This stage on the south bank of the Danube leads along old Roman paths, through nature reserves in the Dunkelsteinerwald forest and to one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Wachau: The Seekopfwarte.
Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail: From the Arnsdorf ferry to the St. Lorenz ferry (start from Weißenkirchen)
Starting from Weißenkirchen, take the Wachau Railway or bus line 715 to Spitz an der Donau. There you cross the Danube with the energy self-sufficient rolling ferry, the starting point of the hike is at the ferry station on the south bank. The route leads past the Wilhelminian-style Hofarnsdorf Castle through the wine-growing villages of Mitterarnsdorf and Bacharnsdorf with its Roman watchtower and then follows a former Roman path into the Kupfertal valley and into the forests of the Dunkelsteinerwald.
Traces of the Turkish wars and impressive views from the Seekopf and Hirschwand mountains characterize this section. Through the Steinige Ries nature reserve with its largely untouched oak and hornbeam forest and on through vineyards, the trail descends to St. Lorenz. Finally, the Danube is crossed back to Weißenkirchen on the roller ferry, bringing this varied circular tour to a close.
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.
