Upper Austria Mariazell route: A: 5. Waidhofen an der Ybbs - Ybbsitz - Maria Seesal

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 18,46 km
Duration: 6:15 h
Ascent: 676 m elevation gain
Descent: 545 m elevation gain

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 18,46 km
Duration: 6:15 h
Ascent: 676 m elevation gain
Descent: 545 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
3/6
Overall experience:
6/6
Scenery:
6/6

Lowest point350 m
Highest point675 m

Stage tour
Nice views
With refreshment stops

Downloads

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The fifth stage of the Mariazell Trail starts in the medieval town of Waidhofen an der Ybbs. The townscape is characterized by the imposing fortified towers, the baroque churches and Schloss Rothschild. After a really worthwhile tour of the town, we leave the town on Arzbergstraße and hike uphill on a narrow road with little traffic. We come to two pretty resting places - one under a mighty willow, one by a chapel and enjoy a wonderful view of Windhag. Through the hilly landscape of the Mostviertel region, we make a pilgrimage from farm to farm and chapel to chapel. From the last hill before Ybbsitz, we have a fantastic panoramic view of the Prochenberg (1123m) and the Maisberg (942m), as well as the village of Ybbsitz in the valley. The Ybbsitz Blacksmiths' Center is particularly famous for its artistic metalwork and traditional blacksmithing. Everywhere in the village we discover interesting sculptures, old machines, forges and other references to the old craft. In 2010, "Forging in Ybbsitz" was even added to the list of Austria's intangible cultural heritage. We start at FeRRUM (World of Iron) on the "Blacksmith's Mile", an interesting three-kilometre-long themed trail, and walk out of the market, where we pass the adventure bridge, for example. At Bauernschrotmühl, we have a wonderful view of the interestingly shaped Prochenberg and hike uphill to Mitterlehen. Here, at the small chapel, we also have a fantastic panoramic view of the mountains to the east. From Mitterlehen, it is not far to the romantic pilgrimage church of Maria Seesal.

Equipment The backpack should really only contain the absolute essentials on a pilgrimage route! A GPS device is very helpful for orientation.
Route description From the Upper Town Square, Ybbstor, Ybbsitzerstraße to Florianibrücke over the Ybbs, on Arzbergstraße (marking 06) on a paved road to the Schilcher farmstead (562 m), further to the municipal border of Ybbsitz (about 3 hours from Waidhofen/Ybbs) and via the panoramic high trail over Kleineck (631 m), Großeck, Oberriegl (612 m), Zwirch, to Ybbsitz (414 m).From the church, along the blacksmith’s mile to Bauernschrotmühle, turnoff to the Mitterlehen farmstead (676 m) and further to the pilgrimage site Maria Seesal (524 m). On the road along the Schwarze Ois southwards to the Fuchslehen farmstead, the marked trail uphill to the east to Gscheid (843 m) and further to Bodingbach (662 m). Shortly after, heading south, the path leads left to the railway tracks of the Ötscherland-Express. Along the railway experience trail until shortly before the beginning of Lunz am See, a path downhill to the road and to the parish church. Then along the main street (towards Unimarkt), right at the intersection into Seestraße, to Landhotel Zellerhof. Now right further (small bridge), then immediately keep left and along the lakeside promenade to Lake Lunz. Along the shaded south shore to Schloss Seehof. At the junction Durchlass/Maierhöfen steeply uphill to Durchlass (768 m). Along the Lackenbach at Maierhöfen uphill to Lackenhof (809 m). From Ybbsitz to Maria Seesal 2 hours.
Getting there Coming from Salzburg, follow the A1 towards Vienna/Linz and take exit 131 (Oed). Drive on the L84 to Aschbach, then take the B121 to Waidhofen an der Ybbs. Coming from Vienna, follow the A1 towards Salzburg and take exit 123 (Amstetten West). Drive on the B121 to Waidhofen an der Ybbs.
Public transport From Amstetten (Upper Austria), there is a direct train connection to Waidhofen an der Ybbs (regional train towards Kleinreifling).
Editor’s tip You can stop in Ybbsitz, for example, at the Molterer pastry shop or at the Lietz store.

Recommended period

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

TVB Mariazeller Land

Hauptplatz 13, 8630 Mariazell

Tel.: +43 (0)3882/23 66

Upper Austria Tourism Information

Freistädter Straße 119, 4041 Linz

info@oberoesterreich.at

www.wandern.at

Useful maps:

ÖK 4319 Linz, ÖK 4320 Perg, ÖK 4326 Steyr,

ÖK 4202 Ternberg, ÖK 4203 Waidhofen,

ÖK 4203 Ybbsitz, ÖK 4204 Lunz, ÖK 4210 Mariazell

All at scale 1:50,000 (also available enlarged 1:25,000)

F&B hiking maps 261 (1:50,000), 051 (1:50,000),

052 (1:50,000), 5031 (1:35,000)

Kompass 22 (Mariazell, Ötscher, Erlauftal, 1:25,000),

Kompass 212 (Hochschwab, Mariazell, Eisenwurzen, 1:50,000),

Kompass 202 (Around Linz, Mühlviertel, Wels, Steyr, 1:50,000)

Important phone numbers:

Alpine emergency: 140, International emergency: 112

Recommended literature:

Pilgrimage routes to Mariazell – West + South Volume, www.styriabooks.at

Hiking experience Mariazeller Land and Ötscher, www.kral-verlag.at

Pilgrimage routes, www.kral-verlag.at

Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026