Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla, Hike in Spitz on the Danube

Logo Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla, Hike in Spitz on the Danube
Logo Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla, Hike in Spitz on the Danube
Tour data
8.03km
201 - 409m
Distance
271hm
185hm
Ascent
02:53h
 
Duration
Brief description

On the Michaeler Mountain above the fortified church of St. Michael and on the Setzberg in Spitz on the Danube you can find flowering Pasque Flowers, Pulsatilla, which are the heralds of spring in the Wachau.

Difficulty
medium
Rating
Technique
Fitness
Landscape
Experience
Starting point

Parking at the ferry in Spitz on the Danube

Route
Spitz
0.0 km
Hofarnsdorf
0.7 km
Mitterarnsdorf
1.5 km
Bacharnsdorf
1.9 km
Sankt Michael
2.0 km
Wehrkirche St. Michael
2.0 km
Bergwerkstollen
4.1 km
Schacht
4.1 km
ehem. Sondierstollen
4.2 km
Quitten
6.8 km
Radlbach
6.9 km


Best season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Description
Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla, is a plant that appears very early, just after snow. Earlier around Easter, due to global warming now earlier, namely in February. It grows on slopes in the Wachau, such as the Michaelerberg in St. Michael and the Setzberg in Spitz on the Danube, which face south, on which the spring sun shines and over which a fresh breeze brushes.

These are mostly abandoned vineyards that have been spared from overgrown by bushes. The center of each plant has white or purple styles and is surrounded by bright yolk yellow stamens. These are surrounded by sepals, the color of which can range from pale to deep purple.

On the underside of the pasque flower, pulsatilla, there are silky hairs that also cover the stems and finely cut leaves, which serve as protection for the plant against late frost. One flower grows on each stem. After pollination, a seed head forms, which is also covered with silky down.

The purple beauty in velvet and silk attracts bees and photographers early every year.

Directions
We start from the Spitz-Arnsdorf taxi ferry, where both the bus stop for line 715 and a parking lot are, and we walk along the towpath along the Danube downstream towards Weißenkirchen.

In St. Michael we cross the Donaubundesstraße and take a quick look at the fortified church before we start the steep ascent to the Michaelerberg.

From Michaelerberg we have a wonderful view of the Danube, the Arnsdörfer on the right side of the Danube, the Dunkelsteiner Forest and Spitz with the ruins of the Hinterhaus Castle.

From Michaelerberg it goes in a north-westerly direction around the mountain to the descent into the Mieslingbachtal. After crossing the Mieslingbach, we climb up to the Red Gate on the opposite side. From the Red Gate we hike down to Spitz and on “Am Hinterweg” to the Radlbach, which we follow a little uphill out of the village until we turn left on a goods path to the west.

We are on the World Heritage Trail and can follow these signs to the Setzberg, which is already nearby. Once we have reached our destination, we are at the foot of the Setzberg. We can climb it too. Above, a bench invites you to linger and look.

Back we can take the same path to Quitten, where instead of “Am Hinterweg” we choose Friedhofsgasse, which leads us directly to the church square in Spitz.

Highest point
409 m
Endpoint

On the Setzberg in Spitz on the Danube

Height profile

Equipment

Hiking shoes, day pack with a drink and some provisions.

Safety instructions

The ascent to the Michaelerberg is steep. Some may want to use hiking sticks to protect their knees.

Tips

Take a look at the 3D flight on outdooractive and stop by the fortified church of St. Michael.

Additional information
The best time to walk is around noon, as this is the time when the spring sun is the best.

So start of the hike at the starting point in Spitz an der Donau shortly after 9 a.m.


Arrival

Drive by car on the Danube federal road from Emmersdorf or Krems to Spitz to the taxi ferry to Arnsdorf.

Public transportation
By bus 715 from Melk or Krems. Here is the bus timetable ->
Parking
There are 2 free parking lots near the taxi ferry to Arnsdorf. One is directly at the Treppelweg on the Danube, i.e. between Donaubundesstrasse and Treppelweg, on the right-hand side from Melk, the other is on the right-hand side when coming from Krems, at the beginning of the roller-ferry road on the left-hand side in the shade under large trees.

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