Description
Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail: From Weißenkirchen to Spitz
The stage from Weißenkirchen to Spitz leads through one of the most impressive wine landscapes in the Wachau and runs high above the Danube through the largest enclosed wine-growing area in the region. Well-known vineyards such as Kollmitz, Kollmütz and Hochrain characterize this section and repeatedly open up wide views over the Danube valley and the terraced vineyards. Above St. Michael, the trail crosses a varied dry grassland, forest and rocky landscape on the Michaelerberg, whose special shapes and viewpoints make up the scenic charm of this stage.
Via the historic Red Gate, you finally reach the traditional wine-growing village of Spitz. Both in Weißenkirchen and in Spitz, numerous wine taverns and restaurants invite you to enjoy a refreshment stop. There are no refreshment stops along the route itself, which is why it is advisable to bring appropriate refreshments. At the finish in Spitz, the local establishments offer the opportunity for refreshments and to linger.
Hiking along the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail reveals step by step why the Wachau has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage region. Along finely curated World Heritage spots, the defining World Heritage highlights become visible - the interplay of historic cultural landscape, traditional viticulture, extraordinary natural spaces and the Danube as a shaping element.
For a carefree all-round offer, including luggage transport, tastings and transfer services, we recommend booking one of the versatile hiking packages.
Thanks to good rail connections, a relaxed and sustainable journey to the Wachau is easy. A dense network of public transport in the region ensures that all stages can be easily reached by bus, train, ferry and boat. This also makes it very easy to combine different stages.
The Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail has also been awarded the Austrian Hiking Seal of Quality. This certification stands for high quality standards in terms of route guidance, signposting, safety and infrastructure and confirms the World Heritage Trail as a reliable and high-quality hiking offer in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Starting point of the tour
Weißenkirchen, Market Square
Destination point of the tour
Spitz, Church Square
Route description Wachau World Heritage Trail 03: Weißenkirchen-Spitz
From the market square in Weißenkirchen, the castle stairs lead left up Bachstraße to the castle district, one of the oldest settlements in the Wachau with Gothic grape harvest lofts and several Heurigen businesses (stamp station Heurigen family Rosenberger). At the end of the castle district, we hike down into the Lichtgartl and reach the vineyards. We cross Seiberstraße and arrive at the Ritzling vineyard. Here, we turn right and pass the Postaller vineyard, climbing up to the famous Kollmitz vineyard. A descent to Wösendorf and Joching is possible here. The main route continues right on the high path into the beech forest. After a few minutes, we leave the vineyards and enter a beech forest. After the forest loop, we come back to the vineyards at Geißberg and follow a scenic high path over the well-known vineyards Hochrain, Höll, and Kollmütz. At the end of the wine landscape, the path leads into the forest to the viewpoint and natural monument Michaelerberg, where a descent to St. Michael is possible (about 20 minutes down). Michaelerberg was an old grazing meadow and is one of the most species-rich meadows on the Danube. Bizarre rock and stone formations, dry grasslands, and forest steppe adorn Michaelerberg. After a relaxing rest with stunning views, we follow the St. Michael high path through an untouched oak and hornbeam forest down into the Miesling valley. Upon reaching the stream, we turn right, soon crossing Miesling stream and then climb uphill to the legendary Red Gate, the remains of the former defense wall of Spitz. We walk through the gate into the Spitz wine landscape and down on a historic connecting path straight to Spitz. Passing famous vineyards such as Rotes Tor, Singerriedel, and Axpoint, we reach the stage destination, the picturesque Spitz church square, after 10 minutes.
Directions
A1 to St. Pölten junction, continue on S33 and B3 via Krems to Weißenkirchen or Spitz
Parking
Parking at the Danube riverbank or at the train station in Weißenkirchen, or at the train station or parking lot by the castle in Spitz
The villages are accessible seven days a week by public transport (bus and Wachau railway). Returning to the starting point of the hike is possible.
On the northern bank of the Wachau, bus line 715 runs Krems-Dürnstein-Weißenkirchen-Spitz-Melk, the Spitz valley is served by line 718 Am Schuß-Mühldorf-Spitz and Spitz-Mühldorf-Am Schuß. www.vor.at
The Wachau railway operates from the end of March to the end of October only on weekends and public holidays, daily from July to the end of September. www.wachaubahn.at
Nextbike bike rental stations are available in Weißenkirchen and Spitz. www.nextbike.at
You can quickly switch the Danube bank with the following ferries:
- Roll ferry Weißenkirchen - St. Lorenz www.weissenkirchen-wachau.at
- Roll ferry Spitz - Arnsdorf www.spitz-wachau.at
