WAB - Regional Route O: Edelweißhütte - Preintal

This stretch could have the motto “out hiking on old paths to see new views.” The first outstanding view of the foot of the Schneeberg is obtained from the Edelweißhütte, which is also the highest part of the hike. After leaving the summit and heading north, we come across the Mariazellerweg trail. This has always been a pilgrimage trail for the devout on the path to Mariazell, as shown by the number of wayside shrines, chapels, and crosses on the side of the trail. Thoughts turn inwardly here and this is a place for reflection. The old school path from Vois to Schwarzau is an opportunity to reflect on a time where education was something to be worked on in the truest sense of the world.

Either we have had a relaxed night in the Edelweißhütte, or we have already climbed the ascent from Losenheim or Puchberg to Regional Route N. From the Edelweißhütte we look towards Almröserlhaus and turn left from the gravel track onto the steep meadow slope. Red markings (path 231) on the trees guide us down the slope to a wet ditch, which we follow downhill in the direction of Putzenhof. After around 20 minutes of descending through a water ditch and two crossroads of forest paths, we come to another forest road. Path 231, marked in red, continues straight onto a forest path heading towards Putzenhof (50 minutes) - and it is well marked-out with a sign and markings on a tree stump. At this crossroads we turn left and descend slightly whilst heading along the forest path, which is an old Roman road. The markings and signs on Burgenländischer Mariazellerweg 06 will, from now on, guide us into the Voistal valley, then the Preintal valley. After a bend and a short ascent, we turn left at Putzkapelle onto the marked path and head down into the Voistal valley. We descend around 200 metres into the Voistal valley to Wegscheidhof and a lay-by via hiking routes and forest roads. The next few kilometres are paved in the Voistal valley, and we follow this for the next 45 minutes heading towards Vois. After passing the former Gasthaus Nothnagel and a bus stop at a bridge, we turn off the road and ascend veering to the right up a meadow path alongside a house and head uphill towards Schwarzau/Gebirge. This well-trodden path is followed uphill, then we turn left into the forthcoming forest road. The route continues along a right-hand bend then slightly uphill to a large meadow, at the end of which we branch off somewhat to the right onto a forest path once more. A hiking path guides us uphill to Heidelbeerplatz and to the highest point at the edge of an alpine pasture. From this point onwards, we go downhill along a forest path into the Schwarzatal valley before reaching a Bundesstraße. We stay on the right-hand side of the road for around three minutes walking along the road before turning left and crossing the Schwarza over a wooden bridge. On the other side of the river, we follow the cart trail northwards towards Schwarzau. Upon arriving at the road bridge over the Schwarza, we turn left onto the street and follow this on the left past Bacherlwirt and into Preintal. The road keeps ascending to Anhöhe Eckbauer before coming to Hof Mitterhofer (private rooms) heading downhill just before Preinmühle on the fork towards Naßwald. Regional Route O ends here. You may enjoy spending the night at the Mitterhof or hike Regional Route P and continue through the Preinbachtal valley on to Naßwald. Naßwald also features a fine place to spend the night in the Gasthaus zum Raxkönig, and there are also bus links from Naßwald to Schwarzau/Gebirge or to Payerbach-Reichenau railway station.