Vienna Pilgrim Way: Entire route from Perchtoldsdorf to Mariazell

Day 1 stage: Perchtoldsdorf or Vienna-Rodaun to Mayerling
Stage length: 17.9 km, ascents: 678 m, descents: 613 m, walking time: 07:00 h
The path begins in Perchtoldsdorf at the parish church and leads via the Pastor Karl Seemann Promenade into the Föhrenberge Nature Park to Parapluieberg (Franz Ferdinand shelter, 01:15 h). Through light deciduous woods, it continues via Kammersteiner hut, Kugelwiese and Seewiese – passing Wildegg Castle – to Sittendorf (03:00 h). Via the Füllenberg dairy one comes to the motorway underpass, behind which lies the Heiligenkreuz cemetery. From the cemetery one is soon at the baroque Calvary of the Heiligenkreuz abbey, over which one reaches the abbey in a few minutes (01:30 h). From the abbey one finally reaches Mayerling (01:15 h).
Variant Vienna-Rodaun: In this variant one comes from Vienna-Rodaun (terminus tram line 60) via Schiller Promenade into the municipality of Perchtoldsdorf and goes – past the forest sanatorium – to the Perchtoldsdorf heath. At Parapluieberg one meets the ascent coming from Perchtoldsdorf.

 Day 2 stage: Mayerling via Klein-Mariazell to Kaumberg
Stage length: 24.9 km, ascents: 855 m, descents: 697 m, walking time: 09:00 h
From Mayerling paved paths or field paths lead to Maria Raisenmarkt. It continues through the forest to Holzschlag (@ 02:00 h) and over Nöstach to the pilgrimage church Hafnerberg (01:15 h). The Vienna Pilgrim Way leads from Hafnerberg via beautiful high paths to the active Klein-Mariazell abbey (02:00 h) and further to Kaumberg (03:45 h).
Southern variants via Peilstein to Rohr im Gebirge: From Holzschlag to Peilsteinhaus, over Neuhaus to Weissenbach on the Triesting and to Furth/Schromenau (03:45 h). Here further path division – direct route through Further- and Staffgraben, steep ascent to Kieneck with the Gentian hut (04:00 h) and to Unterberghaus (02:45 h). Easier is the hike in Steinwandgraben via the Jagasitz/Kreuth inn to Thal in Muggendorf and to Unterberghaus (Schromenau – Unterberg 06:30 h). Attention: the southern variants require a different stage division of the overall route.
Valley variant Via Sacra to Kaumberg: From Hafnerberg the Via Sacra runs via Altenmarkt and Thenneberg to Kaumberg.

 Day 3 stage: Kaumberg to Rohr
Stage length: 24.9 km, ascents: 1,309 m, descents: 1,118 m, walking time: 10:45 h
This stage is demanding and requires stamina and fitness: over the mountains several ascents and descents in total 1,309 ascent meters and 24.9 kilometers length! From Kaumberg you comfortably reach the picturesque ruins of Araburg. Shortly after, the Vienna Pilgrim Way leaves the common route with the Via Sacra (which continues into the Gölsental to Hainfeld) and turns south towards Rohr im Gebirge. There follows a longer lonely ridge hike with steep ascents over Veiglkogel and Reingupf to Kieneck with the Gentian hut (04:45 h). You are now on alpine terrain over 1,000 meters above sea level. Caution in bad weather. After the Gentian hut the route continues on alpine terrain to Bettelmann cross and the shelter on Unterberg (02:45 h). Here you have reached the alpine high point of this tour. Now it goes over forest paths down to the valley to the former inn Gries and alongside the road further to Rohr im Gebirge (03:15 h).

