Granittrail 3rd stage: Gutenbrunn - Ybbs/Donau

Popis

As part of the Alpine Tour Lower Austria, the Granittrail runs over a length of 157 kilometers and about 3,000 meters of elevation in 3 stages from the Waldviertel to the Danube, from the Czech border at Gmünd via Groß Gerungs, Bärnkopf, Gutenbrunn, and Altenmarkt to Persenbeug and Ybbs/Donau.

There are people who complete the entire route in ONE day – as training for a cycling marathon, for example. For average cyclists, the Granittrail is not feasible in one go, at best in two parts, but preferably leisurely in three stages with overnight stays in the mentioned truly recommended accommodations.

Výchozí bod trasy

Gutenbrunn

Cílový bod trasy

Ybbs/Donau

Popis trasy Granittrail 3rd stage: Gutenbrunn - Ybbs/Donau

We begin the last stage in Gutenbrunn with a forest section until that view opens up, for which this stage should have been awarded the Golden Landscape Prize: before us stretches far and wide down to the Danube the Ysper valley. Certainly one of the most beautiful and graceful corners of the country. We stop for a long time, marveling at how this valley basin swings elegantly back and forth between the Ostrong Mountains (Großer Peilstein) and the Burgsteinmauer. Everything seems to flow seamlessly into one another, to blur: the forests into the fields, the all-dominating green into the blue of the sky, the rustling of the Ysper into the rustling of the meadows. Gentle and uncontrolled, powerful and again quite tame, the river winds its way crystal clear to the Danube through the southwestern Waldviertel and gives one of the most charming spots on earth its name. Like attentive guardians, five thousand-meter peaks surround the Ysper valley: the Großer Peilstein, Kaiserstein, Burgstein, Schöberlberg, and Hochwaad protect this little paradise from mass tourism, traffic, and industry. You can tell at first glance that this area is reserved for the gentle ones – for those seeking relaxation, hikers, and cyclists who find their green paradise here. Because here the Waldviertel gently slopes down into the Danube valley, this region is also called the "Danube Waldviertel." The view from our viewing terrace over the foothills all the way to the Gesäuse mountains is, at least on clear days, overwhelming. But always dominant are King Ötscher and the gatekeeper Peilstein.

We no longer cycle; we rock, swing, and pendulate through the valley. But not too fast, a sprightly downhill, or better: a "down meadow" is still ahead – and a proper one at that. A descent just right for madmen who let themselves fall as if there were neither ground beneath their feet nor gravity. My cautious brakes, on the other hand, smoke and glow since I want to arrive at the destination with all my bones intact. Then we stand right in the middle of the Ysper valley, surrounded only by landscape, well-kept fields and villages, houses, gardens; even the people appear more well-groomed than elsewhere. And more leisurely. People seem to love this place here, to live into it, not out of it as elsewhere; thus, one lets oneself be infected by the gentleness of nature, letting it carry and cradle one. There’s no running, no haste; even the BMWs of the weekend home owners travel at tractor speed. The Ysper valley wants to show us everything it can! The path branches off again and again somewhere, instead of staying on the cozy country road. It is no coincidence that we get the feeling that we are being guided a bit circuitously back and forth, crooked and up and down, so that we see everything the paradise has to offer. Regardless, from all perspectives, we get to know Pisching, Parming, and the names of all the villages and also see the ponds, which are also pretty, and the nice field sections, farmsteads, little churches, and viewpoints – all pretty, pretty, pretty. Actually, the route setters are not wrong; the Ysper valley deserves recognition, even homage! For me, the guided tour definitely ignited a spark and sparked the desire to vacation here someday. There is no time today for the visit to this masterpiece, namely the Ysperklamm, but I will come again...

In Altenmarkt, the gateway to the beautiful valley, we leave paradise again. Here you can choose between the country road, which first goes uphill but then gently downhill to the Danube’s bank, or you choose a last strenuous mountain trail through the southern foothills of the Ostrong. We take the road via Persenbeug, cross the Danube to our destination in Ybbs/Donau. Here we also ride a short section of the southern route of the Danube cycle path and end our route with a fitting visit to the Ybbs bicycle museum. And then it’s done! 157 kilometers of Waldviertel lie behind us. The conclusion is clear: this kind of wave-riding carries the risk of addiction, addiction to more cycling, addiction to more Waldviertel. After all, there are still several round routes around other beautiful corners to explore in this region!