Description
Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail: From Spitz to Mühldorf
The stage from Spitz to Mühldorf leads from the traditional wine-growing village of Spitz in the heart of the Wachau into a diverse cultural landscape of vineyards, forests, and quiet valleys. Passing the striking wine-growing and scenic hills of Tausendeimerberg and Setzberg, the trail opens up to the impressive stone-terraced wine landscape of the Spitzer Graben, one of the region’s most distinctive wine-growing areas. Magnificent vineyards, sparse oak and beech forests, and several rest huts operated by the Marivino Association line this scenically diverse section.
Passing through Muthstall and Niederranna, the route continues past the Romanesque Oberranna Castle, a significant example of medieval architecture. Following the Rannabach stream, the trail descends into the valley, past Kalvarienberg, and gently downhill along the Ötzbach stream to Unterranna. Finally, the stage’s destination, Mühldorf, is reached—nestled in a peaceful valley landscape and providing an atmospheric conclusion to this nature-rich hiking stage.
As you hike along the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail, you’ll discover, step by step, why the Wachau has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage region. Along carefully curated World Heritage sites, the defining highlights of the World Heritage Site become apparent—the interplay of the historic cultural landscape, traditional viticulture, extraordinary natural areas, and the Danube as a defining element.
For a hassle-free, all-inclusive experience—including luggage transport, tastings, and transfers—we recommend booking one of the versatile hiking packages.
Thanks to good rail connections, a relaxed and sustainable journey to the Wachau is easily possible. Within the region, a dense network of public transportation ensures that all stages can be comfortably 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 Quality Seal. This certification stands for high quality standards in route guidance, signage, safety, and infrastructure, and confirms the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail as a reliable and high-quality hiking experience in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Starting point of the tour
Spitz, Kirchenplatz (church square)
Destination point of the tour
Mühldorf, Marktplatz (market square)
Route description Wachau World Heritage Trail 04: Spitz - Mühldorf
The hike begins at Kirchenplatz in Spitz and follows Friedhofgasse toward the cemetery. After about 200–300 meters, you’ll see a turnoff on the left leading to a narrow trail that heads up to the Tausendeimerberg. From the summit, there’s a fantastic view of the picturesque town and the Danube. Turn right onto a farm road that winds through the vineyards down to the Quitten district. Here, the trail turns left, then right in Radlbach, and continues through the beautiful vineyards on the Setzberg. Turning left, the trail follows a wide curve along the Setzberg Natural Monument to the first rest hut operated by the Marivino Association. Behind the hut, take a left down into the Laabener Graben toward the wine cooler and the stamp station at the Helmut Donabaum Winery. There, the trail turns right toward the Vogelsang natural monument, featuring a paved wine trail, a valuable dry grassland, and picturesque stone terraces. At a wayside shrine, the trail branches off to the left, and after a few minutes, you’ll reach the vineyards. The trail leads up to the edge of the vineyard. The path continues on to the Zornbergwerg. Shortly afterward, the Zornberghütte welcomes visitors—it is open from May through October on select Sundays when the weather is nice, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (run by winemakers from the Marivino Association). The trail then continues through the unspoiled oak forest, passing the third hut and the Wetterkreuz. At the trail junction in Ried Eichberg, turn right and continue on to Muthstall. In the village, cross the Bengelbach on a small bridge and hike up a hill to Niederranna. Passing the picturesque Baroque Prandhof Castle and the parish church, the trail leads through the village and follows the road onward toward Oberranna Castle. Just before the castle, the route branches off to the left and continues on to Mühldorf. Via the Florianistiege, you’ll reach the market square with its millwheel.
Directions
Highway A1 until exit Melk, following B3 to Spitz or via B3 and B217 to Mühldorf.
Parking
At the trainstation or at the castle in Spitz or in the center of Mühldorf.
The villages can be reached 7 days a week by public transportation (Wachau buses). Its possible to get back to the start of the tour.
Spitze is connected with Krems and Melk seven days a week with hourly operating buses of the line WL1(from trainstation Krems via Dürnstein-Weißenkirchen-Spitz-Aggsbach Markt-Emmersdorf-Melk trainstation). More information: www.vor.at
Spitzer Graben (WL 718 connection between Spitz and Mühldorf) operates from Spitz departing every two hours. Info at: www.vor.at
On weekends and public holidays a shuttle bus service with fixed tours operates as well with stops in Spitz and Mühldorf. It has to be called one hour prior of departure. Phone: 0043 810 810 278 to make reservation and more info at www.naturpark-jauerling.at
Wachautrain operates on weekends and public holidays (3 times a day). More information: www.noevog.at
Stations for the bike rent system „nextbike“ (1€ per hour) are located in Spitz and Mühldorf(market square). More information: www.nextbike.at
Timetable ferry Spitz to Arnsdorf: March to October. The ferry is not operating on weekends during winter time. More information: www.spitz-wachau.at or here.
