Panoramic Hiking in the Nibelungengau

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Parts of the medieval German epic “Lay of the Nibelung” take place along the Danube. One character is Rüdiger von Bechlaren, liege man to Attila the Hun. The Nibelungengau Hiking Trail now winds its way along the Danube banks through impressive river landscapes where Rüdiger once held sway. Imposing, history-charged destinations enhance the hiking experience on the 110 km long Nibelungengau Hiking Trail. One is Artstetten Castle, home to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir presumptive to the imperial throne. Two others are Maria Taferl Basilica and the Ybbs Persenbeug power plant.

This route is the link between the Wachau World Heritage Trail and the Danube Trail (Donausteig) in Upper Austria. It runs along the Danube and through forests, passing lovely spots and inviting excursion destinations that will make you want to spend even more time in the Nibelungengau.

Your hosts provide you with hiker’s bag lunches for the trail and transfer your luggage to the next accommodation.

Day 1 – Arrival
You travel on your own to Emmersdorf
Overnight stay in Emmersdorf, breakfast included

Day 2 – Emmersdorf - Leiben/Aichau
Distance 14 km – Duration 4 h 30 min
Taking the World Heritage Trail, you hike from Emmersdorf to Rantenberg, then downhill to Hain and Luberegg Castle. Next, you pass by the Melk power station and continue on to Leiben. Just beyond Leiben Castle, you meet up with the Nibelungengau Hiking Trail, which takes you on a steep ascent through the forest. Then, you walk on a meadow path with a very scenic lookout point. You pass the Church of St. Corona. After about 1 km you leave the forest and after about another 100 meters you leave the marked path to arrive at today’s accommodation a further 10 minute walk away.
Overnight stay in Leiben/Aichau, breakfast included.

Day 3 – Leiben/Aichau - Maria Taferl
Distance 10 km – Duration 4 h
Back on the Nibelungengau Hiking Trail, you proceed with moderate ascents and descents to Losau and Artstetten. The route largely follows the Way of St. James and takes you past a golf course before you arrive a short time later in the pilgrimage town of Maria Taferl. A visit to the basilica itself is highly recommended but so too is the glorious view of the Nibelungengau and the Alpine foothills from the terrace in front of the church.
Tip: Visit Artstetten Castle and discover vestiges of the life of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the imperial throne.
Overnight stay in Maria Taferl, breakfast included.

Day 4 – Maria Taferl - Marbach
Distance 14.8 km – Duration 4 h 30 min
From Maria Taferl the route continues downhill through the forest. Then you proceed uphill to Hilmanger, to the local tavern Gasthof Gressl. From there you head downhill again, walking over rustic bridges through a gorge, Steinbachklamm. After passing an old mill (Winkelmühle), you take a blacktop road to Marbach, the final destination for the day.
Overnight stay in Marbach, breakfast included.

Day 5 – Marbach - Persenbeug
Distance 16.7 km – Duration 5 h 30 min
You start today’s stage of the trail leaving Marbach and walking along the Danube, passing the port and then heading uphill into the woods. Enjoy the lovely view of the Danube Valley. The route continues through the woods on a forest road, passing a quarry before heading downhill in the direction of Metzling. After a leisurely hike through the idyllic villages of Gottsdorf and Hagsdorf, you arrive in Persenbeug, your final destination for the day. Tip: Visit the oldest Danube power station in Austria in Ybbs-Persenbeug.
Overnight stay in Persenbeug, breakfast included.

Day 6 – Taxi ride and trip home
After a delicious breakfast, you are returned by taxi to your point of departure in Emmersdorf.

Package price per person starting from € 492,00 in a double room, local tax not included
Package price per person starting from € 649,00 in a single room, local tax not included

Services included:

• 5 overnight stays in selected accommodations, breakfast included
• 4 daily hiker’s bag lunches for on the trail with regional products, prepared by the host
• 4 luggage transfers by the selected accommodation (max. of 1 piece of luggage per person)
• 1 passenger and luggage transfer from Persenbeug back to Emmersdorf
• 1 set of hiking information

Services not included and to be paid on-site:

• local tax of € 1.60 per person/night (age 15 and up)
• Admissions to the excursion destinations mentioned above

Organizer:
Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH, A-3620 Spitz an der Donau, Schlossgasse 3, GISA-Zahl: 13091941.
The general terms and conditions of Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus GmbH apply. These can be found under www.donau.com/impressum.