Discover Hoheneich

When looking for a hotel in Hoheneich, the local themes offer practical guidance: sacred architecture and pilgrimage history, a landscape of ponds, or paths by the water. Depending on what you would like to focus on during your stay, these distinctive features offer different ways to explore the area. The church tells the story of several historical periods; the ponds and paths offer a different perspective on Hoheneich and its surroundings.

Church and pilgrimage tradition

The parish and pilgrimage church of the Immaculate Conception is a late Baroque central-plan building. Andreas Zach built it between 1776 and 1778. Its furnishings include the high altar, dating from around 1780, which incorporates a statue of the Virgin Mary and Child, revered for its miraculous powers, from around 1480/90. The building and altar thus date from roughly the same period, while the statue of the Virgin is considerably older. The church also has a Miraculous Door, dated to 1621. Visitors interested in sacred art and architecture can consider these different historical periods side by side, rather than assigning the church to just one era.

The pilgrimage site’s history includes the miracle of Count Kollonitsch’s conversion, which played a central role in 1621. The pilgrimage tradition was particularly associated with annual celebrations on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, September 8. The building, its furnishings and the recorded pilgrimage tradition each offer a different focus: visitors can explore the architecture and art as well as the religious history of the area. September 8 gives the described celebration tradition a specific date on the calendar.

Ponds and paths by the water

Between Hoheneich and Pürbach in the Waldviertel, the Hoheneich ponds form a landscape of larger and smaller bodies of water. Paths run along the ponds. Their origins date back to the 13th century and are the result of human intervention. Today, the ponds provide valuable habitats for rare plants and animals and are among Austria’s “Important Bird Areas.” The history of the pond system and its current importance as a habitat combine to create a nature-focused theme that encompasses both the landscape’s origins and its flora and fauna.

Another route description concerns the Fischersteig: it follows a narrow path along the Braunaubach stream. After a small rise, it offers a view of Hoheneich and its church. The route thus takes in not only the stream but also a view of the village and its sacred building.

Swimming pond and seasonal refreshments

The Mitterteich is a swimming pond surrounded by reed beds and wetlands. If you are interested in this spot, its two features offer different points of reference: its designation as a swimming pond describes how it is used, while the reed beds and wetlands describe its surroundings.

The dieMitterteichhütte is located by a natural swimming pond in the heart of the Hoheneich Forest, as well as on the Waldviertel Cycle Path and Cycle Route No. 73. From May to September, it serves vacationers and locals chilled soft drinks and small cold and hot dishes. Two named cycle routes, a natural swimming pond and seasonal refreshments all come together here, making it a place to take a break. If you are planning a cycling trip, you can take these details and the period when refreshments are available into account.

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