Mostviertel

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Coordinates: 48 ° 0 '  N , 15 ° 25'  E

Relief map: Austria
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Mostviertel​
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Austria
Districts and districts of Lower Austria
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The Mostviertel , ancient district above the Vienna Woods , is the southwestern part of Lower Austria .

Since the political districts were formed in 1868, the districts in Lower Austria no longer have a legal basis and are purely landscape names. The older district division , which was still based on the old quarters, was replaced.

In the north it is bordered by the Danube , in the south and west by the state border with Styria and Upper Austria . In the east, the Vienna Woods form the natural border. One can assume an area of ​​approximately 5,500 km². One also speaks generally of south-western Lower Austria .

structure

Core region Mostviertel, Eisenwurzen, Ostarrichi, Strudengau, Nibelungengau

Historical administrative region

As part of the Teresian reforms was circular upper Vienna Woods (abbreviated in the 18th and 19th centuries OWW or VOWW) established that as the lowest government unit to local landlords faced. The seat of the district office was St. Pölten . After the upheaval around 1848 and the transfer of rulers to free municipalities, district offices (see administrative district ) took over many areas of responsibility of the district offices. Such district offices were established in 1853 for the districts of Amstetten , Atzenbrugg , Gaming , Haag , Hainfeld , Herzogenburg , Kirchberg an der Pielach , Lilienfeld , Mank , Mautern , Melk , Neulengbach , St. Pölten , Scheibbs , Seitenstetten , Tulln , Waidhofen an der Ybbs and Ybbs established and the district office in St. Pölten now acted as the second instance of the district offices and also acted as a supervisory authority. This administrative structure was in place until 1867. With the settlement in 1867 , the Mostviertel was divided into districts (or district authorities ) by the new constitution of Austria of 1867 in 1868 , thus abolishing the district of Ober-Wienerwald.

However, the old district structure survived in the area of ​​justice as the district court of St. Pölten , which was still the second instance for the district courts of the Mostviertel and the Mostviertel was also a separate constituency for the National Council until 1992, until the National Council electoral code of 1992 a structure with smaller ones Regional constituencies was established.

Political structure

The main regions of Lower Austria

Translated into today's political administration, the Mostviertel comprises the following districts:

The natural boundaries differ somewhat from this.

Main region

The Mostviertel is divided into two main regions of spatial planning: Lower Lower Austria-Mitte and the main region Mostviertel , which continues the name of the district. NÖ-Mitte occupies the eastern part of the Mostviertel around St. Pölten, while the west around Amstetten, Scheibbs and Melk (which itself belongs to Lower Lower Austria) form the main region of Mostviertel. This main region also includes the Melk district north of the Danube, which is part of the landscape of the Waldviertel .

Geographical and cultural breakdown

Mostviertel from the Dambergwarte to the east
Blossom between Steinakirchen and Blindenmarkt
View over St. Leonhard am Wald towards the northeast
Hills around Scheibbs

In addition to this political structure, there is a geographical and cultural structure:

  • Mostviertel, the core area, includes areas of the Ybbsfeld around Amstetten, the Url valley , hilly and undulating area and the main cultivation area for the must trees
  • Eisenwurzen , the Lower Austrian part of the Eisenwurzen, borders the Mostviertel to the south along the approximate border Waidhofen an der Ybbs - Scheibbs and includes the southern Ybbstal as well as the Kleines and Großes Erlauftal up to the Styrian border.
  • Strudengau
  • Nibelungengau
  • Wachau

The latter three are sections of the Danube Valley and cross-border on each bank half of Mostviertel, half of Lower Austrian Waldviertel and Upper Austrian Mühlviertel . From a geological perspective, the southern part of the Wachau ( Hiesberg and Dunkelsteinerwald ) belongs to the Bohemian Massif and is therefore more likely to be assigned to the Waldviertel.

Touristic experience spaces

Mostviertel - Eisenwurzen

From a tourist point of view, the Mostviertel is divided into several adventure areas. These are advertised as independent brands:

central area

The Sonntagberg Basilica, visible from afar, on a 712 meter high ridge and one of the landmarks of the Mostviertel

According to the vernacular, the core area of ​​the Mostviertel between Ybbs and Enns in the Amstetten district can be defined as the region in which you can see the Basilica on Sonntagberg . According to this definition, the Mostviertel partially coincides with the Ostarrichi region around Neuhofen an der Ybbs (Amstetten district), which was named in a deed of donation from Emperor Otto III. is also referred to as the origin of Austria. In addition to this core area, there is also the term Eisenwurzen , which is used for the districts of Scheibbs , Waidhofen an der Ybbs ,  Lilienfeld (western part) and Melk (Erlauftal to Pöchlarn).

It owes the name Mostviertel to the apple and pear must . The landscape between the rivers Ybbs and Enns has very good climatic conditions for the cultivation of the necessary fruit trees and is considered a core area for must management.

Typical for the Mostviertel are the extensive orchards around the farmsteads , as well as the slightly hilly landscape of the Alpine foothills . The “secret” capital of the Mostviertel is the district capital Amstetten .

