Upper Austria Mariazell route: B: 2nd stage: St. Florian - Steyr

Popis

The second stage of the Mariazell route begins at the collegiate monastery St. Florian in the eponymous town. We walk through the town area southward and continue our pilgrimage hike towards Hofkirchen in the Traunkreis. At first, we pass several farms and enjoy the peace and beauty of nature. Only some time later do we reach the small pilgrimage village of Maria Laah, where pilgrims have sought healing for body and soul for 800 years. The reason is the healing spring, located just a few steps from the church, whose source rises directly beneath the church altar. From Maria Laah, this stage becomes especially interesting. West of the church, we first reach the Maria Laah cemetery and then descend to the Hagleitenbach, where we encounter the Pfaffenstiege. The Pfaffenstiege was first documented in 1733 and served the clergy residing at Losensteinleiten Castle for their daily walk to mass in Maria Laah. Above the stairs, we find the impressive mausoleum of the princely Auersperg family, built in 1911 by Karl, Prince of Auersperg, then owner of Losensteinleiten Castle. Although the castle is no longer owned by the Auersperg family, the mausoleum still serves as a princely burial site.

Immediately after, we reach Losensteinleiten Castle, which today serves as a nursing home. The route continues over fields and through small villages to Oberwolfern and from there into the Enzengarn forest, where there is a nice rest spot with a stone sculpture dedicated to the Mariazell route. Shortly after, we already see the pilgrimage church “Christkindl” on the hills south of Steyr. It was built between 1702 and 1725 by Giovanni Battista Carlone and Jakob Prandtauer. The church’s landmark is a Christkindl made of wax only ten centimeters tall, holding a cross and crown of thorns, located above the church tabernacle. From the church, it is only a few minutes to the center of Steyr.

Already in Roman times, so-called Innerberger iron ore was transported here on the old iron road to Lauriacum, to the Roman shield factory. Also in the early Middle Ages, metals were transported through the Enns and Danube valleys, creating one of Europe’s oldest industrial regions, the Eisenwurzen. The city of Steyr itself thus became the iron metropolis north of the Alps.

Výchozí bod trasy

St. Florian

Cílový bod trasy

Steyr

Popis trasy Upper Austria Mariazell route: B: 2nd stage: St. Florian - Steyr

The stage (06 and partially 09 route) begins in St. Florian (310 m) from the monastery southwards to Niederfraunleiten, then to Fernbach, Grünbrunn, to the farm Mayr zu Pucha, further to Harmannsdorf, up to the Hofkirchen–Losensteinleiten road, either to the Maria Laah church or directly along the road further to Losensteinleiten, about 3.5 hours to this point. From here, the road continues to Wickendorf. Then the 06 and 09 routes separate. From now on, follow the 06 marking southwards to Oberwolfern (359 m). Pass the Öttl farm through the Enzengarn forest to Enzengarn (396 m). Pass the Huber farm to Damm (334 m), then over the federal road and down to the Steyr river, continue over the Krugl bridge (footbridge) towards Rosenegg Castle and Christkindl street and to the pilgrimage church Christkindl (347 m). From Losensteinleiten to Christkindl about 3.5 hours. From Christkindl, directly eastwards via the Christkindlweg and Redtenbacherstraße to the city center of Steyr (approx. 40 minutes). Alternatively, it is also possible here to hike through Garsten directly to St. Ulrich.