Schenkenfelden can be explored on two levels: along marked trails through forests and countryside, and through memorial sites that preserve specific chapters of the town’s history. One particularly striking feature of the landscape is the European watershed between the Kettenbach and Grasbach streams.

Hiking trails and wayfinding

The hiking trails around Schenkenfelden are marked, with trail markings coordinated with neighbouring municipalities. For wayfinding, you can get the Mühlviertler Sterngartl hiking map free of charge from the Schenkenfelden municipal office during its public service hours. Check that the map is available before travelling.

The Märchenwald hiking trail is a leisurely circular route through varied woodland and is around 2 km long. Features of the route include groups of fairy-tale characters carved from wood, with more than 40 figures, playgrounds at the start and end, and a fairy-tale pond. The approximate route length gives you a practical basis for planning your day; a turn-off from the trail also leads to the summit cross on Hirtstein. At the highest point of Thierberg stands an aluminium cross secured with ropes.

The Nordwaldkammweg, the European long-distance footpath and the Stern Gartl Weg all lead to Schenkenfelden. The local circular route is thus joined by three named trails that end in the town.

Watershed and flow directions

The European watershed runs between the Kettenbach and Grasbach streams. The Kettenbach flows north into the Vltava; the Grasbach is a headwater stream of the Große Gusen in the Danube basin, which flows south. The two flow in different directions: north towards the North Sea and south towards the Black Sea. The concept of a watershed can therefore be understood through two named streams and their different drainage routes.

History in the townscape

The Peasants’ War Chapel commemorates the violent encounter between imperial troops and local farmers on 30 August 1626. About 300 farmers lost their lives in the encounter. The date, the groups involved and the approximate death toll give the memorial site a specific historical context.

The Gerstlhaus General Store Museum preserves a general store from the early 19th century and a k.u.k. post office dating from 1869. The Biedermeier room in the Gerstlhaus houses a fortepiano made by Anton Walter in 1814. The general store and post office represent trade and postal communication, while the fortepiano adds a distinct musical note.

The Harrucker Monument is a bust in a small square on the market square, at the start of Harruckerstraße, and invites visitors to pause. The Anton Schiesser memorial plaque marks the birthplace and family home of the k.u.k. Field Marshal Lieutenant Anton Schiesser, Edler von Reifegg. The townscape thus features several forms of remembrance: a chapel commemorating an event, a plaque marking a particular house and a bust in a public space.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Reichenau Im Mühlkreis, Kirchschlag Bei Linz, Gallneukirchen, Zwettl An Der Rodl, Steyregg, Sankt Gotthard Im Mühlkreis, Eidenberg, Puchenau.

Back to the regional travel guide: Urfahr-Umgebung.