Geography and nature

The Mostviertel is characterized by its contrasting landscape and vegetation. In the north, gently undulating hills between 300 and 400 m high predominate, which gradually descend into the Danube lowlands. In the south, the last foothills of the Northern Limestone Alps rise to almost 1,900 m. 1,650 meters in altitude lie between the lowest point in Ardagger (246 m) and the Ötscher , which is the highest peak at 1,893 m. The Dürrenstein (1,878 m), the Hochkar (1,808 m), the Göller (1,766 m) and the Gippel (1,669 m) are other high mountains in the region. Bizarre rock formations, deep gorges, bubbling water and three nature parks characterize the wild alpine mountains.

The Enns , Ybbs , Erlauf , Pielach and Traisen are the largest rivers in the Mostviertel, they all flow into the Danube . The Traisen and Ybbstal valleys divide the Mostviertel in a north-south direction. The Gölsental to the east connects to the Traisental, the river of the same name is the only larger tributary of the Traisen.

Extensive forest areas shape the landscape in the Traisental and the upper reaches of the Traisen. The primeval forest on the Lahnsattel near St. Aegyd and the approximately 3,500 hectare Dürrenstein wilderness area between Lunz am See and Göstling an der Ybbs are two natural features in the Mostviertel Alps.

In the Göstling Alps, at around 860 m above sea level, there is the Leckermoor nature reserve, one of the largest raised bogs in Lower Austria, which has been a nature reserve since 1984.

Climatically, the Mostviertel is characterized by both Atlantic and Pannonian influences. Due to the mild climate and the nutrient-rich limestone soils, fruit, wine and vegetables thrive particularly well in the gently rolling hills south of the Danube. Today the Mostviertel is considered to be the largest contiguous cider pear growing area in Europe. The pear trees thrive in the entire Alpine foothills south of the Danube, especially in the Erlauftal, Melker Alpine foothills, Pielachtal and Traisental. There are around 300 different types of pear in the Mostviertel, of which around 20 are suitable for the production of single-variety pear must. In the Mostviertel Alps, on the other hand, there is an alpine climate , with pleasantly refreshing summer days and high snow reliability in winter, especially on the Hochkar. In contrast to pear trees, apple trees also grow in the Alps at higher altitudes of up to 1100 meters. The alpine mountains are particularly popular with hikers and nature lovers in summer, while the sporty and family ski areas attract visitors in winter.

Division into sub-areas

According to the nature conservation concept of 2015, Lower Austria is divided into 124 sub-areas (this division was developed in the 1990s), which are grouped into 26 regions. The decisive factor are the boundaries of the main regions, so that the division is not purely natural, but is also based on the administrative structure.

See the list of natural spatial units in Lower Austria

Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park

The Erlauf in the front gate wall
Eisenwurzen Nature Park

The Ötscher-Tormäuer nature park is the largest nature park in Lower Austria at 170 km². The center is the Ötscher with its distinctive gorges, such as the Ötschergräben, and the wide alpine pastures. Some rare plants grow between the rocks, such as daphne , fluffy stone roses, Clusius primroses and various gentians . The nature park is also home to many wild animals such as chamois, red deer, long-eared owls and birds of prey such as golden eagles and kestrels.

North of this area, the air is particularly clean and light pollution is low. Therefore, some astro clubs have set up observation stations here, u. a. on an alpine pasture at Hochbärneck (950 m) and a little further west on the northern slope of the Hohen Dirn (1300 m).

Buchenberg Nature Park

The Buchenberg nature and adventure park is located in the southwest of the Mostviertel. The mixed forest area is home to domestic wild animals and domestic animals. A fee has to be paid for the animal enclosure area, while the rest of the nature park is freely accessible.

Lower Austria Eisenwurzen Nature Park

In the middle of the northern Limestone Alps, in the triangle of Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Styria, lies the Eisenwurzen Nature Park. The Gamsstein with an altitude of 1,774 m is the highest point. The park borders directly on the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature Park and is characterized by a diverse landscape. Due to the sometimes difficult to access areas and the many gorges, many remains of the primeval forest have been preserved here. The nature park is rich in small streams and waterfalls. On some hills there are still managed alpine pastures.

Alpine lakes

The Lunzer See is 1,600 meters long and 500 meters wide, its deepest point is 34 meters. It has a water quality of quality class I and is the only purely natural lake in Lower Austria. Since 2004 the lake has been used as a cultural site in the evening. The Lunzer Seebühne is played with music and summer theater and is known for its extraordinary architecture. The float is flooded in winter and sunk in the lake.

The Erlaufsee lies at 827 m above sea level north-west of Mariazell. This has drinking water quality and is a popular destination for walkers, hikers, fishermen and divers.

geology

The Mostviertel has a share of the Alpine foothills (where most of the settlements are), the flysch zone and the northern limestone Alps . Most of the mountain ranges are in the south, on the border with Styria . The highest peaks are in the Ybbstal Alps and are the Ötscher (Old Slavic "Vaterberg", 1893 m), the Dürrenstein (1878 m) and the Hochkar .

The foothills of the Alps is of the deposits of aspiring to the north rivers of Ybbs and Erlauf influenced, both in the north of the Mostviertel in the Danube flow.

Must culture

For many years, must has been given an increased cultural value. Today it is even seen as an identity-creating feature. A variety of cider tavern invites to homemade snack with regional specialties, pastries one, brandies and different musts whose variety is great. There are more than 3000 squares in the region , i.e. buildings that are arranged in a closed square around the inner courtyard.

