Upper Austria Mariazellerweg: A: 4th stage: Maria Neustift - Konradsheim - Waidhofen an der Ybbs

On this stage, we explore the landscape between Maria Neustift and Waidhofen an der Ybbs, encountering the pilgrimage church in Maria Neustift, many chapels and wayside shrines along the way, the church in Konradsheim in an exposed location and many a deer in the woods and meadows before Waidhofen, which are not at all shy.

There is an interesting legend about the origins of the pilgrimage basilica in Maria Neustift: Allegedly, two feuding brothers (Lord of Gleiß near Sonntagberg and Lord of Hartweigstein from Hinterhaus Castle near Ertl) clashed in battle in the area around today's Neustift. Shortly before the supposed defeat of the latter, he vowed to build a church if he survived. Immediately afterwards, fog suddenly rolled in and the Lord of Hartweigstein managed to escape, whereupon the foundation stone for the church was laid shortly afterwards. From this historic site, we hike in a north-easterly direction up the Freithofberg and after a short time turn onto a dirt track. The path leads us through fenced pastures, we cross a stream and walk across the meadow to the next farm. Here we meet the road again at a pretty avenue of fruit trees and now walk from farm to farm through the green Mostviertel region, enjoying wonderful views of the valley and the surrounding mountains, e.g. the Elmkogel (898m), the Spindeleben (1066m), the Redtenberg (1028m) and the Schnabelberg (958m). After a long hike, we finally reach Konradsheim, which can be seen from afar thanks to the prominent hill on which the church of the small village was built. We continue across meadows and fields to Haid and it is easy to come across deer grazing peacefully on this idyllic path, which seem to have no fear of pilgrims. On the right, we can already see the Buchenberg, where the nature park of the same name is located. A little later, we come to a large chapel built on a hill, from where we already have a wonderful view of our stage destination, Waidhofen an der Ybbs.

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 to 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 – Volume West + South, www.styriabooks.at

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

Pilgrimage Routes, www.kral-verlag.at

Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026