrimage Route

The Pesenbach Valley in Bad Mühllacken is a nature reserve. Its striking natural features include the Blue Lane, springs, pools and cyclopean rock formations; Kerzenstein is the valley’s landmark. The character of the trail is also important when planning: most of the Pesenbach Valley Hiking Trail is marked with a red dot and has an alpine character. Sure-footedness, stamina and sturdy footwear are required. Conditions may vary seasonally.

The Wilhering Pilgrimage Route offers a different theme: it is 132 kilometres long, runs in six stages from the Danube to the Vltava and passes through twelve municipalities in the Linz-Land and Urfahr-Umgebung districts in the Mühlviertel region, as well as Vyšší Brod in South Bohemia. Along the route, 14 churches inspired by Cistercian and Benedictine theology invite visitors to enjoy spiritual experiences. The distances illustrate two different scales: 25 kilometres for the Three Castles Hiking Trail, compared with 132 kilometres and six stages for the Wilhering Pilgrimage Route.

Water and Activity in Feldkirchen

The four Feldkirchen bathing lakes offer opportunities for swimming, sunbathing and playing beach volleyball. The Danube Cycle Path passes through Feldkirchen an der Donau, from where cyclists can reach one of the four lakes. The Feldkirchen bathing lakes leisure area is directly accessible from the Danube Cycle Path via a new cycle bridge. Cycling and spending time by the water can thus be considered separate parts of a visit, without combining them into a prescribed route.

For activity on asphalt, there is the Feldkirchen pump track: the circuit features jumps, banked turns and rollers, and can be ridden in all directions. The Feldkirchen Motor Skills Park is freely and free of charge to access. During the bathing season, a parking fee is charged per car. This distinction is useful when planning: access to the park is free, while the parking fee applies to cars seasonally.

Churches, History and Special Discoveries

The Gothic branch church in Pesenbach houses a Gothic winged altar. Pesenbach is also the destination for the annual patronal feast of Saint Leonard on 6 November and the following Sunday. It draws thousands of pilgrims from neighbouring parishes, churchgoers and visitors to the parish fair.

The Pelmberg Open-Air Museum offers insights into earlier ways of life and work. The Pelmberg farm was first mentioned in historical documents in 1325. The museum includes an 18-metre-long tunnel carved out of granite, which is still accessible. Traditional tools, old agricultural machinery and transport items from the pre-industrial era are also on display. The Lebzeltarium offers a different kind of discovery: it presents the diverse world of gingerbread across more than 300 square metres.

Golf and Seasonal Perspectives

The Donau Golf Club has an 18-hole championship golf course and a practice facility with a 9-hole academy course. In Bad Leonfelden, the Sternstein family ski area offers sporting winter activities; check its seasonal opening before your trip. The Sternstein Loop can also be described in terms of specific features: 40 percent of its surface is paved, while 60 percent consists of gravel or natural ground. In summer, the Sternsteinwarte offers hikers a magnificent view from its summit.

Discover more destinations: Bad Leonfelden, Feldkirchen an der Donau, Engerwitzdorf, Schild, Steyregg, Zwettl an der Rodl, Ottensheim, Sankt Magdalena, Eidenberg, Weignersdorf, Kirchschlag bei Linz, Mursberg, Ottenschlag im Mühlkreis, Oberneukirchen, Reichenau im Mühlkreis, Gallneukirchen, Altenberg bei Linz, Lichtenberg, Schenkenfelden, Sonnberg im Mühlkreis, Puchenau, Walding, Herzogsdorf, Vorderweißenbach, Reichenthal, Goldwörth, Gramastetten, Haibach im Mühlkreis, Hellmonsödt, Alberndorf in der Riedmark, Sankt Gotthard im Mühlkreis, Dürnberg.

For the overview of the wider region: Upper Austria.