A basic distinction is made between pure apple and pear cider, and mixed cider is a common form. In most cider regions, the apple is primarily used to make cider, whereas in Lower Austria's Mostviertel it is the pear. The region is characterized by extensive orchards , which are mostly home to pear trees. Most pear trees can live up to 200 years and bloom from late April to early May. Of the over 300 different types of pear in the region, around 20 are particularly suitable for must production. The best-known pear varieties include: Pichel pear, Amstettner cider pear, cod pear, Honnel pear, bacon pear and country pear. Pear must is available in four different flavors: mild, semi-mild, strong and crisp. The cider pear is also suitable for the production of fruit juices, fine brandies, vinegar, frizzante and high-quality cuvées .

Moststrasse

Mostviertel idyll
Pear tree Lucas Alexander

To stimulate tourism and better marketing the region, the 200 km long “ Moststrasse ” was set up in the western part of the Mostviertel, where mainly single-variety pear musts are produced. This well-signposted adventure road has been specially set up for tourism and leads past numerous cider inns, cider streets, current farms and farms as well as viewpoints and educational trails that invite you to visit.

Another specialty of the must culture in the Mostviertel are the must barons. There are currently 21 Mostviertel must producers, fine distillers, restaurateurs and hoteliers who have this title. You have made a vow to cultivate, promote and develop the culture around pear must.

Excursion destinations on Moststrasse

In Ardagger pin standing MostBirnHaus , knowledge of the Mostviertel, pears and cider taught. The production process of the must is presented in this “experience and pleasure center”. The museum shop also houses the largest must collection in the Mostviertel.

In town Hague you will find the Mostviertel Museum, founded 1968th It houses the most extensive collection of equipment and objects from the rural culture and working world in western Lower Austria. An insight into rural living culture and housekeeping complete the overall picture of the museum. The open-air museum next door offers 20 rural, culturally and historically interesting buildings from Lower Austria's Mostviertel and Bucklige Welt . Wooden block buildings (house mill with water wheel drive , Köhlerhütte , Ausnehmhaus with smoke kitchen, Troadkästen, Dörrhäusl with Brechelstube, beehive, tail hammer mill with paddle waterwheel, tool shed) including inventory and equipment, machines and tractors and a medicinal herb garden.

Another destination is the Mostelleria in Öhling . An interactive experience show tells the story of the mostello , a dessert wine made from pears. In addition, visitors can explore the ripening and resting chambers of the pear wine and distillate and then taste them.

The Seitenstetten , the so-called "Vierkanter God," with its historic courtyard garden and the pilgrimage church Sonntagberg are popular pilgrimage destinations. The baroque interior, an art collection and the gallery can be visited.

With the Mostviertel Farmer's Museum, the largest private folklore collection in Austria, and the Ostarrichi Kulturhof in Neuhofen, which gives an overview of Austrian history from 996, there are two more excursion destinations on Moststrasse.

Mostviertel specialties

Pear tree in the Mostviertel

In addition to must, various juices and fruit brandies are also made from the fruits of the region. The Traisental wine region is known for its Grüner Veltliner and Riesling.

The “ Genuss Region Österreich ” initiative , together with the Ministry of Food and Agrarmarkt Austria , honors typical products from Austrian regions. Mostviertel several culinary regions are advertised: Mostviertler Mostbirn, Mostviertler sheep cheese, Mostviertler organic hemp, organic Pielachtaler Dirndln, Traisental Hofkas, Traisental wine, Traisental fruit juices, Dunkelsteiner rosehip, Lilienfelder-Alps Wild, Ybbstal trout as well as the gourmet region Wiesenwienerwald Elsbeere .

Events

Festivals around the must take place in the Mostviertel throughout the year. Cider baptisms take place annually on the day of Most Saint Sebastian , January 20th. On March 19, Joseph's day , the baron must is “blessed” during the traditional must pilgrimage and the new “primus” is chosen beforehand. In the following year he was the spokesman for the cider barons.

In spring, the flowering time of the pear trees is celebrated with the “must spring”, followed by the harvest time in autumn. In November, the young musts and the best brandies are tasted during a celebration around the must.

A little off the must road, the must day takes place annually on the last Sunday in April , which is the most important festival day in the spring must. Social events such as excursions, hikes, must tastings and must pint take place. When Salon of must be Austrian and international wine producers meet the Schallaburg . Another cultural highlight of the Spring Wine or Wine Harvest takes place regularly from mid-August to late November at the Lower Austrian wine route instead. 2019 is now also the year of the cider pear and on this occasion some events such as book presentations, craft festivals and various tastings take place.

At the end of September the most beautiful dirndl blossoms, the so-called cornel cherries, can be explored on the Dirndl Blossom Hike and Dirndlkirtag in the Pielachtal on the Gaisbühel “1,000 Dirndl Mountain” or on the Hofberg. The service tree is celebrated at the beginning of May with the "service tree day". These fruits thrive best in the eastern Mostviertel. At the same time of year, wild rose and rose hips can be tasted in the Dunkelsteinerwald .

Viticulture

The Traisental-Donauland wine-growing region south of the Danube and north of St. Pölten is the youngest in Austria and covers around 770 hectares. The Traisental is best known for its Grüner Veltliner and Riesling .

