Roitham: Traun Waterfall, Walking Routes and Cultural Heritage

When planning a trip to Roitham, the Traun Waterfall, various routes, and the history of its churches and architecture offer different focal points. If you are looking for a hotel in Roitham, these themes can help you decide whether nature, the route, or history should be at the heart of your stay.

The Traun Waterfall and its history

The Traun Waterfall is a waterfall on the Traun River in Upper Austria. It lies between Steyrermühl and Roitham am Traunfall, on the municipal boundary between Desselbrunn and Roitham am Traunfall. This geographical location connects two place names with a striking natural feature on the river, while the descriptions also acknowledge the municipal boundary.

For more than 600 years, the Traun Waterfall played a key role in transporting salt between the Inner Salzkammergut and the Danube. The place can therefore be viewed from two perspectives: as a waterfall on the Traun River and as the setting for a long history of salt transport. Its historical significance adds a specific link to the region’s past to its landscape setting.

Circular trail, themed trail, and pilgrimage route

The circular walking trail at the Traun Waterfall is an easy loop. It crosses the Traunfall Bridge to the wooden bridge and continues to St. Nicholas Chapel before returning to the starting point. The bridges and chapel are the notable stops along the described circular route.

A different route awaits you on the 5 km “Arena of Human Rights” themed trail. It leads from the historic Traun Waterfall through the Natura 2000 European protected area and Oberbuch to Roitham am Traunfall, then back to the starting point. The route descriptions therefore differ in their explicitly stated focal points: the loop features bridges and a chapel along the way, while the themed trail runs through Natura 2000 and Oberbuch.

“Water Pilgrimage” leads from Roitham am Traunfall to Gmunden. Leaflets, stamps, and a blessing ribbon are available at St. James’ Church in Roitham. The church is dedicated to the Apostle James the Elder. The pilgrimage route and a distinct aspect of Roitham’s church history can thus be considered separately when planning a trip.

Churches and listed buildings

Roitham’s Roman Catholic parish church was built in 1350 in the Late Gothic style. Its altarpiece was created by the painter Karl Strasser in 1870. The church’s dedication to the Apostle James the Elder is also part of its history; the year it was built, its style, its dedication, and the later altarpiece each offer a distinct point of interest for visitors.

The list of historic monuments dated June 23, 2026, lists Schloss Au an der Traun, the Flößer Chapel at the Traun Waterfall, and the Chapel of St. Nicholas at the Traun Waterfall as protected monuments. In addition to the parish church, these other named buildings offer further historical points of reference in Roitham and at the Traun Waterfall.

Schloss Au an der Traun also has a specifically dated historical connection: on May 30, 1653, Pacidus Hieber von Greifenfels, abbot of Lambach Abbey, purchased the old aristocratic estate of Au an der Traun. This purchase adds the history of an aristocratic estate to the histories of the church buildings. Together, these places and routes allow you to plan a trip with a different focus on nature, outdoor activities, or cultural interests.

Discover more destinations: Scharnstein, Grünau Im Almtal, Gosau, Traunkirchen, Rindbach, Moosham, Obertraun, Kogl.

View the main travel guide: Gmunden.