Pferdeeisenbahn Wanderweg - Etappe 3

The horse-drawn railway hiking trail runs in four stages from Leopoldschlag (border with the Czech Republic) to Linz or vice versa.


Interesting bridge constructions, well-preserved railway keeper's cottages and a mighty station building of our country's first railway can be seen on this hiking trail. As most of the hiking trail in the municipality of Rainbach runs along the former route of the horse-drawn railway, you often hike along existing railway embankments through shady forests.

Take a look into the countryside
In the Neumarkt - Unterweitersdorf area, the hiking trail runs along the original route of the horse-drawn railway, away from roads, in the valley of the Kleine Gusen. This section is extremely attractive due to its scenic beauty, the adventure stations and the rest area in Pfaffendorf.

Note: The first of ten adventure stations in the Little Gusen Valley is located at the Stroblmühle mill in Neumarkt. The side view of a passenger carriage is depicted there in original size.

TIP: In addition to the horse-drawn railway trail, the market town of Neumarkt offers 6 signposted hiking trails. A visit to the beautiful market square including a stop at the Ochsenwirt or GH Reisinger is definitely recommended. The Mostheurige and the Wirt z'Trosselsdorf present equipment for historic cider production and a film about cider making in 1966 in the old stoabloßen press house. A cider museum was opened on the upper floor of this small building on 1 May 1994. Here visitors can find out what was done in the past to make good cider from apples. You can see the preserved Göppel, wooden cider press and other equipment used to make cider.

Through the wild and romantic Gusental valley
Further south, the historic hiking trail - almost always on the original route - now leads us past an ensemble of fishing ponds belonging to the Kratschmayr family. Fishing in the Natura 2000 protected area in the Gusental valley near Neumarkt is a special experience for fishing enthusiasts. Day licences can be purchased for guests in the Försterteich and Neumarkt ponds. Access to the ponds: B 310, Götschka village, at the Kratschmayr fishing lodge enter the Gusental valley.

TIP: At the level of the fish ponds, you can also make a worthwhile detour westwards to the whisky distillery Genuss- & Erlebniswelt in Alberndorf. Immerse yourself in the world of whisky and book a guided tour of the whisky distillery followed by a tasting. The owner, Peter Affenzeller, also offers overnight accommodation at the Sepp'n Ranch.

Passing old threshold stones and crossing the small Bürstenbach bridge, we arrive in Unterweitersdorf. In the former Wachterhaus 41, the Söser family's Pferdebahnstüberl (seating for 80 people) invites you to take a well-earned rest.

TIP: Visit the Weiglmühle mill and mill museum. This is located on the Kleine Gusen near the municipal borders of Wartberg and Engerwitzdorf and has been owned by the Winkler family since 1913. The original Weiglmühlgut consisted of a farmhouse and the mill and belonged to the county of Schloss Haus.
Since 2005 there has also been a multi-purpose room which can accommodate approx. 45 people. There is also an approx. 20 m² stage. This room is suitable for seminars and celebrations. In Unterweitersdorf there is also the turn-off to the old salt trail via Wartberg to Mauthausen. We recommend the Unterweitersdorf circular cultural trail, which is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs and leads from the leisure centre via the village centre in a northerly direction to the horse-drawn railway station and back along the original route.