To the fortified Slavic settlement on the Schanzberg

This walk starts at the parking in Thunau am Kamp, a catastral community of Gars am Kamp. From there you turn left into the Gföhlerstraße.

In the right-hand bend you walk straight ahead in the Schimmelsprunggasse.

After some meters you turn right into the Goldberggasse.

Soon you will have a beautiful view on Zitternberg, another catastral community of Gars.

Then you have to enter the wood.

On your right hand side you will see this cross.

On your way up you have to follow the white-red-white waymarks.

When you come to the other side of the wood, you have to turn left into the cross-running forest road.

You enter the wood again. Now you have to follow the white-blue-white waymarks.

Shortly afterwards, you reach the 15 hectare area of the fortified hill settlement, which was built by Slavic settlers in the 8th century. In the 9th century, a small principality developed here, which lasted for approximately 200 years.

On your right side you can see a reconstruction of the Southern gate.

The tower can be entered 24/7 and free of charge. 

Here's a photo from the outside.

Then you continue walking down through the wood. You will come to an open area. This area used to be a burial ground. Until now, 216 burials are known.

Here you have to turn left.

Soon you reach another open area.

The wooden cross reminds of a hunter who died here shortly after Christmas in the year 2002.

On the lower end of this open area you can see the foundations of a church uncovered in 1986. It was built in the 9th century following the Carolingian model and is the oldest known church in present-day Austria north of the Danube.

After another short walk through woodland you come to the "Untere Holzwiese".

Here you have to turn left and walk down through woodland again.

But before doing that you should definitely walk to the wooden cross…

and enjoy a beautiful view on Gars am Kamp.

Afterwards you walk down the wood. After a short descent you reach the way you walked up at the beginning of this walk. Now you have to turn right into this way.

Soon you will be back in Thunau, walk through the Goldberggasse, then through the Schimmelsprunggasse and finally through the Gföhler Straße to the parking.

For the walk you will need around one and a half hour, but plan a little bit more of time for visiting the reconstruction of the gate and to read the information boards. By the way: All information is also provided in English language!

A GPS track can be downloaded here

A detailled description in German language including some more photos and a map can be found on Weinbergwandern!

Here's an animated track of this tour

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