Waldluftbadeweg Ost Reichenstein - Pregarten

Forest air bathing in Pregarten

Pregarten lies in the Central Mühlviertel highlands and forms the land between the Feldaist and Waldaist rivers. The centre of the Pregarten landscape organism is the hill south of Pregartsdorf near the Hubertus Chapel.
Pregarten is part of the larger landscape organism "Untere Feldaist" (Hagenberg, Pregarten, Wartberg, Unterweitersdorf). The neighbouring Aist-Naarn-Kuppenland lies to the east and is bordered by the Waldaist. The southern Feldaist valley between the municipalities of Pregarten and Wartberg ob der Aist is the first landscape conservation area in Upper Austria, covering 45 hectares, and the Waldaist valley has been designated a European nature reserve.

Reichenstein forest air bathing trail

The path leads from the town square northwards along the Kirchensteig to Pregartsdorf. An alternative path leads down to the Feldaist, past the Kumpfmühle and then eastwards towards Pregartsdorf. A little to the south is a hill with the Hubertus Chapel. This place combines all the elemental energies of the landscape and supplies the land with vital energy.

We follow the church path and descend via the Gmeinerhof and the neighbouring Vogeltenn into the Waldaist valley to Reichenstein Castle.

Reichenstein Castle lies at the intersection of the three municipalities of Pregarten, Gutau and Tragwein at a strong double bend in the Waldaist. There were former places of worship at the castle chapel and on the Calvary. This was also the site of the first wooden castle, of which nothing remains today. Reichenstein Castle impresses with its frescoed Knights' Hall and the castle chapel, which was renovated a few years ago. The Upper Austrian Castle Museum also has a Natura 2000 exhibition on the topics of forests and river pearl mussels.

From the castle, we follow the Parsteinerbach stream and climb back up to the highlands via the Parsteinertal valley. In Pregartsdorf, the trail crosses the Burbach valley and returns to Pregarten.

The Halmenberg and Greisingberg are recommended as detours for short excursions.


Waldluftbadeweg Reichenstein - waypoints

1. hiking stone town square
2. church path
3rd Pregartsdorfer Berg
4th Kirchensteig, chapel
5. Vogeltenn Gmeinerhof
6th Reichensteinbach/Waldaist
7th Reichenstein
8th Calvary
9th Parsteiner-/Gaisruckbach
10. Parsteinertal

This hiking trail is possible as a snowshoe trail.

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