The Mostviertel is the southwest part of Lower Austria, bounded to the north by the Danube, to the west of Upper Austria, to the south of the Styria and to the east from Vienna Woods.
Regions
The Mostviertel is characterized by contrasts in landscape. South of the Danube, the country is gently hilly, on the border with Styria, mountains up to 2,000 meters high rise. The 200 km long stretches through the fertile hill country Moststrasse. Thousands of fruit trees grow here, mainly pear trees, the fruits of which are processed into must and brandies. Wine thrives in the wine-growing region Traisental-Danube country, which stretches from St. Pölten to the Danube.
The mountains in the alpine Mostviertel (e.g. Ötscher, Dürrenstein, Hochkar, Gippel, Göller) are up to 2,000 meters high. Thanks to the wealth of forests and water, this part of the country used to be a center of iron processing. Today hammer mills, blacksmiths and small museums remember the Eisenstrasse cultural park of those times.
The most important rivers are Ybbs, Erlauf, Pielach and Traisen. By the Pielachtal runs the Mariazellerbahn, Austria's longest narrow-gauge railway. The Traisental is accessible with a cycle path, the Traisental cycle path.
The term Thermal region was established in 1985 as a merger of localities for the marketing of the wine towns near Vienna, some of the connected towns are also located in the Industrial district.
The regions along the Danube belong to both the Mostviertel and the Waldviertel. From west to east these are the Strudengau, then followed by the Nibelungengau between Ybbs and Melk, it is followed by the World natural heritage counting Wachau between Melk and Krems at the Donau and the one further to the east Tullnerfeld. The Thermal line separates the Mostviertel from the Vienna Basin and the Industrial district.
places
- Amstetten
- Saint Valentine
- Scheibbs
- St. Polten, the provincial capital of Lower Austria
- Waidhofen / Ybbs
- Wieselburg
Other goals
The Ötscher-Tormäuer nature park around the "Ötscher" (1,983 m) and the famous Ötscher trenches. The Hochkar ski area near Göstling / Ybbs. The Lunzer See, the Erlauf See. The pencils Seitenstetten, Herzogenburg and Lilienfeld.
background
As finds from the Paleolithic Age (around 5,000 BC) show, the Mostviertel was settled very early. Around the time of Christ's birth, Romans lived in the Mostviertel. Their traces can be seen in Traismauer and in 'Aelium Cetium', today's Lower Austrian capital St. Polten.
The Mostviertel is considered to be the “cradle” of today's Austria. In 996, Emperor Otto III. the Bishop of Freising 30 Königshufen, which corresponds to about 1,000 hectares of land, in the area of Neuhofen / Ybbs. The name appears for the first time in the deed of gift "Ostarrichi" on. A facsimile of Austria's birth certificate can be seen today in the Ostarrichi-Kulturhof in Neuhofen / Ybbs.
The red-white-red Austrian flag also has its origin in a document from the Mostviertel. The Lilienfeld Cistercian Abbey houses the first official seal with the Austrian coat of arms, the forerunner of the flag.
language
getting there
By plane
The nearest international airport is Vienna-Schwechat.
Airfield in Seitenstetten (LOLT, 830 m grass runway).
By train
By train: From St. Polten and Amstetten still run along the river valleys (Ybbstalbahn, Mariazeller Bahn).
In the street
By car via the A1 (Westautobahn). Well-developed federal highways lead south into the alpine areas.
mobility
Branch lines (some narrow gauge) are still in operation in the Mostviertel. (E.g. St. Polten - Mariazell through the Pielachtal, St. Pölten - Wieselburg - Scheibbs, Waidhofen an der Ybbs - Lunz).
Tourist Attractions
On Moststrasse
- The baroque Seitenstetten Abbey with the historic courtyard garden, also known as the “Vierkanter Gottes” because of its splendid layout.
- The former Ardagger Abbey with the Margaret window (1230-40), the oldest figural glass painting in Austria.
- The experience and pleasure center MostBirnHaus in Ardagger Abbey.
