Reichenau an der Rax: Mountain Landscapes and Cultural History

Reichenau an der Rax offers reasons to travel that focus on mountain activities as well as culture and history. The Rax Cable Car, hiking trails and snowshoe tours offer a different experience from the festivals or historic castles. If you are looking for a hotel, you can plan your stay around which of these themes you would like to focus on.

Rax, Hiking Trails and Excursions

The Rax Cable Car takes visitors to the extensive Rax plateau in eight minutes. In winter, the mountain station is also a popular starting point for snowshoe hikes. The Rax also has numerous via ferratas of varying difficulty, and marked trails lead to a variety of hiking routes.

One special kind of hike is “hut hopping” on the Raxalpe: the route takes you from hut to hut, over mountain peaks and through dwarf pine fields. Another tour leads from Kaiserbrunn to Reichenau through the Höllental valley, following the High Spring Water Pipeline. Those interested in the section between Reichenau and Hirschwang will find wonderful views of the Rax along the route.

A specific destination can also be included in your travel plans by bike: the Schwarzatal Cycle Route runs 39.52 kilometres from Lanzenkirchen to Reichenau an der Rax. The stated route length helps you consider this route as a separate part of your stay, without equating it with the hikes mentioned above.

To reach the Rax Cable Car, take the train to Payerbach-Reichenau station, then take Retter bus route 341 to the Rax Cable Car stop. Check the connection and timetable for your travel date, as public transport information may change.

Festivals and Local History

The Reichenau Festival takes place every year in summer, from July to early August. During this time, more than 100 performances are held in the Great Hall, the New Performance Space and other venues. If a performance is the reason for your trip, the festival period is a useful starting point for planning; check the current event dates before booking a hotel.

Reichenau Castle also offers a glimpse into the history of the town: it dates back to a medieval castle from the late 12th century. The permanent exhibition “Cultural Heritage of Reichenau” covers topics ranging from early mining to summer retreats. Reichenau thus offers a look at both its long history and its later developments.

Wartholz Castle was built in the Historicist style and completed in 1872 after three years of construction. An important biographical date is also associated with the site: Otto von Habsburg was born there on 20 November 1912. Archduke Karl Ludwig made Wartholz Castle a cultural meeting place through his openness to the public and his support for science, art and literature. Its architecture, personal history and cultural life each give the castle a distinct historical connection.

The Kaiserbrunn Water Pipeline Museum explores another aspect of regional history. Visitors can learn how people in the past obtained and transported water. Together with the hiking route along the High Spring Water Pipeline, it offers a distinct way to explore the topic of water—alongside mountain tours, cycling routes and cultural attractions.

Discover more travel destinations: Zöbern, Breitenau, Bürg, Grimmenstein, Municipality of Raach am Hochgebirge, Prigglitz, Kranichberg, Aspang-Markt.

View the overview of the wider travel area: Neunkirchen.