Waldluftbadeweg Birau - Heidenstein

Forest air bathing in Rainbach

Rainbach lies in the Mühlviertel highlands between the mountain ranges of the Bohemian Forest and Sternwald to the west and the Freiwald to the east. The north-south connection through the Bohemian Gate to Bohemia, which has been important since early history, runs through the municipality. It is also home to the Heidenstein, an ancient and important cult centre. The centre of the Rainbach plateau is the Birauberg to the north-west, a once very impressive moorland forest.

Birau - Heidenstein forest air bathing trail

We start in the centre of Rainbach. After a short hike along the R9 on the way to Deutsch-Hörschlag, it intersects with the horse-drawn railway trail and the Nordwaldkammweg II, which we follow westwards. The horse-drawn railway viaduct is an impressive reminder of this historic form of transport.

The so-called Pürau / Birau north of Summerau is a formerly extensive area of moorland forest. The mixed forest with many pine trees has a high basic energy. There are many pine circles, each with a beech tree in the centre. The derivation of Pürau = fire and Au (water) is obvious and can also be seen in the fiery/watery effect of the forest landscape.

The Heidenstein to the west of the village of Eibenstein is also called Hohenstein: "high" in the sense of "holy". The location is centred between Sternstein and Viehberg and is regarded as a prehistoric fertility site and a place for observing the sun. The chakra hiking trail leads around the Heidenstein with 7 stations with exercises for the respective chakra.

The way back leads via Summerau, through the Birau forest and via the horse-drawn railway back to the starting point in Rainbach.


Forest air bath trail Birau - Heidenstein - Waypoints

1. hiking stone
2nd horse-drawn railway, Birau viaduct
3. Birau/Pürau
4th Heidenstein
5. chakra hiking trail
6th Thingplatz (Taiding)

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