WAB - Regional Route B: Krumbach - Maria Schnee

The start of Regional Route B is located at the municipal office in Krumbach. We hike slightly uphill to Pfarrkirche St. Stefan and then head right into Kirchengasse. At the end of this short alley we turn slightly left into Knappenhofweg. Whilst consistently climbing, we head towards the highest point of the tour. We reach the Knappenhof around half-an-hour after the start going past the first farm. From here onwards the terrain is not paved, but becomes field paths (with occasional blue markings).

 

We hike through a rural cultivated landscape, past a small forest, and ascend to even higher altitudes. There are magnificent views of the Bucklige Welt and beyond on the way to a wayside shrine. Shortly afterwards we turn right onto a field path which is part of an unusual crossroads as we ignore the paved road signposted as a hiking route on the left past the farmhouse. We head uphill through a wood and then come across a solitary tree and a small chapel next to a paved road. We briefly walk northwards along this road and then turn onto a field path offering great views after a few metres. However, this is only short as we soon enter the woods again and ascend to the highest part of the route. At this point we are not much lower than the 896 metre high Kühriegel, which is the same altitude as the Hutwisch at Hochneukirchen. Hiking downhill once again, we come to a road, turn right through the tiny hamlet of Wiesfleck, turn directly at the chapel and then opposite the fire brigade turn left onto a field path and follow the avenue of trees. At the end of a long straight section, we turn left and head north. Continue along the subsequent rough track through Ebenhof and head slightly downhill along the attractive road to the hamlet of Grub. The route continues north and slightly uphill past Winterhof before being constantly up and down towards the crossroads in Sonnberg. The final destination of Regional Route B, the Maria Schnee Pilgrimage Church, is very close. Once in Sonnberg, we turn right onto Panoramastraße, follow the road and then turn right onto Hauptstraße in Kaltenberg. We reach the Gasthof Maria Schnee (Maria Schnee Inn) after a few minutes on Hauptstraße, whilst the narrow road to the Wallfahrtskirche branches off to the right just in front of it. It is possible to stay overnight at Maria Schnee Inn. When in Kaltenberg it is possible to carry on the Viennese Alps route and you can continue hiking to either Wiesmath or Thernberg. A descent to Edlitz-Grimmenstein railway station is possible on Regional Route F. Buses between Wiener Neustadt Hauptbahnhof and Lichtenegg stop in Kaltenberg.