Discover Lilienfeld: Abbey, Mountain Trails and Nature

Lilienfeld combines an impressive monastic history with mountain trails, forest landscapes and fascinating insights into the development of winter sports. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment for a varied stay can combine cultural discoveries, scenic trails and family-friendly experiences here. Depending on the day of travel, you can choose between short walks, longer circular routes, museum visits or a day of swimming.

Abbey, Museum and Living History

Lilienfeld Cistercian Abbey was founded in 1202 by the Babenberg Duke Leopold VI the Glorious. A seal on the document with which Duke Frederick II the Warlike confirmed the foundation is also historically remarkable: it shows the Bindenschild for the first time, the coat of arms of Austria. The abbey park features a park landscape with exotic trees, winding paths, streams and small ponds. At the highest point of the park stands the so-called “Chineser”, a pagoda-like lookout tower.

The Lilienfeld Museum is dedicated to the history of the district. Its topics include silver and coal mining, the pilgrimage route to Mariazell, as well as industrial and natural history. Minerals and fossils are among the exhibits. The development of winter sports can also be traced there through interesting equipment from earlier times. At the Muckenkogel, Mathias Zdarsky held the first giant slalom in the history of alpine skiing on 19 March 1905. An annual nostalgic ski race held in March commemorates the winter sports tradition; it starts at the hut.

Trails for Different Day Plans

For a shorter tour, the Pater Exinger Trail is a good option. It leads from the intersection of Friedhofsgasse and Höhenstraße to the Stillen Tal and is approximately 2 km long; the walking time is 40 to 50 minutes. The Wasserfallsteig begins at the valley station of the Lilienfeld chairlift and leads to the Lilienfelderhütte on the Gschwendt. The walking time for the approximately 1.5 km route is about 1.5 hours.

The Muckenkogel can be reached on foot, by bicycle or with the rustic single chairlift. There are well-marked hiking trails with varying levels of difficulty. The Mathias Zdarsky Inventor Trail is particularly suitable for beginners. A 2.5-hour circular route leads from the top station over the Muckenkogel and the Hinteralm and back via the Klosteralm. The Muckenkogel is also popular with ski tourers. Anyone planning a longer outing can take the nature of the route and the approximate walking times into account when choosing the day’s itinerary.

Forests, Orchid Mountains and Wide-Ranging Views

The peaks around Lilienfeld are considered orchid mountains even by botanists. The Orchid Route runs halfway up along the steep mountain massif. Three quarters of the district is covered by forest, which is why it is known as the “green lung” of Lower Austria. At 1,313 metres, the Hinteralm is the highest point in Lilienfeld. From there, the view extends north over the Danube Valley and far into the Alps to the south.

Another viewpoint is the lookout tower on the 587-metre-high Parapluie. It stands on a rocky promontory and offers views of Lilienfeld Abbey and the Spitzbrand.

Family Experiences and Regional Trails

On warm days, the Lilienfeld outdoor pool offers a heated pool, a splash area for toddlers, a play stream and a spacious sunbathing lawn surrounded by relaxing natural scenery. In the abbey’s scriptorium, children can try medieval writing with pen and ink. A traditional mountain pasture mass held annually on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary at the Klosteralm is one of the special dates in the yearly calendar. At the Lilienfelderhütte, at an altitude of 956 m, you will find hearty local cuisine featuring specialities from surrounding farms, as well as cosy dormitories for overnight stays.

Cyclists will also find a clearly described option: the Traisental Cycle Route is a family and pilgrimage cycle route running from Traismauer via St. Pölten, Lilienfeld and St. Aegyd am Neuwalde to Mariazell. On the section via Wilhelmsburg to Lilienfeld, it follows asphalted riverside paths and quiet side roads; there are no significant climbs there. This makes it possible to plan Lilienfeld, depending on your interests, as a base for culture, mountain trails, nature observation, family time or a longer cycling tour.

For further regional orientation, you can also explore Lilienfeld, Erlaufboden, Mitterbach Am Erlaufsee, Hohenberg, Annaberg Bei Mariazell, Kaumberg, Türnitz, Ramsau Bei Hainfeld, Wienerbruck, Oberried, Sankt Aegyd Am Neuwalde, Traisen, Sankt Veit An Der Gölsen, Eschenau An Der Traisen, Kleinzell and Rohrbach an der Gölsen.

For the broader travel overview: Lower Austria.