Once a year, on October 26th, the Traisental young wines are presented and, in addition to the classic Veltliner, other types of wine such as Rivaner, Gelber Muskateller and Cuvées are tasted. Other events on the subject of wine in the Traisental include the Weinrieden hiking day in Reichersdorf, the St. Pölten Kellergasse Festival and the Christmas wine market in Ahrenberger Kellergasse.

sport and freetime

Hiking trails

The Schleierfall at the beginning of the Ötschergraben
Trift rake on the Mendling
View from the summit of the Ötscher

The Mostviertel offers an extensive, varied network of hiking trails over 3,000 km in length. The alpine mountain world in the south offers the opportunity for alpine pasture and hut hikes as well as mountain, gorge and summit tours. The Panoramahöhenweg with the Sonntagberg and the Pielachtaler Rundwanderweg offer special views of the gently rolling and alpine landscape of the Mostviertel. More than 100 hiking trails are located directly on Moststraße and run through the gently rolling hills in the north. There are also numerous themed and pilgrimage routes .

  • The Ötschergräben : The hiking trail is 9.66 km long and takes about three hours. The Ötschergräben is also known as the “Grand Canyon of Austria” and was voted Austria's most beautiful hiking trail in 2011 by the Austrian Alpine Association and Austria's hiking villages . The starting point for the hike is the Ötscher-Basis Nature Park Center in Wienerbruck. In the course of the route you come to the historic Stierwaschboden power station via the Lassingfall. From there the path leads to the Ötscherhias snack station and on to the Vorderötscher shelter. The hike passes three imposing waterfalls: Lassingfall, Mirafall and Schleierfall.
  • Mendlingtal adventure world : the hiking trail in Göstling an der Ybbs is three kilometers long and runs along footbridges and forest paths, past a mill, a bread bakery and ends in the Herrenhaus snack bar. The last functional wood drift system in Central Europe is located in the Mendling Valley . Display boards inform visitors about the route the logs covered at that time.
  • Mostviertel Alpine Tour : The Alpine tour takes around 20 hours from the Hochkar to the Dürrenstein to the Ötscher . All three mountains reach a height of around 1,800 m and are located in the southernmost part of Lower Austria. Ötscher and Dürrenstein are interrupted by the Oistal, while the stretch between Dürrenstein and Hochkar is connected by a mountain ridge. The tour is demanding and requires stamina and extraordinary surefootedness.
  • The mountain hike to the Dürrenstein in the Ybbstal Alps begins in the Steinbachtal and ends after a distance of 21 km at Lake Lunzer . The highest point is 1,873 m. Along the way there is the possibility to take a break in the Ybbstalerhütte. The route is relatively demanding and requires a good level of fitness.
  • The Hochkar has a height of 1,808 m and is located in the middle of the Göstling Alps . A total of 157 km of marked hiking trails are available. The most famous hiking routes on the Hochkar include: the summit trail (20 minutes), the mountain lake hike (30 minutes), the circular hikes (two to four hours) and the Hochkar-Dürrenstein-Ötscher alpine trail (20 hours - for a description, see "Mostviertler Alpintour" above) .
  • From Lackenhof to the Ötscher summit : The Ötscher is 1,893 m high and belongs to the Ybbstal Alps . The chairlift takes you from Lackenhof to the Ötscher summit and back in around three hours. For experienced hikers, the route over the Rauhen Kamm to the Ötscher summit offers one of the most challenging hikes in the Mostviertel.
  • The Gemeindealpe has a height of 1,626 m and is located in the middle of the Ybbstal Alps. Modern chairlifts take you from 800 m to 1,626 m in just a few minutes. A hiking trail leads over the source of the Erlauf and the old marble quarry on the Brunnstein from the west side to the summit of the Gemeindealpe to the Terzerhaus. The summit circular route offers impressive views of the Ötscher and the mountain landscape of the Mariazellerland.

Pilgrimage routes

Via Sacra

The Via Sacra in Lower Austria

The Via Sacra (Heilige Straße) is considered the oldest pilgrimage route in Austria and leads from Hinterbrühl near Vienna via Kaumberg and Lilienfeld to Mariazell . The route can be covered in four to five daily stages and has a length of approx. 125 km. Parts of the pilgrimage route can also be used with the Mariazell bus. Cultural sights along the Holy Road are the Heiligenkreuz Abbey , the Klein-Mariazell Abbey and the Lilienfeld Abbey as well as the Annaberg pilgrimage church on the first "Holy Mountain" of the Ötscherland.

The Viennese pilgrimage route 06

The Viennese pilgrimage route 06 was created in 1975 by the long-distance hiking organization of the Alpine Association as an alternative to the traditional Via Sacra. The route leads from Perchtoldsdorf through Kaumberg in the Vienna Woods via Rohr im Gebirge and St. Aegyd am Neuwalde to Mariazell and has a length of approx. 112 km. There are other variants between Maria Raisenmarkt and the Unterberg via Weissenbach, Furth and Muggendorf. These routes touch scenic highlights and avoid the strenuous ascent between Araburg and Kieneck. The pilgrimage route is marked by yellow signs and can be covered in four to five daily stages.