- The Ostarrichi-Kulturhof in Neuhofen / Ybbs. Here you can see a facsimile of the founding deed of Austria from the year 996.
- The Zoo City of Hague in city of Hague. The 33 hectare park of Salaberg Palace is home to more than 80 domestic and exotic animal species.
In the Eisenstrasse cultural park
- The adventure world provides information about the past and present of iron and metal FeRRUM in Ybbsitz at the market square.
- “On the wrong track”, visitors to the Mendlingtal adventure world near Göstling / Ybbs, where the only functioning wood drift system in Central Europe is located.
- The Pilgrimage basilica on Sonntagberg impresses with its baroque furnishings. The location is one of the best vantage points in the Mostviertel.
- The Ötscherland Express, a historic narrow-gauge railway, runs in the summer months from Kienberg-Gaming over Trestlework bridges to Lunz am See and on to Göstling / Ybbs.
In the Traisental-Donauland region
- Herzogenburg Abbey, the most important building of the Austrian late baroque. Can only be viewed as part of a guided tour.
In the Traisental
- This has been the spiritual center for centuries Lilienfeld Cistercian Abbey, the largest medieval monastery complex in Austria. Once built in the Gothic style, the monastery was expanded to include baroque additions in the 17th century. The seal that shows today's Austrian flag (red - white - red) for the first time is kept here.
- Until 1997, crockery was produced in Wilhelmsburg - namely lily porcelain. The most beautiful pieces, for example the colorful cult tableware Daisy, shows that Crockery Museum.
- It is original Zoo in Kernhof, with a camel theater, white zoo, observation tower and restaurant.
In the Melker Alpine foothills
- The Renaissance castle Schallaburg is considered to be one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles north of the Alps. Every year from March to November, a large exhibition on a specific topic can be seen at the Schallaburg.
activities
Music and theater
The Mostviertel is the scene of numerous cultural events. The most important venues and festivals include:
- the Waidhofen / Ybbs sound space organizes concerts in the Crystal Hall in the Rothschild Castle in Waidhofen
- Baroque days and summer games in Melk
- Beatpatrol St. Pölten, in May / June
- Baroque Festival St. Pölten, in June
- The Hague Theater Summer, in July / August, with performances on the award-winning stage in the city's main square
- wellenklaenge Lunz am See, in July, performances a.o. on the lake stage
- Musical summer Amstetten, in August
- Chopin Festival in the Charterhouse Gaming, in August
- Frequency St. Pölten, in August
- Autumn days blind market, in October, operetta performances
- Burgarena Reinsberg, concerts and theater performances
Walking and cycling
The entire Mostviertel is very well developed with hiking and biking trails as well as mountain bike routes. Leisure hikers and cyclists prefer the gently rolling countryside along the Moststraße, in the Traisental-Donauland and in the Pielachtal.
One of the most famous hikes runs through the imposing ones Ötschergräben in the Ötscher-Tormäuer nature park. The best starting point is Wienerbruck, a station on the Mariazellerbahn.
One of the most popular bike paths is the 111 km long Traisental cycle path, which is also used as a pilgrimage route. It runs from the Danube to Mariazell, to St. Aegyd am Neuwalde with almost no inclines. There is a steep section on the last stage. Families therefore mostly drive the route downstream, e.g. from St. Aegyd am Neuwalde.
The Mostviertel rail bike is an 11 km long narrow gauge line between Wieselburg and Ruprechtshofen. From March to the end of October, you can enjoy the landscape on draisine-like vehicles from Thursday to Sunday.
Pilgrimage
Some of Austria's most traditional pilgrimage routes lead through the Mostviertel. The best known is the Via Sacrathat connects Vienna with Mariazell. The one runs on a similar route Viennese pilgrimage route 06.
The Pielachtal pilgrimage route is 90 km long. It leads from the Maria Lourdes Church in St. Pölten to Mariazell.
swim
There are numerous river and outdoor pools for bathing and swimming. The Lunzer See and Erlauf See in the alpine Mostviertel, the Pielachtaler Sehnsucht natural pool in Hofstetten-Grünau and the bathing lakes north of St. Pölten (Viehofner Lakes, Ratzersdorfer See) are also great for swimming.
