Stratzing: Wine Growing, Ice Age Find and Hiking Trails

Stratzing combines a long history of wine growing with the memory of an Ice Age find, a fortified church and hiking stages on the Kremstal-Danube Trail. The village lies on a high plateau in the heart of a wine-growing region, with the Wachau, Kremstal and Kamptal surrounding the landscape. This provides a clear framework for planning your trip: wine, culture and trails are distinct themes around which you can plan your stay. If you’re looking for a hotel in Stratzing, you can first consider whether local history, the Ice Age or hiking should be your focus.

Wine Growing and the Cellar Lane

Wine growing in Stratzing is documented as far back as 1209. This long tradition connects the village historically to the wine landscape that defines the high plateau. The traditional Stratzing Kellergassenfest also celebrates wine culture: visitors enjoy fine wines and homemade specialities there. If you’d like to plan your trip around attending the festival, check the specific date. The cellar lane is also part of the tenth stage of the Kremstal-Danube long-distance hiking trail. In Stratzing, wine growing is therefore part of the village’s history as well as the setting for a festival and a hiking route.

Fanny and the Ice Age on Galgenberg

The Ice Age hiking trail on Galgenberg explores life during the Ice Age. Ten stations invite visitors to take part with an electronic game, a turning wheel and flip panels. The trail has been redesigned around the site where Fanny was found. The human figurine discovered in Stratzing in 1988 is about 32,000 years old. According to current research, it is considered Austria’s oldest work of art and the world’s oldest stone sculpture depicting a human. Galgenberg thus brings together the archaeological significance of the find and the trail’s interactive features. For those interested in the Ice Age and early art, there are two different points of interest: the significance of the figurine and the ten stations about life during the Ice Age.

Fortified Church and Parish Church of St. Nicholas

The fortified church in Stratzing was built in the 12th century, around 1122. Another important date is the consecration of today’s parish church of St. Nicholas in 1522. It is a three-aisled pillar basilica. The construction of the fortified church and the consecration of today’s basilica mark different points in Stratzing’s church history. A painting from 1769 by Martin Johann Schmidt depicts St. Nicholas with a view of Stratzing. The image connects the patron saint with the village and complements the building history with an artistic depiction of Stratzing.

Two Stages of the Kremstal-Danube Long-Distance Hiking Trail

Stages 10 and 11 differ in their direction and the stretches of landscape described for each. Stage 10 runs from Lengenfeld through the vineyards of the Sand, Kremsfeld, Riedl, Satzen and Loiserweg vineyard sites, then via the Stratzing cellar lane to Stratzing. Stage 11 starts in the wine-growing village of Stratzing and passes through vineyards and the Sunogeln and Hochsatzen vineyard sites. It then follows a shady stretch of woodland along the Stratzingbach to Priel and Droß. Stage 10 therefore ends in Stratzing; stage 11 starts there and continues to Priel and Droß. The cellar lane and five named vineyard sites shape the first stage, while the second also includes the Stratzingbach and the stretch of woodland. These differences can help you compare the two stages by their starting point, destination and described character of the route.

Getting There and Planning Your Trip

Stratzing is accessible by train and bus. Check the current timetables for your travel dates before your trip. If you’d like to combine your stay with the Kellergassenfest, first confirm the specific festival date, then plan your journey using the relevant connections.

Discover more destinations: Krustetten, Dürnstein, Maria Laach Am Jauerling, Vießling, Wösendorf In Der Wachau, Spitz, Sankt Michael, Oberarnsdorf

Back to the regional travel overview: Krems-Land.