alpannonia long-distance hiking trail: Fischbach - Kőszeg

From the starting point in Fischbach, head uphill toward the Teufelstein. The summit, with its wonderful view, is a short distance off the main trail—the ascent takes about 15 minutes. Now the trail descends slightly to the Alpl saddle. From the Alpl, the trail climbs steadily up to the Pretul, which offers panoramic views and marks the highest point of the Alpannonia hiking trail network: the Stuhleck at an elevation of 1,782 m. From the Stuhleck, a somewhat steep descent leads to the Pfaffensattel. The trail then climbs slightly again, past the small Pfaff and on to the Feistritzsattel. This is where the trail begins a longer ascent to the second-highest point, the Hochwechsel at an altitude of 1,743 m. Even before reaching the Hochwechsel, at the Kranichberger Schwaig, a panoramic section begins, leading over the Hochwechsel and Niederwechsel to the Mönichkirchner Schwaig. This section offers views of the Vienna Basin, the Graz Basin, and far into Hungary. The hiking trail leads from Mönichkirchen via Hochneukirchen to Bernstein across the hilly landscape of the Bucklige Welt and Burgenland. The route is characterized by sections that alternate between forest, meadows, and fields and always offer views in different directions. From Bernstein, the trail winds through gentle ascents and descents via Goberling to Unterkohlstätten. Here begins the trail’s final major ascent to the Hirschenstein and Geschriebenstein, with 883 m of elevation gain. At the summit of the Geschriebenstein and the observation tower atop it, you’ve also reached the Austrian-Hungarian border. The Hungarian section of the Alpannonia hiking trail network then leads downhill, with a few small climbs, until you finally reach the plain in the center of Köszeg.