Winter sports
The largest ski area is the one on Hochkar near Göstling / Ybbs (9 lifts, 18 km of slopes). There are other medium-sized ski areas in Lackenhof am Ötscher, in Annaberg and on the Gemeindealpe near Mitterbach. The Mostviertel cross-country skiing center is St. Aegyd am Neuwalde with approx. 100 km of cross-country trails. You can also go cross-country skiing well on the high plateau Hochreit near Göstling / Ybbs.
kitchen
There is a large selection of good country inns, restaurants, cider and wine taverns in the Mostviertel. A striking number of projects are dedicated to the preservation and care of regional products. Specialties from and with these products can be found on many menus and drinks.
You orientate yourself on the initiative Enjoyment region Austria of the Ministry of Life and Agrarmarkt Austria, the following products are particularly typical for the Mostviertel: Mostbirn, Schofkas, organic hemp, Pielachtaler Dirndln, Traisental fruit juices, Traisental Hofkas, Ybbstal trout, Alpine foreland beef, Lilienfeld-Voralpen game, the Wiesenwienerwald service tree and the Dunkelsteiner Hagebut .
Mostviertel pear cider
Mostviertel must has experienced a considerable upswing in recent years, especially pear must, which is often made from one variety. Mostviertler pear musts are a rarity across Europe, because apple musts are drunk in most other must areas. Most of the must producers are in the communities along the Moststrasse At home. The 20 Mostviertel cider barons.
Brandies
Some of the Mostviertel distillers are among the best in Austria. They refine apples and pears into exquisite brandies, as well as rarities such as service berries (Adlitzberries) or the Pielachtaler Dirndln (cornel cherries). Lately the people of Mostviertel have been making a name for themselves with their grain brandies: in 2012 the organic vodka was made by Josef Farthofer Awarded the world's best vodka at the IWSC (International Wine and Spirit Competition). Took first place in the Alpine Whiskey Challenge 2012 Georg Hiebl with his spelled malt whiskey. Georg Hiebl was named Distillery of the Year several times at Destillata, the most important international brandy award in Austria, most recently in 2013.
Wines
Some white wine producers on a small scale Traisental wine-growing region are among the best in Austria and also attract international attention. The most widely grown grape variety is the Grüner Veltliner. Since the 2006 vintage, the Traisental winegrowers have been offering two types of white wine with a clear taste profile: TraisentalDAC Grüner Veltliner and TraisentalDAC Riesling. DAC stands for Districtus Austriae Controllatus and guarantees that wine with this designation is typical for the region.
Dirndls
in the Pielachtal everything revolves around the red dirndls, an old wild fruit. The Pielachtaler specialties such as jams, juices, fine brandies, chocolate and cakes or spicy pickled “Pielachtaler olives” are made from the sweet and sour dirndls.
Service berries
The service tree, a reddish-brown wild fruit the size of a thumbnail, thrives in the eastern Mostviertel especially good. It tastes sour-sweet and develops an almond-marzipan-like aroma. The service berries are processed into liqueurs, jams and exclusive brandies. The service tree was classified as Austria's first Slow Food Presidio product.
rosehips
In the region Dunkelsteinerwald On the south bank of the Danube and near St. Pölten, wild roses are cherished, cared for and also replanted. The wild rose blossoms are processed into liqueur, caster sugar, syrup, wild rose ice cream and desserts. Jams and liqueurs are made from the fruits of the wild roses, the rose hips.
climate
trips
Seen from Amstetten it is 130 km to Vienna, 60 km after Linz and 171 km after Salzburg. Excursions to these cities can also be made by train (from Amstetten or St. PoltenThe Wachau with its many well-known places and destinations such as Melk Abbey, Göttweig Abbey, Krems with the art mile.
The pilgrimage site is located south of the Mostviertel Mariazell. In the west, right on the Upper Austrian border, the city is worthwhile Steyr a visit.
