This hiking trail (walking distance 11.3 kms, walking time 3:00 hours) leads you through the most beautiful vineyards of Strass im Strassertale, a market town with 1,750 located in the Lower Austrian Kamptal region and very well known for wine growing.
The walk starts at the Market Square ("Marktplatz").
The whole trail is marked with purple signposts.
First you cross a stream called "Gscheinzbach" or "Gschinzbach".
Then you continue walking on the Herrengasse and pass by the Citizens' Hospital Chapel ("Bürgerspitalskirch")
Then you reach the B35. You cross this main road and then continue walking on the street right of the small chapel that hosts a statue of John of Nepomuk.
Along the way you will often find information boards that inform you on the vineyards or on wine-cultivating traditions and techniques.
The first landmark is the cross on the peak of the Gaisberg.
From the platform on the peak you have a wonderful view on Strass.
Then you continue walking through the vineyards.
The small wayside shrine "Maria am Berg" ("Holy Mary on the mountain") is the next station.
On your left-hand-side you can then look to Langenlois.
A little bit later you enter a hollow way and…
finally the wood.
After leaving the wood you will see a pasture on your right side.
Usually dexter cattle is grassing here.
After the pasture you have to turn right.
Then you walk down and enter the wood again. On your right side you will see a "Bildeiche", an oak with a picture of Mother Mary.
The way runs alongside a stream called Kohlbach.
After some minutes you will see the "Barbaraquelle" (St. Barbara's Well) on the other side of the stream.
Finally you reach the dwelling area again.
There you see the mystical "Stein im Kohlbachtal". There are many myths about this big rock. It was already mentioned in 1566 and nobody really knows why it was placed here.
Then you reach the B35 main road again. You first cross the Kohlbach, then the street and finally the Gscheinzbach that runs alongside the B35.
Then you turn left and pass by the crossbow shooting range.
After the last houses you enter woodland again. This is now the hardest part of the walk.
You can make a small detour to the ruins of Falkenberg castle. The castle was built in the 12th century but already destroyed during a siege in the years 1299 and 1300.
When you finally left the wood you will see an elevated water tank. Before this tank you have to turn right.
Then you reached paved roads again.
At the next crossing you turn right into the Preidlweg. Alongside this way you see a wayside cross called Schreibeis-Kreuz.
Now you walk down through various vineyards. Before reaching the cellar alley you will see the Stanglkreuz on your right side. This wayside cross erected in 1655 is amongst the oldest ones in the area.
Finally you reach a cellar alley called "Placher Kellergasse". But instead of walking through this cellar alley you have to walk through a street called "Am Wechselberg".
Right before the Kühlhaus (a former cold store) you have to turn left…
and cross the Gscheinzbach again. Then you turn left into the Promenadenweg.
This small way runs alongside the stream.
There are also some riding stables and paddocks alongside the way.
Finally you come back to the Herrengasse, turn left, cross the Gscheinzbach and are back to where you have started.