New hiking trail in the Höllental: safety guaranteed for pilgrim groups!

New hiking trail in the Höllental: safety guaranteed for pilgrim groups!

A significant step is coming for hikers!The river hiking trail along the Schwarza is finally being drastically expanded. The existing water pipeline path currently only extends from Hirschwang to Kaiserbrunn, but thanks to the Nature Friends initiative, another section will soon be opened. This development brings an enormous increase in safety for pedestrians who have to cross the busy federal highway B27 in the Höllental, especially the pilgrims who march along here every year.

This planned route connection is generously supported by the state of Lower Austria, but the communities of Reichenau/Rax and Schwarzau im Gebirge had to provide around 100,000 euros independently. The entire expansion is expected to cost between 770,000 and 800,000 euros. Hubert Prigl from Naturfreunde and Weichtalhaus landlady Manuela Grabherr-Gappmayer have persistently sought donors to realize the project and have already received substantial contributions from ecoplus (60 percent) and the city of Vienna (15 percent). Many private donors, such as the Parkhotel Hirschwang, also contributed to the financing, securing around 55,000 euros.

Construction work will start soon!

Over the next two years, the missing route of around 8.5 kilometers that previously had to be covered along the federal highway will be rebuilt. According to Andreas Schieder, chairman of Naturfreunde Österreich, this new connection will create a continuous, safe hiking trail for all age groups, which runs from Payerbach-Reichenau train station to Schwarzau im Gebirge and at the same time offers a connection to local public transport.