Köferinger-Rundweg

Wachau Mountain Rescue Emergency Number: 140

Hiking boots, rain gear, and drinking water. The "Welterbesteig Wachau - Wachau World Heritage Trail" hiking map is available from Donau Niederösterreich Tourismus, www.wachau.at

Our hike, which is about 4.5 km long, takes us straight north from the entrance to Willendorf—until we reach Köfering, we’ll follow the Jauerling-Runde long-distance hiking trail, marked with yellow signs. At the “Zur Venus” inn, we turn left and, after 10 m, immediately right again, passing the “Venusium” and going under the Wachaubahn railway line. (If you want to visit the site where the “Venus of Willendorf” was found, you can turn right here.) We follow the small paved road straight ahead uphill along the Willendorfer Bach, which flows on our left at first and later on our right. When the road curves to the left, we follow it through a mixed beech forest. Soon we come to vineyards, the Ried Sattel, and a bench from which we’re treated to our first breathtaking view of the Aggstein ruins on the opposite bank of the Danube. We continue along the paved road (parallel to the Jauerlingrunde trail). Shortly before the village of Köfering, the road splits into a Y-shape, and we follow the paved road to the left, heading downhill.

Passing apricot trees and wild hedgerows, we reach Köfering, which has the character of a “mountain village.” Soon the road narrows into a narrow lane. At the gray house with the sundial (overlooking the bell tower), the path splits, and we walk about 10 m downhill. Here, at the wayside shrine dedicated to Mary, Mother of God, we turn left. 10 m later, we turn left again onto a beautiful meadow path and follow this main path straight ahead. At a wooden hut below the path, the trail splits, and we take two right turns. We then reach Groisbach via a short sunken path. Passing the water kiosk, we now reach a slightly wider road, which we follow downhill to the left. Shortly thereafter, we cross under the Wachaubahn railway tracks to the right at the crosswalk. Before the little church, we turn left and hike back to Willendorf, passing through apricot orchards and meadows with a view of the Teufelsmauer. A few benches with crosses line our path, inviting us to take a short break. We can round off our day in a relaxed manner with a visit to the “Venusium” and/or a local wine tavern.

Willendorf, entrance to town on the B3

Take the A1 to Melk and then the B3 to Willendorf, or take the S5 or S33 to Krems and then the B3 to Willendorf.

Take the Wachaubahn train from Emmersdorf or Krems to Willendorf: www.wachaubahn.at.

Willendorf can be reached hourly via bus line 715 from the Melk and Krems train stations; for schedules, visit www.vor.at.

There is a Nextbike bike-sharing station in Aggsbach Markt. For more information, call 02742/22-9901 or visit www.nextbike.at.

The Venusium Museum is worth a visit—a small but delightful gateway to the world of the Stone Age and the famous Venus of Willendorf, www.willendorf.info