Other pilgrimage routes

  • The Pielachtaler pilgrimage route leads from the state capital St. Pölten via Kirchberg and Annaberg to Mariazell . The route is 90 km and is marked with red and yellow signs. The pilgrimage route can also be covered over long distances with the Mariazellerbahn .
  • The Manker Pilgrimage Trail begins in St. Pölten and leads through the communities of Ober-Grafendorf , St. Margarethen and Hürm to Mank . The pilgrimage route was created at the time of the plague epidemic in 1645 and has a total length of 31 km.
  • Upper Austrian Mariazellerweg : The starting point is the pilgrimage church on Pöstlingberg near Linz. The route leads south to St. Florian Monastery , to the pilgrimage church in Christkindl , then in a south-easterly direction to Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Gscheid, Lunz am See (601 m), the Ötscher and the Ötschergräben. It has a total length of about 175 km.
  • Jakobsweg Mostviertel : Part of the Austrian Jakobsweg leads through the Mostviertel. Beginning at Melk Abbey , it runs westwards along the Danube, via the pilgrimage site of Maria Taferl, Ybbs, Neustadtl and Ardagger Abbey, and Zeillern Castle , to Wallsee on the edge of the Danube.

Bike paths

Mostviertel Danube Cycle Path

The Danube Cycle Path is one of the most famous long-distance cycle routes in Austria and crosses Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Part of the route leads through the Mostviertel from St. Pantaleon-Erla to Ybbs on the Danube .

The Traisental cycle path

The Traisental cycle path runs from Traismauer via St. Pölten and Lilienfeld along the Traisen via St. Aegyd to Mariazell and has a length of about 107 km. The cycle path was launched in 2007 and awarded four stars by the ADFC (General German Bicycle Club) in 2009.

More bike tours

  • The Triesting-Gölsental cycle tour is one of the seven major cycle tours in Lower Austria and is 60 km long. The route runs from Leobersdorf to St. Veit an der Gölsen and connects to the Traisental cycle path in Traisen.
  • Along the Pielach extending Pielachtal-cycling . This begins directly under the Melker Danube bridge on the Danube Cycle Path and ends at the train station in Loich in the Dobersnigg district. The route is about 51 km long and takes an average of three and a half hours.
  • Ybbstal bike tour: The Ybbstal bike tour stretches from Ybbs an der Donau to Lunz am See and is 108 km long. The section between Amstetten and Waidhofen an der Ybbs is particularly suitable for family bike tours.
  • Ötscherland Cycle Tour: The Ötscherland Cycle Tour begins in Pöchlarn, where it branches off the Danube Cycle Path and finally leads to Lackenhof via Wieselburg, Purgstall, Scheibbs, Gaming, Pfaffenschlag and Lunz. The route is 68 km long (from Pöchlarn) and, due to its topography and the course along the Erlauf, is also suitable for family excursions.
  • Mostbaron bike tour: The Mostbaron bike tour leads on the traces of the must culture and through the largest closed pear tree area in Europe. It begins in the area around the MostBirnHaus near Stift Ardagger and leads via Euratsfeld to Mauer-Öhling and back to Ardagger. The distance is about 110 km and is considered demanding.
  • Prima Pira Tour: The bike tour is named after the Prima Pira , a type of pear used by the must barons of the region to make brandy. The route runs in a loop from Wallsee via Aschbach-Markt and Seitenstetten Haag back to the starting point. Note: the cycle route no longer exists. All road signs have been removed. (As of September 2019)

Mountain bike routes

There are over 60 designated mountain bike trails in the Mostviertel . The route network is a total of 1,350 km long and overcomes 26,000 meters of altitude. The individual routes differ in terms of length, difference in altitude and the nature of the ground. The Bellevue route, for example, runs around Waidhofen, Ybbsitz and the Sonntagberg. The tour is suitable for beginners and has a length of 42.6 km. Another highlight is the Sonnbrandalm tour in Hollenstein an der Ybbs, a demanding tour on which numerous meters in altitude have to be covered. Other well-known mountain bike routes in the Mostviertel are z. B. the Ötscher-Trekking-Runde and the Dirndltal- or Traisen-Golsental-XL-Tour .

Ski areas

Panoramic view on the Hochkar
  • Göstling-Hochkar : The Hochkar is located in the Göstling Alps and is the largest and most snow-reliable ski area in Lower Austria. The winter sports area has 19 km of slopes and a total of eight ski lifts.
  • Lackenhof am Ötscher: The Ötscher village Lackenhof is located in the immediate vicinity of the slopes and has 19 km of slopes and nine lifts.
  • Annaberg : The ski area is in the Lilienfeld district in Lower Austria and has 20 km of slopes with a total of nine lifts. For families and beginners there are easy runs in the area of ​​the Reidl lifts, experienced skiers can switch to FIS- compatible slopes and mogul slopes.
  • Gemeindealpe Mitterbach: The ski area is located in the Lower Austrian Limestone Alps in Mitterbach am Erlaufsee and has 15 km of slopes with a total of four lifts. The Gemeindealpe also has FIS-compatible slopes, a freeride area and a snow park. For ski tourers, there are two signposted routes with different levels of difficulty.
  • Other ski areas are: Maiszinkenk near Lunz am See (4.5 km of slopes, two lifts); Forsteralm, (18 km of slopes, eight lifts); Königsberg-Hollenstein (14 km of slopes, six lifts), St. Aegyd / Neuwalde (2 km of slopes, two lifts), Puchenstuben (three lifts), Muckenkogel - Skitourenberg (one chair lift)

