Red Gate Circular Route

Popis

Starting from the old winegrower town of Spitz, with its many historic buildings, we begin our approx. 5.5 km hike from the church square. Here is the late Gothic "Mauritius Church" from the 15th century. Past the beautifully renovated Spitz Castle, we hike up to the legendary "Rote Tor" (Red Gate), a relic of an old defensive wall. From here, we have a breathtaking view over Spitz and its vineyards already within the town. Through splendid beech and oak mixed forests, we reach the "Blue Cross" and the natural Radlbach stream, which accompanies us almost up to Spitz (district Quitten). Past old vintners’ houses with views of the Hinterhaus ruin, it goes back through Cemetery Lane to the church square, where we can end our hike comfortably at a Heuriger.

The hiking trail is uniformly and continuously marked with yellow signs.

Výchozí bod trasy

Spitz, church square

Cílový bod trasy

Spitz, church square

Popis trasy Red Gate Circular Route

We start our approx. 5.5 km long route from the church square in Spitz, head towards the secondary school and turn right around the church, following the small street north. At the next cross street, we turn right and follow the small asphalt road, first flat, then uphill to the legendary "Rote Tor" (Red Gate), from where we can enjoy a breathtaking view over Spitz, with some of its vineyards located within the town, and the Danube. We now go under the "Rote Tor" (297 m) and follow the left curve a little way on the "Roman Road," which soon turns into an asphalt road and then into a forest path, slightly uphill. We follow this straight ahead until shortly after a clearing we reach the "Blue Cross" (409 m). Here our route separates from the oncoming "Buchberg Circular Route." Before a bench, we turn left onto a small path that takes us up a bit higher in several switchbacks through a magnificent beech forest (when in doubt always follow the yellow dots).

The path runs parallel to a slightly wider forest path that lies a little below. Soon we pass a feeding place on the left. About 20 m later, we cross the wider forest path straight ahead. 5 m after that, there is a stamp station on the right under a large pine tree beneath the signpost. After another 30 m, we reach a wider forest path, which we now follow left and at the next junction continue straight. The path now runs relatively flat to slightly downhill, and sometimes we can catch a brief glimpse of the Danube between the trees. At the next clearing, we can enjoy a view of the wayside shrine by the Red Gate and the Singerriedel vineyard. Shortly after, views open up to the Hofarnsdorf church and Mitterarnsdorf. A little later, a small path branches off right (parallel to the main path), which we follow for about 200 m. Once back on the main path, we follow it to the right and after another 5 m cross the Buchberg Circular Route straight ahead. Here a bench invites to linger and we can enjoy the wonderful view of Spitz.

Through a mixed oak-pine forest, we hike straight ahead on a wonderful forest path (towards Radlbach/Spitz) until in a right curve we see some rock formations on the left. Behind these, a small box with a stamp station hangs on a pine tree. From here, we have a fantastic view into the Spitzer Graben and further left also the Danube. After the right curve, there is another bench. Shortly after this, the path splits in a Y-shape and we take the left downhill path (towards Radlbach/Spitz). After about 100 m, the path turns sharply left onto a small trail. In switchbacks, the small path winds through a mixed pine-beech forest.

Soon we come to a hairpin bend to the right, which we follow. At the next junction, we go left downhill and after 30 m before Radlbach, again left, crossing it shortly after. Now we walk to the right of the stream and at the next fork once again follow the path to the left downhill (Spitz, church square 25 min.) and then straight ahead. Soon the path turns into an asphalt road. At the next intersection, we turn left and accompany the stream almost into the district of Quitten. Here, we have the opportunity to view the Hinterhaus ruins. At the next junction, we turn left and then right. This takes us back via Cemetery Lane to the church square.