Stage 1: WILHERING - PUCHENAU

We leave the impressive and recently redesigned Wilhering Abbey courtyard and immediately turn right along the historic garden wall on the hiking trail towards the Danube. 

We follow the path upstream to the west for about 1.8 km. 

Then we reach the Ottensheim wire rope bridge. Here we cross the Danube. 

Once we are back on solid ground, we keep to the right and walk in the direction of the river.  

First on an asphalt path, at the junction with the cycle path we continue briefly on a meadow path and then on the Treppelweg. 

In the days of non-motorised shipping, horses used to pull the Plätten boats upstream on this path. 

We arrive in Puchenau and walk under the green canopy of the Puchenauer Au until we reach the cemetery church.

We turn left onto Melicharweg and walk past the primary school, turning right into Schulstrasse. 

We pass the historic cemetery church and reach the parish centre.

The church and the weekday chapel are usually open to pilgrims.