Cross-country skiing

  • Nordic Center St. Aegyd : The cross-country skiing area extends between the market town of Traisen and Mariazell. The area has around 80 km of trails up to 1,000 m above sea level. The area is equipped with six cross-country skiing areas and a total of 15 trails.
  • Cross-country skiing center Hochreit in Göstling-Hochkar : The cross-country skiing center is located between Hochkar and Dürrenstein at about 900 m above sea level. The area has a total of six trails ranging in length from two to seven kilometers.
  • Turmkogel Puchenstuben cross-country skiing center: The cross-country skiing center is located in the area of ​​the municipality of Puchenstuben at around 1,250 m above sea level. It has around 27 km of trails and is also equipped with a 5 km long trail only for skaters.
  • Lackenhof am Ötscher: The cross-country skiing area has a network of around 21 km of trails, 7.5 km of which are also groomed for skaters. There are a total of six cross-country trails: the Gmoa trail (5 km), the Eselweg trail (2.5 km), the Weitental trail (1 km), the cycle path trail (4 km), the Sonnenhof trail (2nd floor) km) and the Mandelboden trail (2.5 km).
  • Annaberg : The cross-country skiing area has two trails, the Annaberg trail (approx. 7 km) and the Lassingtal trail (approx. 11 km). Both trails are classic and groomed for skaters.
  • Mitterbach am Erlaufsee : The Erlauf trail is 3.5 km long and connected to the trails in St. Sebastian via a connecting trail. An additional trail at Moarhof, the Kapsch trail (5 km), is groomed for racing events.
  • Cross-country skiing center Prolling Ybbsitz : The cross-country skiing center has a classic trail (9 km) and a skating trail (9 km). The Prolling cross-country skiing area was founded around 20 years ago by an interest group of neighboring farmers and residents and is supported by the Ybbsitz ski club.

Culture

The cultural offerings in the Mostviertel range from music events and theaters to museums and handicrafts. Many events take place in special locations in nature or in historical buildings such as forges , castles or monasteries.

Museums and exhibitions

Schallaburg Castle with annually changing permanent exhibitions
  • Schallaburg : The castle from the Renaissance period shows history with annually changing exhibitions within a well-preserved residential castle from the Middle Ages . Important for the castle are the elaborate mansion with terracotta - arcades and the Renaissance ornamental garden. The Schallaburg is located in the Mostviertel in the municipality of Schollach .
  • City Museum St. Pölten : The city museum , which opened in November 2007, is located in the center of the old town of St. Pölten . In addition to an archaeological department, the house has a collection of prehistoric and early historical objects, exhibits from the city's Roman times and an Art Nouveau department. Archeology , city history and Art Nouveau form the basis of the museum.
  • Scheibbs ceramics museum: In the founding building of Scheibbser ceramics, a former hammer mill, there are 2000 ceramic objects from Art Nouveau and Art Deco as well as expressive art ceramics from the clay industry Scheibbs from the years 1923 to 1933 and the Scheibbser ceramics since 1937.
  • Ostarrichi Kulturhof : The exhibition begins in 996 with the Ostarrichi certificate and offers an overview of Austrian history with the help of maps and pictures. The museum is located in Neuhofen / Ybbs.
  • Museum of Lower Austria : The museum located in St. Pölten consists of a history, a nature and an art area. Each of these areas focuses on Lower Austria.
  • Mostviertel Farmer's Museum : The museum is located in Amstetten and contains a private folk collection with over 18,000 exhibits.
  • Crockery Museum Wilhelmsburg : The crockery museum is located in the former factory building and has a complete collection of “lily porcelain” tableware.
  • Family Museum 5 e (Five Elements): The exhibition in the Rotschild Castle in Waidhofen an der Ybbs is dedicated to the five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal.
  • FeRRUM Ybbsitz: The story of Eisenwurzen is told, starting with prehistory and early history up to the present day. In addition, there are installations in the ten-meter-high, baroque roof structure that take up the themes of iron and metal.
  • Prehistoric Museum: The museum in Nussdorf ob der Traisen deals with the different epochs of prehistoric times , from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Museum visitors can test their archaeological knowledge in a quiz.
  • Museum of historical beer mugs : The museum in Hainfeld , the only one of its kind in Austria, houses around 350 mugs from the period 1500 to 1950.
  • Hainfeld Museum : Museum of the city of Hainfeld . One room is dedicated to the Hainfeld Unification Party Congress, at which Viktor Adler managed to unite the Austrian Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) at the turn of the year 1888/89 .

Eisenstrasse Lower Austria

The Eisenstrasse Niederösterreich (formerly Kulturpark Eisenstrasse ) describes a regional project in the area of ​​the southern Mostviertel, where the Lower Austrian Eisenwurzen is located. The history of mining forms the focus of Eisenstraße Lower Austria: old hammer mansions , authentic forges and artistic metal objects in public space create a veritable metal trail through the region. Eisenstrasse is also the scene of modern events.

The ore mountain in Eisenerz has been used for the extraction of iron since the Middle Ages . The transport route started from the Erzberg and ran along the Steirisch / Niederösterreichische Eisenstraße. The precious goods were sold and exchanged. In this way, newly acquired goods could get back to the Styrian Eisenerz. On the alpine rivers on the Ybbs and Erlauf you can still find numerous hammers and mills that were needed for the processing of iron. Charcoal was needed for the mills to function properly. For this reason, the wood from nearby forests was processed and used for the production of charcoal.

