Donausteig Stage 1_N05 St. Martin - Aschach: "Through the romantically wild Pesenbach valley"

St. Martin is the starting point for this enjoyable Donausteig stage. The idyllic village lies elevated on the rustic high plateau of the Mühlviertel Highlands. Its special character only unfolds with knowledge of its significant history – a village to be discovered! The stage starts directly in the village center. After the settlement area, we hike on secondary roads through the rural cultural landscape of the rolling high plateau – pure Mühlviertel idyll! Beautiful wide views round off this experience. At the farmstead Reith, we leave the plateau and hike down a field path into the forest of the narrow Aubach valley. At the valley floor, a forest path brings us further downstream until the Aubach flows into the Pesenbach. Now begins the hike through the wonderful Pesenbach valley - one of the top 10 natural highlights of the Donausteig! We follow the atmospheric meanders of the stream on leisurely forest and meadow paths through the wooded valley downstream – a contemplative nature delight! After a short detour into the rural cultural landscape on the left valley edge, we hike back down into the forest of the Pesenbach valley. Here we discover the bizarre rock spire of the Kerzenstein in the valley flank, the emblem of the Pesenbach valley! In the valley bottom begins the romantically wild stream section. The valley narrows into a gorge-like ravine. Partly on a wonderful hiking trail, partly on wooden climbing structures we follow the water downstream. Mystic rock towers, splashing cascades, rustic vegetation, ... – a “wild” natural delight! Highlights include the “Devil’s basins,” the “Stone roof” and the “Blue alley.” Afterwards, the valley becomes broader again. The Pesenbach calms down. We accompany it a bit longer but then climb the left valley flank via the Schuhplattlersteig and descend on a forest path to the traditional Gasthof Schlagerwirt on a forest clearing above the valley. A meadow path then brings us back to the Pesenbach, which we follow downstream to the bridge. Now it’s time to say goodbye to valley romance and stream whispers. The venerable Prälatensteig leads us up the right valley flank, then we hike down through beautiful mixed forests towards the Danube. A large forest-free terrace above the river offers wonderful wide views over the wooded Upper Danube valley, the fertile Eferding basin, and the distant Salzkammergut – simply breathtaking! At the “devilish” Faustschlössl we finally reach the Danube stream. Here the wonderful view of the historic waterfront street on the opposite Danube market town of Aschach delights. In a loop over the Danube bridge downstream, we finally reach picturesque Aschach. Donausteig – simply an experience!

Discover the following special features with the Donausteig diary:

- St. Martin royal road, beer and granite

- Donausteig starting point „St. Martin“

- Eduard Haas - from medicinal product to baking powder!

- Bildstöcke - of structured beauty

- Broad pillar Bildstöcke in transition

- The legendary charcoal smithy

- Gate columns - gates to the beyond?

- The Kerzenstein, the emblem!

- ...

Download: Donausteig Diary Stage 1_N05 St. Martin-Aschach

From the Donausteig starting point „St. Martin“ we follow Marktstraße southwards, leave the village area, and cross the Landshaager Hauptstraße straight ahead. The road immediately makes a sharp right turn, then leads slightly uphill in a left curve to the farmstead Reith. After a short downhill stretch, turn left before the houses onto the field path. Initially, it goes over meadows, later through forest down to the Aubach. At the valley floor, we continue right on the forest path to the bridge over the Pesenbach. Cross this, then follow the Pesenbach to the right along splendid forest and meadow paths downstream. After a historic house with a chapel, the Donausteig leads on a forest clearing to the left up the valley flank. At the top, we bypass a farm on a meadow path keeping right and at the next junction turn back down to the Pesenbach valley. Shortly after entering the forest, a narrow footpath branches off left from the forest path, which quickly takes us uphill to the Kerzenstein. From there we descend via a steep trail back to the valley. Afterwards, we walk on a wonderful hiking trail, partly on a wooden climbing structure, along the romantically wild Pesenbach downstream. About 500 m after the „Blue Alley“, the Donausteig leads steeply left via the Schuhplattlersteig up the valley flank. From the Hofratskanzel, it then descends comfortably on a forest path to the Gasthof Schlagerwirt. From there we reach the Pesenbach again via a meadow path and continue left along it to the bridge. There we cross the stream, then on the right ascend the valley flank on the Prälatensteig and hike downhill towards the Danube valley. Briefly follow the Landshaager Hauptstraße, then a farm road branches off right and leads in a left loop back down to the Landshaager Hauptstraße. There take the asphalt road right downhill, past the Faustschlössl to the Danube. From here we follow the Danube riverside road downstream, cross the Aschacher Danube bridge, and hike upstream on the opposite side along the Danube riverside promenade to Aschach.

To make orientation easier, the Donausteig has its own orientation system - the description can be found here.

• The picturesque Danube market town of Aschach is a true treasure chest – be sure to allow time for sightseeing! Also visit the barrier-free cultural hiking trail in Aschach and learn more about the history of the Danube market town.


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  Discovery journeys with a tasty stopover! This tour passes directly by the following culinary partner: 
  Hotel Restaurant Faustschlössl
  

  
  

WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz, Austria
Tel. +43(0)732/7277-800
Fax. +43(0)732/7277-804
info@donausteig.com 

Tourism Association St. Martin
Markt 2
4113 St. Martin
Tel.: +43(0)7232/2105
gemeinde@sankt-martin.at
www.tourismus.sankt-martin.at

Tourism Association Aschach
4082 Aschach a. d. Donau
Tel.: +43(0)664/4082 200
tourismus@aschach.at
www.aschach.at