Naintsch: Rauchstubenhaus, pilgrimage, and hiking trails

If you choose Naintsch for a stay focused on cultural history, pilgrimage, or outdoor activities, there are several distinct themes to explore. These include the Rauchstubenhaus in Edelschachen, the pilgrimage church in Heilbrunn, and trails with their own characteristics. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping these highlights separate: a historic site, a pilgrimage, and a hiking route each offer a different reason to spend time in the region.

Rauchstubenhaus: Site and history

The Rauchstubenhaus local history museum is located in the dispersed settlement of Edelschachen, in the former municipality of Naintsch in the Almenland Nature Park, at an altitude of 800 m. Records refer to the house as a Hube in Erleschachen. Its first written mention dates from 1440; it was mentioned in writing several times later. Edelschachen names the settlement, while “Hube in Erleschachen” is the traditional name for the house.

At the Rauchstubenhaus, “Häfennigl” is occasionally prepared for guests over an open hearth. If this culinary tradition is important to your plans, check in advance whether it will be prepared during your visit.

Pilgrimage and protected sites

The parish and pilgrimage church of Maria Heilbrunn (the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Heilbrunn) is protected as a listed monument under an ordinance. Each year, 20 to 25 groups of pilgrims continue to travel to Heilbrunn on their scheduled date. If you would like to plan your trip around this, confirm the date in advance; the scheduled date is relevant to your timing.

The Gnadenbrunnen in Naintsch is also protected as a listed monument under an ordinance. The sites thus differ in their significance: in Heilbrunn, the protected church building is associated with a recurring pilgrimage, while the Gnadenbrunnen is an additional protected site in Naintsch in its own right.

Hiking trails with different features

Several marked hiking trails from the Apfelland and Almenland lead to the Rauchstubenhaus. If you would like to combine a museum visit and hiking as the focus of your trip, you can take this connection into account when planning.

The Children’s Icon Pilgrimage Trail starts at the Heilbrunn pilgrimage church and includes nine stations designed by children. It is open to the public, and the walking time alone is about 45 minutes. You can use this as a guide when planning and allow extra time for breaks.

The HeilBrunnWeg, by contrast, is a circular trail connecting springs and fountains around Heilbrunn in the Almenland Nature Park. The trails differ in specific ways: the Children’s Icon Pilgrimage Trail has stations and an approximate walking time, while the HeilBrunnWeg is circular and features springs and fountains. When choosing, consider whether you prefer a trail with stations and a stated walking time or a circular route to springs and fountains.

Panoramic views and tour routes

The Waxenegg Castle ruins offer panoramic views. Guided historical tours run from the “Mystische Unterwelten” museum on the main square to the castle ruins. If you would like to plan one of these tours, check in advance whether it will take place on your visit date.

The “Mountains and Valleys” motorcycle tour offers another way to explore the area: on the return trip to Passail, it passes through Naintsch and Heilbrunn. This gives you a specific reference point for motorized travel in addition to the hiking trails.

Discover more destinations: Birkfeld, Markt Hartmannsdorf, Municipality of Floing, Hofstätten an der Raab, Sankt Kathrein am Offenegg, Sankt Kathrein am Hauenstein, Aschau, Gersdorf an der Feistritz.

For the regional travel overview: Weiz.