Iron ore mining on the Styrian Erzberg began in the 12th century. Waidhofen an der Ybbs and Scheibbs an der Erlauf quickly developed into the most important iron trading towns of the time due to their favorable location. In the 14th and 15th centuries 200 blacksmiths were active in Waidhofen. The hardware was not only distributed in the Habsburg Empire, but also exported to Venice and the Middle East. The old Waidhofner motto Ferrum chalybsque urbis nutrimenta ("Iron and steel feed the city") goes back to this time .

Handicrafts and customs

Ybbstalbahn Wetterbachbrücke 1996

Several initiatives and companies in the Mostviertel aim to preserve cultural assets and traditions:

  • Some regional companies have joined together to form the must barons and want to keep the must culture alive and promote it.
  • The Ybbsitz forge mile tells about everyday life in the forge using eight milestones. The three-kilometer adventure trail leads to the region's hammer mills . These include the Fahrngruber Hammer , the Eybl Hammerwerk with artist workshop , the Strunz Hammer and the Einöd Hammer .
  • In the Haubiversum baking adventure world in Petzenkirchen , visitors can take a look behind the scenes of a bakery.
  • Riess tableware : The family company Riess operates the only Austrian enamel factory in Ybbsitz , in which high-quality cookware, enamel signs and industrial components are produced. The company's roots go back to 1550, when the original pan forge was founded in Ybbsitz. In 1922 the production of enamel cookware started.
  • The Mostviertel is home to numerous breweries : from traditional private breweries with regional roots to pub breweries that serve their own beer. The most famous breweries include the Fritz Egger private brewery , the Wieselburg brewery and the Hainfeld brewery .

Events

The Lower Austrian provincial capital St. Pölten is regularly the scene of classical and modern festivals. The most important cultural institutions include the modern festival hall and the Lower Austria Museum .

Around Christmas time, the Christmas markets in particular attract visitors to the Mostviertel, but numerous events are also held during the year.

In the Traisental cultural and wine autumn , the focus is on wine. Another culinary highlight are the dirndls from the Pielachtal, which are celebrated on Dirndlkirtag especially in September.

Further cultural highlights are the wellenklaenge festival in Lunz am See, the theater summer in Haag, the Gipfelklaenge , the Chopin festival in the Kartause Gaming and the baroque festival in St. Pölten.

architecture

Vierkanter in the western Mostviertel

The architecture in the Mostviertel is essentially determined by rural designs , the most important characteristic of which is the square . In addition, there is a relatively steep roof, mostly hipped or half-hipped roof , in the Eisenwurzen also a gable roof . The steep roof shape results in a ratio of roof height to one- or two-story wall heights of mostly approximately 1: 1, i.e. H. the roof is usually almost as high as the floors below. This creates the impression of sedate, but also protection and warmth. Pitched roofs are usually caused by snowy winters, as too much snow would cause them to collapse.

Especially in the direction of Eisenwurzen ( Scheibbs district , Waidhofen an der Ybbs , southern part of Amstetten district ), the square is being replaced by so-called double-T yards .

In addition to the four-sided and four-sided courtyards, there is still the double-T courtyard in the region around Ybbsitz and, in the regions of the Eisenwurzen with its alpine character, the traditional heap and paired courtyards .

Monasteries and monasteries

Seitenstetten Abbey, the "square of God"

Castles and Palaces

Church building

The Mostviertel is a self-contained core zone of the Austrian Baroque, Mostviertel churches are predominantly built in late Gothic style and baroque, the design of the three-aisled hall church or, more rarely, the basilica are typical. The pilgrimage church and basilica Sonntagberg is a baroque gem and the spiritual center of the Mostviertel. In some cases, the choir , in the form of a simple apse , is higher than the church interior, as in Amstetten, Eisenreichdornach (municipality of Amstetten), Krenstetten (municipality of Aschbach-Markt). They have the same characteristics as the square , pitched roof and defiant church tower, typically with a baroque onion hood and lantern . Sometimes they have a sundial in addition to the mechanical clock .

  • Parish church hl. Martin in Aschbach-Markt

  • Biberbach parish church tower

  • Tower parish church St. Peter / Au

  • Tower parish church Wolfsbach

  • Tower Stiftskirche Seitenstetten

  • Tower Weistrach Parish Church

  • Parish church of Zeillern

Many churches in the Mostviertel have a Gothic reticulated or ribbed vault . The interior furniture and the altars are mostly baroque, in some cases such as Aschbach-Markt, Krenstetten and St. Stephan in Amstetten the altars are neo-Gothic.

  • Krenstetten interior

  • Weistrach interior

  • Sindelburg interior

  • Seitenstetten interior

  • Biberbach interior

  • Interior of Ardagger Abbey

  • Interior of the Sonntagberg basilica

  • Scheibbs interior

In Eisenwurzen, especially in the area around the former Kartäuserkloster Gaming, there are numerous hall churches , such as Puchenstuben , Josefsberg , Sankt Anton an der Jeßnitz .

Narrow gauge railways

The Mariazellerbahn
The Ötscherland Express

The Mariazellerbahn is not only popular with tourists because of the nostalgia trips, but is also an important means of local transport for the residents. On the route from St. Pölten to the apex near Gösing, the train climbs over 600 meters. A total of 19 viaducts and 21 tunnels are driven on on the way to Mariazell. The railway was taken over by NÖVOG in 2012 .

