Naturbadeplatz Hohensteg - Waldaist

It's so nice to go swimming here! "Mia's water goes all the way to dahea," says Tobias (8) from Pregarten, straightening up in the sandpit and pointing to his navel.

That's how deep the water of the Waldaist is, which envelops the Hohensteg bathing area (Tragwein district) in the scent of alluvial soil. With free admission, the natural bathing area attracts 500 guests on hot days (dogs are not allowed). Sun-seekers have made themselves comfortable on the ankle-high grass. Many have travelled by car from Linz, others by bike from Tragwein, Pregarten and Wartberg. Business administration student Michael (26), for example. He raves about the clean, shallow water and the gravel bottom of the Waldaist: "It's better than the chlorinated water in the outdoor pool."

Tobias has returned to digging in the sandpit by the climbing frame. He and his mum have also tried out the see-saw, "but it makes my tummy so big". In a few years' time, he will be playing beach volleyball: Six boys have taken over the small sand court, loudly hitting the ball they brought with them longline or cross over the net.

The water of the Waldaist, which joins the Feldaist 200 metres further on, is 20 degrees. After heavy rainfall, it turns brown-red in colour, saturated with suspended matter from the moorland in the upper reaches. Most of the time, however, it is crystal clear and you can see small trout flitting across the bottom. The Hermann family from Lest (Gmd. Neumarkt/M.) sits in the shade, reads the newspaper and savours their snack. Fire butterflies flutter towards the flowers of the purple loosestrife, the willows are reflected in the calmly flowing water. There is also a toilet, changing rooms and benches.

The bathing area can be reached via the Unterweitersdorf motorway exit. On the main road to Pregarten, turn right at the "BT" company into a wooded area, then it's another three kilometres to the car park at Gasthaus Buchner, where you can enjoy a snack, pickled sausage, drinks (preferably cider) and ice cream in the garden surrounded by surfinia trees. The flood of the century in 2002 destroyed the bathing area, but the municipality of Tragwein, as the leaseholder, has restored it.

"Most of the guests are young people who want to sleep longer, so it doesn't really get going until 3 pm," says Gerhard Buchner, who is the third generation to run the inn with his wife Sonja. Times have changed: "We used to often 'cook' for the guests, nowadays they're more frugal and bring their own food." And people have also become more prudish: "15 years ago, many ladies bathed topless, that's out now."

Source: OÖ Nachrichten, Alfons Krieglsteiner
Many thanks to www.nachrichten.at for this article.

There is a beach volleyball court, seesaw swing, sandpit, climbing frame arch

Information telephone:

• Tragwein municipal office
  Telephone: (07263) 882 55 or 860 55, Fax: DW-19

• Buffet at the bathing lake (only when swimming)
  Telephone: (07263) 862 68