CASTLES AND CHURCHES

The Pulkau valley

The rolling green hills of the Pulkau valley are an invitation to stay awhile. Since Celtic times wine has been grown in this region, which is blessed with much warmth and sun and has a dry pannonian climate. Through the vine tradition, citizens and gentry who grew prosperous left behind art treasure, castles and churches, and it is worth taking the time to discover these. The focal point is always the wine. The landscape is characterised by picturesque roads and pathways leading to wine cellars and the predominantly white painted press houses. Under these houses a second Pulkau valley is lurking: the dark labyrinth of wine cellars carved into the loam soil – often several floors deep – a world of its own which does not offer up all its secrets to everyone.

Activities

Polter Evening | Polt

Alfred Komarek´s five crime novels featuring Inspector Simon Polt – all filmed by the ORF – take place in Lower Austria´s Weinviertel. The places and people are imaginary and everything is only so real as it really can be… (Alfred Komarek´s foreword). However if one reads a little more carefully one can find some remarkable similarities with the Pulkau valley. That is why the novels were filmed here. Particular honour is paid to the Bauers vineyard home. It was the scene of the Polter evening showdowns featured in the fourth episode of the series, and was chosen as the film set for the fifth and last episode. Best discovered in the culinary package Inspector Simon Polt.
polterabend

Cycling Routes

Lower Austria wants to become Cycling Country and in the next five years wants to double the amount of cycling traffic from 7% to 14%. The Pulkau valley is already a cycling paradise in the free time: the fertile landscape is beautiful and offers changing vistas, it is neither murderously steep nor boringly flat, and it is punctuated with culturally interesting and culinary tempting stations. Hardly any cars can be found along the cellar lanes, narrow paths and vehicle tracks. Furthermore since 1998 over 1.600 kilometres of cycle path have been established. Vintner Gisela Bauer takes care to give you (wine) route tips, maps and an extraordinarily good picnic basket to keep your strength up.

radwege

Hiking

Pulkau is wonderful for walking. Alpine walkers and those leaving their signature in the guest books on the mountain trails may come away feeling a little empty handed, however those who enjoy the spirit of the landscape in the National Park Thaya and who are not driven by the urge to climb the highest peak, are rewarded with the pleasures offered by this landscape. The classic Bauer introduction is to walk directly from the winery to the Kellerstöckl on the Schatzberg. Of course there are many other routes and you will not have to suffer any hunger pains let alone thirst, since thirst is not a word known in the Weinviertel. For the best tips just ask Gisela Bauer.
wandern

Wellness

Enjoying a well- chosen wine in a proper ambiance with good company and with some tasty bites… this still has a lot to do with what a person from the Weinviertel would call wellness. Now, since the opening of the thermal baths Spa Thaya, the region has something else to offer which falls into this category. There are also open-air baths in Haugsdorf, Seefeld-Kadolz and Retz. A secret tip, 35 kilometres away in Langau there is a brown coal lake for bathing.

wellness

Cultural Trips

Eight of the top recommended trips in Lower Austria are to be found in the Weinviertel.

All together, the Weinviertel, and particularly the ancient settlement at Retz, have much more to offer: churches, monasteries, castles, museums, nature experiences, festivals, celebrations and art, Retzer Land.

kultur

Geocaching

Geocaching is an exciting and family friendly game of treasure hunt. The aim is simple: somebody hides something, and the others have to find it. Whether it´s with a GPS – navigational system or a treasure map, you can discover in the nicest possible way, the scenery and region around you.

  • 1.)
  • Name: Das Hanfthal im Weinviertel
  • Path: 5 km
  • Start: N 48° 42.450 E016° 21.759
  • 2.)
  • Name: Polt´s Heimat
  • Path: 10 km
  • Start: N 48° 42.418 E016° 03.421

geocaching