In order to maintain the narrow-gauge railways, a private association operates the Ötscherland-Express . The ÖBB introduced in 1987 a regular passenger. Since 1989 the railway has been run as a museum railway between Kienberg-Gaming and Lunz am See. With the extension to Göstling an der Ybbs in 2013 , the Ötscherland Express is also Austria's longest museum railway.

tourism

In 2018 the Mostviertel had a total of 1,145,988 overnight stays and 484,325 arrivals. A little more than two thirds of the overnight stays were spent by Austrians, followed by guests from Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Italy and other countries. The various strategic tourism projects, such as the state exhibition ÖTSCHER: REICH , the Ötscher-Tormäuer nature park and the Moststraße have contributed to this .

economy

The Mostviertel is traditionally characterized by agriculture, the economic strength of Eisenwurzen in particular still lies in the iron , steel and wood processing industries. In the past, it was the hammer gentlemen who obtained the ore from the Erzberg ; today it is rolling mills that obtain semi-finished products from the Linz and Donawitz blast furnaces and process them into knives for machines, among other things.

There are also some large and many small sawmills that process the wood from the surrounding forests, as well as paper mills on Ybbs and Erlauf . Small and medium-sized companies have the main share from the economy. The largest employers in the heartland are Welser Profile (steel), Böhler-Uddeholm (steel), Mondi (formerly: Neusiedler ) (paper), Umdasch / Doka (wood / steel), Stora Enso Timber (wood), Mosser (wood), Bene office furniture (wood / steel), Miller Messer (steel), Busatis (steel) and Riess (steel).

Politics and administration

Until 1867, the Mostviertel was also an administrative unit under the name Viertel ober dem Wienerwald , until it was divided into the districts.

Politically it was even a separate constituency until 1992, when it was broken down into the individual districts.

literature

Further information

Portal: Mostviertel  - Overview of Wikipedia content on Mostviertel

Web links

Commons : Mostviertel  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

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  2. ↑ arge-dunkelsteinerwald.at
  3. ↑ traisental.info
  4. ↑ elsbeere-wienerwald.at
  5. ↑ See Strunz 2011, p. 27.
  6. ↑ Ibid.
  7. ↑ A walk through the jungle - on the Lahnsattel. In: wandertipp.at. Retrieved November 25, 2014 .
  8. ↑ Dürrenstein wilderness area. Retrieved November 25, 2014 .
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  22. ↑ Most autumn. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on December 5, 2014 ; accessed on October 14, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.mostheurige.com
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  53. ↑ Ybbstalweg. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  54. ↑ Ötscherland cycle path. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
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  56. ↑ Prima Pira Tour. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  57. ↑ Mountain biking in the Mostviertel. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  58. ^ Bellevue route. Retrieved December 1, 2014 .
  59. ↑ Sonnbrand alpine pasture tour. Retrieved December 1, 2014 .
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  61. ↑ Annaberg ski area. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  62. ↑ Gemeindealpe, Mitterbach am Erlaufsee. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
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  64. ↑ Cross-country skiing in St. Aegyd am Neuwalde. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
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  68. ↑ Cross-country skiing in Lackenhof-Gaming-Langau. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
  69. ↑ Cross-country skiing Lackenhof-Ötscher. Retrieved September 5, 2019 .
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  72. ↑ Winter meeting place Prolling. Retrieved October 2, 2014 .
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  74. ↑ City Museum St.Pölten. Retrieved December 3, 2014 .
  75. ↑ Welcome to the Scheibbs Ceramic Museum. Retrieved December 3, 2014 .
  76. ↑ Osterrichi: "Discover Austria". Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  77. ↑ Welcome to the Lower Austria Museum. Retrieved July 26, 2019 .
  78. ↑ Mostviertel Farming Museum. Retrieved September 16, 2014 .
  79. ↑ Crockery Museum official information. Retrieved July 26, 2019 .
  80. ↑ 5 elements, 50 experiments, 500 exhibits. Retrieved September 16, 2014 .
  81. ↑ FeRRUM - world of iron! Retrieved September 16, 2014 .
  82. ↑ Primeval Museum. Retrieved September 16, 2014 .
  83. ^ Museum of Historical Beer Mugs. Retrieved September 17, 2014 .
  84. ^ Hainfeld Museum. Retrieved September 17, 2014 .
  85. ^ History. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  86. ^ Waidhofen: center of iron processing. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
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  88. ↑ Ybbsitz forge mile. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  89. ↑ Mostviertel Haubiversum. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  90. ^ Riess - The company. Retrieved December 3, 2014 .
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  92. ↑ Events. Retrieved September 26, 2014 .
  93. ↑ The mild Mostviertel. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  94. ↑ Mariazellerbahn: On the Himmelstreppe - Mostviertel railway experience. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  95. ↑ Mariazellerbahn. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .
  96. ↑ Out and about with the Ötscherlandexpress. Retrieved November 14, 2017 .
  97. ↑ Annual report Mostviertel Tourismus 2018. Accessed on July 26, 2019 .
  98. ^ Lower Austria - The country in numbers - Basic texts. Retrieved November 14, 2019 .