Description
There are many ways, which lead to Mariazell, and many lead through Lower Austria. However it doesn’t need to be the –Alma Mater Austriae– right of the bat! First-time Pilgrims journey, over two stages of the Via Sacra from Kaumberg, to the first "Holy Mountain” of the Mostviertels, the mountain Tannberg. Today it is called Annaberg. Those who wander here along the Via Sacra in its original variant, there are several variants, will relinquish many sins in the "Langen Wald" (forest) of the Türnitzschlucht. On the credit side, stand the cultural monuments, Araburg, the Cathedral of Gölsentales in St. Veit, Stift Lilienfeld, and Siebenbrünn before one enters, in Annaberg, the Wallfahrtskirche (pilgrimage church) resting on the "first holy mountain." Throughout the pilgrimage, one covers contemplative landscape environments over high-ridges with historically documented Büßeretappen.
Starting point of the tour
Brunn am Gebirge
Destination point of the tour
Mariazell
Route description Via Sacra
Stage 1: Kaumberg - Hainfeld - Rohrbach - St. Veit - Lilienfeld
The Araburg (with hostel) is reached within an hour from Kaumberg. On the Via Sacra pilgrimage route one transits to the Gölsental following on to Hainfeld and Rohrbach, after which along the Gölsen one hikes to St. Veit with its -Dom of Gölsentals- (6 hours from Kaumberg). Further travel continues on the very rewarding mountain route with two increases through Staff - Wiesenbach - Vordereben to Lilienfeld (3 ¼ hours). Accommodation is in Lilienfeld.
Stage 2: Lilienfeld - Schrambach - Freiland - Lehenrotte - Türnitz - Annaberg.
The route in the Traisental, through Schrambach - Freiland - Lehenrotte, is accomplished consistently on flat walking and cycle paths, from Freiland to Dickenau partially along the Bundesstraße 20. From Dickenau one reaches, through the Eibentaler Klamm (gorges) forest paths and promenades, which far away from the road lead to Türnitz (4½ hours). Through the -Langen Wald- of the Türnitzschlucht, with its Baroque Stations of the Cross and the Chapel Siebenbrünn, a path along the main road leads up to Annabild-Reit (completed 2008). From there one reaches via a shortcut the Anna-Wallfahrtskirche (pilgrimage church) situated on the "1st Holy Mountain," with its view of the Ötscher, and which now accompanies the original Pilgrimage route (3 ½ to 4 hours). Accommodation is in Annaberg.
Directions
Outer ring-highway, A21 exit Alland - B 18 Altenmarkt - Kaumberg. Or A1 St. Pölten - B 20 to Traisen - B 18 Hainfeld - Kaumberg.
Return to the starting point from Annaberg with the Postautobus, which goes to Wien/Südtiroler Platz.
