Michelbach Observatory Trail Variant 2

The rapid ascent through a partly dark, peculiar forest – characterized at the end by elder trees and fern herbs – lets us quickly gain altitude. From the Tarnhof chapel, we hike gently ascending with wonderful views to the rustic Kukubauer hut, which offers food and accommodation. West of the hut, we come to a magnificent pre-Alpine panorama and continue to the Wind Cross chapel, an old border point and place of some legendary mystical occurrences. Via the Hackerbauer farms, the Gaishof saddle, the Bishop’s height and the Ötzelsberg, we explore the entire ridge enclosing the Michelbach valley. This offers the best panoramic views with excellent views of St. Pölten and Ötscher, while the surrounding individual farms with their orchards and meadows delight our senses until the end from all perspectives. A special feature is the Lower Austria public observatory (Antares association) on the route. On special guided days from March to November, interested persons can observe various celestial events at the Antares observatory and have them expertly explained. In the village itself, there are options for refreshments and relaxation at the guesthouse Zur Taverne, cider taverns (Blamauer family, Griessler), and a local supplier open on Sunday mornings as well (Nah & Frisch Schagerl).

Parking lot of Michelbach primary school 3074 Michelbach, Markt 10

Popis trasy Michelbach Observatory Trail Variant 2

We start in the beautiful village center of Michelbach. Opposite the primary school parking lot, we go past the fortified church, up a small alley. After about 150 m, we follow the signpost left over stone steps up into the parish forest. The blue/green marked hiking trail leads us briefly over an asphalt road to the Griessler property, then over a footpath through a shady, moist forest along old hollow ways to the Tarnhof country house. To the right, we ascend to the Tarnhof chapel and out of the forest further to the mountain farm with its well-kept chapel. Now the trail winds over coarse gravel further to the Lower Austria public observatory, which is open for visits on weekends. Over the anniversary meadow and the following ridge trail with the best views to the north and south, we reach the Kukubauer hut, which offers food, accommodation, and views north to Göttweig and the Waldviertel massif. The short ascent to the Heimkehrer cross, with 782 m the highest elevation of Michelbach, is worth it.
The hike continues westward (yellow marking) and takes us through a forest reminiscent of dwarfs and fairies to a magnificent pre-Alpine panorama. Straight ahead we come almost to the Wind Cross chapel – an old border point. With the chapel in sight, we turn right heading north, following the Michelbach signpost – hiking over a dreamy meadow path to the Oberhackerbauer property and across the road to the Unterhackerbauer. At the bend below the farm, we leave the asphalt road and take the gravel path down to the Gaishof saddle. There, a pear tree guides us across the meadow to the forest – crossing which, with a lovely hornbeam forest on the right, we come to a hill with views of St. Pölten and shortly thereafter Ötscher. Past the still young lime tree at the highest point, our path continues east, walking along the ridge, passing through a small forest, along a row of larches, and straight across a hiking trail junction. Further along the ridge, once in the forest, we keep left, following the blue/yellow marking down to the Hochgern property and further back towards the Michelbach valley to the Kaiblinger farm with a well-kept chapel and a remarkable holly tree. Following the edge of the forest downhill, we reach the Hinterleitner chapel. At the foot of Michelbach, from the chapel we hike off-path across meadows straight to the south slope settlement and further downhill to the state road. Now keep right – after about 250 m we are back at the starting point.