Donausteig Stage 3_N07 Linz - Steyregg: “Summit Assault in the Linz Basin”

The cultural capital Linz is the starting point for this Donausteig stage. It lies on the northern edge of the urban Linz basin and is divided by the Danube. There has always been an important Danube crossing here, which gave Linz significance and prosperity. From the magnificent main square, we first walk over the historic Nibelungen bridge to Urfahr. Then we follow the Danube downstream along the Treppelweg. Numerous cultural highlights allow us to experience the “cultural capital,” and the Danube shows us its qualities as an urban recreational area. In the Danube bend, which probably gave Linz its name, we leave the river and hike through the floodplain to the Pleschinger Lake. Shortly after this popular bathing lake, our summit assault begins. Via a rural side road, we quickly ascend. At first through forest, then through a wonderful rural cultural landscape. With increasing altitude, a contrasting view fascinates us over the urban Linz basin: perfect rural idyll against the backdrop of the Linz industrial area – simply fantastic! At the Donausteig rest stop “Pfenningberg/Linz view,” one can wonderfully reflect on city and country in front of this unique scenery. Shortly afterwards, the summit forest begins, and forest roads take us higher. Via a detour, we finally reach the forest summit of the Pfenningberg. Congratulations – we are standing here on one of the seven Donausteig summits! A few meters northwest of the summit cross, a forest clearing allows us a hidden view back to the Nibelungen bridge and the old town of Linz. The descent leads over forest roads to the Donausteig rest stop “Mühlviertel view” on the northern edge of the summit forest. Here the Mühlviertel mountain region reveals itself in all its beauty: meadows, fields, forest patches, farmsteads, small shrines... – pure Mühlviertel idyll! Via farm roads and field paths, we hike through this traditional rural cultural landscape in a long right bend down to the wooded Reichenbach valley. The meanders of the lonely Reichenbach then lead us past the Donausteig rest stop “Reichenbach/Devil’s Chapel” into the rural village of Pulgarn at the beginning of the Danube plain. Here, the faded splendor of the former Pulgarn monastery leads us to reflect on impermanence and values in life. Through the rural scattered settlement, we walk out to the fertile Danube plain to the old main road. We now follow this for about 2 km north into the historic small town of Steyregg. A Donausteig stage full of landscape contrasts and hidden gems – simply beautiful!

Discover with the Donausteig diary the following highlights:

- Linz – a true cultural capital

- Linz Castle – the center of the empire

- Lentos Art Museum – a museum as an artwork

- Ars Electronica Center – playground of the future

- Urfahr Parish Church – portal between history and future

- The Urfahraner Market

- Brucknerhaus – harmony perfected

- forum metall – art in the park

- ...

Download: Donausteig Diary Stage 3_N07 Linz-Steyregg

From the Linz main square we cross the Nibelungen Bridge on the right side to Urfahr. In front of the Ars Electronica Center, a “hidden” descent for pedestrians and cyclists leads us right down to the Danube promenade. We then follow this downstream. After a few meters, we pass the Donausteig starting point “Linz”. Later, we go under the railway bridge and the highway bridge until the Donausteig turns left into the Pleschinger Au after the Danube bend (shipyard on the opposite Danube side). In a left curve, we reach a flood dam. We continue right along this. After about 600 m, we leave the dam on the left and circle the Pleschinger Lake on the north side (near the waterline) until a footpath takes us left to the parking lot. There we cross the bridge and then walk along the street right to Pleschinger Landesstraße. Here right and after about 50 m immediately left again. Now an asphalt road takes us first through a forest and then through rural cultural landscape uphill to the Donausteig rest stop “Pfenningberg/Linz view”. We continue hiking uphill on the road, take the next fork (second four-sided farm) left, and reach a junction at the forest edge after the next forest section. Now left uphill back into the forest. Shortly after, the asphalt road follows the forest edge and becomes a dirt road. Here the summit forest of the Pfenningberg also begins. At the next fork, left uphill, we then stand at a Y-junction. From here, a detour on the left leads us to the summit of the Pfenningberg. We hike the forest road uphill until another forest road joins from the left. We follow this for about 100 m south, then a footpath takes us to the summit of the Pfenningberg. From the Y-junction, right leads us slightly up and down to the Donausteig rest stop “Mühlviertel view” (located a bit off the road at the forest edge). A few meters later, the road leaves the summit forest. The Donausteig now immediately turns left (still before the Gasthaus Daxleitner) and leads down the hill via a meadow path to an asphalt road. We follow this left over the hill northwards and turn right at the next crossroads (after the four-sided farm on the right side). Past a riding facility, the asphalt road descends to the next farm. Shortly before, we turn right onto a gravel road and follow it through a forest patch down to the hamlet Holzwinden. At the T-junction with the village road, left and after 80 m immediately right again. Downhill along a field path, through a short forest section, and left past a large four-sided farmstead, we reach the next T-junction. Here right and just before the next farm left via a field path down to the Reichenbach. We follow its left bank downstream, past the Donausteig rest stop “Reichenbach/Devil's Chapel” into the village Pulgarn. There we follow the village road in a “square” S-curve out into the Danube plain to the railway line. Before the tracks, we walk about 1.5 km along the old federal highway towards Steyregg. In Steyregg, we turn right at the first opportunity and reach the Seilertor (old city gate) in a long left curve. Along the outside of the city wall to the left, we finally come to the Donausteig starting point “Steyregg”.

To make orientation easier for you, the Donausteig is equipped with its own orientation system – the description can be found here .

Linz is the cultural highlight on the Donausteig – you should definitely take your time for it! Uniquely, the city also offers exciting opportunities to combine hiking enjoyment with cultural events. Simply fantastic!

WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz, Austria
Tel. +43(0)732/7277-800
Fax. +43(0)732/7277-804
info@donausteig.com

Tourist Information Linz
Hauptplatz 1
4020 Linz
Tel.: +43(0)732/7070-2009
Fax: +43(0)732/7070-542009
tourist.info@linz.at
www.linz-tourismus.info and www.linz.at/tourismus

Municipal Office Steyregg
Weissenwolfstraße 3
4221 Steyregg
Tel.: +43(0)732/640155
office@steyregg.at
www.steyregg.at