 Day 4 stage: Rohr to St. Aegyd
Stage length: 20.6 km, ascents: 603 m, descents: 694 m, walking time: 07:15 h
A simple hiking trail leads from Rohr im Gebirge to Kalte Kuchl in Kleinzell with the Alpine inn Rieder (01:45 h). Attention: in good weather there are many motorcyclists here! From now on begins a hike in a scenically beautiful but very secluded area without catering options. From Kalte Kuchl with little altitude difference via Werasöd into the lonely grounds of the Green and Dry Schwarza (01:30 h). From Tiefental it goes through the Finstergrundgraben to the first slightly hilly upward section of this stage, over a saddle past the neobaroque castle Hochreit built in 1888 by Wittgenstein with a view into the Traisen valley (01:30 h). Over the Hochreit farm in Amt Mitterbach one reaches the Seebach valley. From the Mosbach farm one takes the local road to St. Aegyd, passes the station and soon reaches the center of St. Aegyd (02:30 h).

 Day 5 stage: St. Aegyd to Mariazell
Stage length: 27.1 km, ascents: 869 m, descents: 586 m, walking time: 09:15 h
The forest ditch of the Unrechttraisen leads – increasing more steeply only at the end – to Kernhofer Gscheid (03:30 h). From St. Aegyd there is also the option to reach Gscheid via Kernhof. After Gscheid follows a road section, after which one turns into a forest road and enters Walster valley via Krumbach saddle (junction of Falkenschlucht trail from Türnitz). The route continues along Hubertus lake (on asphalt) to Bruder Klaus church (02:30 h). From here one walks westwards in Walster valley to the turnoff to the moderately strenuous Habertheuersattel. Once there, one descends to Sebastiani path and Rosary path and continues on this to the Mariazell pilgrimage church (03:15 h from Walstern).

Appropriate hiking equipment is necessary. Additionally, it must be considered that this is a multi-day hike.

Further information also at: https://www.viasacra.at/10-tipps-fuer-einsteiger

Easy hiking trails in the Vienna Woods, but more demanding paths in the foothills over Kieneck and Unterberg. Mostly forest roads and side streets from Rohr im Gebirge onwards. Duration: 5 days (the route can also be done in sporty four or comfortable six daily stages)

Walking times: The indicated walking times were calculated based on the German Alpine Club table. These are pure walking times, rounded to the nearest quarter hour.

Possible starting points: Perchtoldsdorf (from the parish church or forest sanatorium) or Vienna-Rodaun (line 60)

Perchtoldsdorf (from Vienna):
South motorway A2 towards Linz – continue on Vienna outer ring motorway A21 towards Linz/St. Pölten – exit Brunn am Gebirge – continue towards Perchtoldsdorf.
Suburban train line S3 or bus connection.

Vienna-Rodaun (from Vienna):
Vienna public transport, tram line 60 - terminus Vienna-Rodaun.

Mostviertel Tourismus GmbH
Töpper castle Neubruck, Neubruck 2/10, 3283 Scheibbs
T +43/7482/20 444
info@viasacra.at
www.viasacra.at

Parish church of St. Augustine in Perchtoldsdorf, Perchtoldsdorf castle, parish church of St. John the Baptist in Sittendorf, cemetery and Calvary hill in Heiligenkreuz, Cistercian abbey Heiligenkreuz, Carmelite Mayerling, pilgrimage church Hafnerberg, basilica Klein-Mariazell, parish church "St. John the Baptist" in Altenmarkt, pilgrimage church "To the suffering Savior in Dornau" in Thenneberg, parish church "St. Michael" in Kaumberg, local history museum Kaumberg, Steinwand gorge, Myra waterfalls, St. Vincent chapel in Thal, Araburg castle ruins, chapel on Unterberg, parish church of St. Ulrich in Rohr im Gebirge, Via Sacra and woodcutter museum at the Kalte Kuchl, Art Nouveau style Protestant forest church in St. Aegyd, Bruder Klaus church in the Walstern, Arthur Krupp monument path, Kreuzberg “Luckertes Kreuz” (cultic passage custom), basilica in Mariazell

Recommended literature
Via Sacra hiking guide – Vienna Pilgrim Way, www.mostviertel.at 
Pilgrimage routes to Mariazell, www.styriabooks.at 
Mariazell region and Ötscher, www.residenzverlag.at