Hirschbach im Mühlkreis: Vernacular Architecture and Herbal Knowledge

When looking for a hotel in Hirschbach im Mühlkreis, your personal interests may influence your choice of location. Topics include traditional rural architecture, a late Gothic parish church and trails with distinct themes. Herbal knowledge is also represented in various forms—from an exhibition to a garden and regional trails.

Museum and Church Architecture

The Hirschbach Rural Furniture Museum displays works by the artist Franz von Zülow and is housed in a typical Mühlviertel farmstead. Several special exhibitions are held each year. The presentation of the works and changing exhibition themes thus offer different cultural perspectives.

The parish church in Hirschbach im Mühlkreis is late Gothic; the current building was constructed between 1480 and 1490. Its pilgrimage history is linked to the healing water in Grünbrunn. Both the building’s history and its connection with pilgrimage are points of interest for culturally minded travellers.

Steinbloß Examples and a Summit Destination

The 12.5 km Steinbloß Wall Trail in Hirschbach im Mühlkreis passes a total of 24 grey-and-white examples of Steinbloß architecture. Its theme is the diversity of stone: examples include Mühlviertel Steinbloß houses, as well as various stone walls and natural stone walls. The route therefore links examples on buildings with different types of walls.

The Hirtstein Trail has a different destination: it leads to Hirtstein, the highest point in the municipality of Hirschbach at 844 m. The trails can be distinguished by their different details: the Steinbloß Wall Trail is described by its length and number of examples, while the Hirtstein Trail is defined by its summit destination and elevation.

Herbal Exhibitions and Gardens

The herbal exhibition in the Kräuterstadl covers herbal lore and herbal cosmetics, and includes a herbal library and an old farmhouse garden. Audio guides lead visitors through the exhibition and provide information on the history and milestones of herbal lore, medicinal herbs and medicine, herbal fragrances, and the cultivation and processing of herbs. The Kräuterstadl is listed as open seasonally from early May to the end of October. Check in advance whether a visit is possible during your preferred dates.

The Mühlviertel Herbal Hiking Trail offers another perspective on herbs and the landscape. Various herbs are described along the section through the Pfarrgraben. The trail also passes the European watershed at “Tischberger Höh.” Herbal fields along the route are cultivated by local herb farmers belonging to the Bergkräutergenossenschaft cooperative.

The Abraham Hof herb garden, at an elevation of almost 800 m, features more than 100 different types of herbs and flowers and offers views of the Mühlviertel hills. Kräuterbäckerei Freudenthaler turns picked wild herbs into bread and pastries. The herbal themes therefore range from plants and cultivation to their use in baked goods.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wullowitz, Unterweitersdorf, Lasberg, Waldburg, Bad Zell, Kaltenberg, Gutau, Windhaag bei Freistadt

For the main travel overview: Freistadt.