Waldluftbadeweg Gusental

Forest air bathing in Neumarkt

Neumarkt is located in the Central Mühlviertel highlands and has a large part of the Freistadt Basin in the northern part of the municipality. The landscape centre of the basin landscape is the Zeißberg (802 m) to the west. To the south is the European nature reserve of the Kleine Gusen valley.
Neumarkt is a transitional town and as such lies on a mountain itself, the highest point of which is the Tannberg. Five castle stables in the immediate vicinity point to its historical importance on the route from the Danube to Bohemia.

Gusental forest bathing trail

The hike leads from the market square southwards to Stroblmühle. After crossing the Möstlingerbach stream, you follow the tracks of the horse-drawn railway along the Gusental valley. Shortly before you reach the original guard's house 39 of the horse-drawn railway, you can still see the sleepers of the historic railway.

At the Schermühle mill, the hiking trail crosses the Kleine Gusen and leads to the Schneiderwies, a popular natural playground where you can not only rest but also enjoy a cosy barbecue. Bookings for the barbecue area can be made at the municipal office or on the website. Diagonally opposite the Schneiderwies, you can take a short hike up the slope to the Teufelsstein. Legend has it: "Around 1830, the track was blasted out of the rock. The devil, who sat at the top of the rock, feared for his peace. He therefore threw huge quantities of stones onto the railway line every night. But when he saw that the hard-working labourers were clearing away the stones every day, he moved to a quieter area in a rage. You can still see the imprints of his buttocks and paws on the rock."

Shortly after the ascent to Pfaffendorf is the Steinmühle, an international art studio run by the Steinmühle association. Back at the Gusen, the trail follows a sandy road to Pfaffendorf. Here the hiking trail crosses the Gusen again. A little way uphill along the goods road and along a forest path you reach the small village of Möstling. On the way to Stroblmühle, 200 metres after the village, the remains of Möstling Castle can be found on a rocky spur above the Gusen. The forest around this rocky spur has always been called Burgholz. In 1499, the ruins are mentioned in a document as "pueckhstall" (castle stable), meaning they were already dilapidated at the time.

On the way back to Neumarkt, we descend again to the Kleine Gusen, pass the Stroblmühle and then climb up to the starting point in Neumarkt.

Waldluftbadeweg Gusental - waypoints

1. hiking stone
2. warden's house 39
3. mouth of Möstlingerbach
4th Schermühle
5th Schneiderwies
6. mouth of Möhringerbach
7. devil's church
8. stone mill with sound tower
9. further hike Gusental
10. castle stable Möstling
11th Freithof Möstling
12. mouth of Kreilenbach
13th Stroblmühle

This trail is also possible as a snowshoe trail.

For guided tours, please contact our qualified forest air bathing masters - you can find more information here.