Wachau World Heritage Trail Section 10 and 9: Aggstein - Melk

The stage leads from Aggstein via the hammer mill in Aggsbach village up over the Hohenwarthberg to the Hohenwarther Höhe, which impresses with sweeping panoramic views over the Dunkelsteinerwald. The trail then descends through wooded sections via Berging to Schönbühel, whose striking castle high above the Danube dominates the landscape.

Another highlight is the ascent to the Jonaskreuz with a rest area and impressive views of the Danube, the Jauerling and the surrounding hilly landscape. Over the Pielachberg, the route follows a historic farm track, passes Melk Abbey and finally ends at the main square in the old town of Melk.

Hiking along the Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail reveals step by step why the Wachau has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage region. Along finely curated World Heritage spots, the defining World Heritage highlights become visible - the interplay of historic cultural landscape, traditional viticulture, extraordinary natural spaces and the Danube as a shaping element.

For a carefree all-round offer, including luggage transport, tastings and transfer services, we recommend booking one of the versatile hiking packages.

Thanks to good rail connections, a relaxed and sustainable journey to the Wachau is easy. A dense network of public transport in the region ensures that all stages can be easily reached by bus, train, ferry and boat. This also makes it very easy to combine different stages.

The Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail has also been awarded the Austrian Hiking Seal of Quality. This certification stands for high quality standards in terms of route guidance, signposting, safety and infrastructure and confirms the World Heritage Trail as a reliable and high-quality hiking offer in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.