A circular hike to the Nebelstein lookout in the Novohradské hory Mountains

Easy trek in the Austrian Novohrad Mountains

Starting point

I start the trek in the village of Maißen, on the Austrian side of the Novohrad Mountains (arriving either via New Castles or Weitra).
 

Description of the hike

I leave my car in the village of Maißen, parking is possible under the fairy-tale hotel Märchenhotel Waldpension Nebelstein. From the hotel I head along the marked hiking trail towards Nebelstein, about 3 km away. The route is mostly along forest paths. On the meadows above Maißen, a canary yellow chapel with a bell tower and a view of the countryside catches the eye.

After the last farmhouse, again into the forest and along a wider forest path that follows a nature trail with a peat theme. Children will enjoy stopping off in the form of original wooden shelters, where Moormandlel the Elf will tell them some of the tales of the area. The texts are in both German and Czech.

About an hour later I'm standing at Nebelstein 1,017m above sea level, the highest point in the Waldviertel, the forested northern part of Lower Austria. The circular view is a delight - to the northwest the Novohrad Mountains with the dominating High, to the north the Bohemian plateau with visibility far beyond Třeboň, to the east the highlands of the Walviertler Hochlands and even the Alpenblick to the south. Use the smart telescope to identify the Schneeberg, Raxy, Hochtor and Totes Gebirge. Below the summit is the hiking hut Nebelsteinhütte. From Nebelstein I descend to the Grenzblick lookout point, which shows how easy it is to cross the border today.

Then on to the first houses of the village of Hirschenwies, the path leads through the woods and across meadows. In Lauterbach, I stop on a hill where there is an interesting installation called Garten der Meschenrechte (Garden of Human Rights) and then around a deer preserve along wider paths back to Maißen.
 

Difficulty

A walking route suitable for all ages. An interesting nature trail with a peat theme (the peat bath Moorbad Harbach is nearby).
 

Water availability

Refreshments are available at the Nebelstein viewpoint or in the villages along the way - you won't go hungry.
 

Mountain peaks

During this trek you will climb only one peak - Nebelstein 1,017 m above sea level, views of the Novohrad Mountains, Walviertel, if you are lucky, and the Alps.
 

Danger

An easy route suitable for children and the elderly.
 

Food

We had food with us, but there is a possibility to refresh ourselves (only in season) at the mountain hut below the peak of Nebelstein. Or then there are inns in the villages around the trek.
 

Attractions

The promotion of the Waldviertel region is all about taking a break from the people, the hustle and bustle of the cities. Slogans like Kraft tanken and Entspannen (draw strength from nature and relax) can be found in every guidebook for the region. You can find more here. If you believe in the flow of energy, Celtic mythology and the healing powers of nature, you can travel to Groß Gerungs, about 20 km away, which is said to have several power spots in the area.

Proven by various astro-bio-geo scientists and spiders. Here you will find a stone pyramid, the round granite boulder Weltkugel (Earth globe) and various other Steinjuwelen - stone gems. I visited the Waldvierler Pyramide near the village of Ober-Neustift, where there is a seven-metre high perhaps Celtic pyramid and the interesting Runenstein, a granite boulder inscribed with runes.