Stage 01 - Human: SEVEN ELEMENTS - the Path

The first stage from Altenmarkt to St. Gallen connects the human element with the process of setting out. The question “What new paths are opening up in my life?” invites us to venture into the new step by step and leave the past behind us. The Bible quote “I forget what is behind me and reach for what is ahead.” (Phil 3:13b) accompanies us like an inner compass. We can take up these words as we walk through forests or quiet places and feel the answers arise within us.

This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, co-financed by the European Union.

In Altenmarkt, on a high plateau above the Enns River, begins the spiritual long-distance hiking trail SEVEN ELEMENTS - the path. From the very first steps, we are accompanied by the stations of the “Path of the Senses,” while the deeply carved Enns Valley impressively shapes the landscape. Through quiet forests, we reach the Pflegeralm, where wide views of the Gesäuse mountains open up. In the open landscape, the view accompanies us to the Gallenstein castle ruins, which stand out as a striking landmark. A detour to the castle ruins is worthwhile before the natural Zinkgraben with its unspoiled character forms an atmospheric conclusion.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

19,8 km

Route

6:00 h

Time

630 hm

Uphill

590 hm

Downhill

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

Coming from Linz, take the A7 to the Linz junction, then the A1 to Enns West, continue on the B309 to Niedergleink, the B122a to Kleinraming and continue on the B115 to Altenmarkt.

Coming from St. Pölten, take the A1 Westautobahn to the Amstetten exit, then take the B121 to Weyer and continue on the B115 to Altenmarkt.

Coming from Graz, take the A9 to Traboch, then continue on the B115 to Altenmarkt.

Coming from Liezen, take the B146 and B117 to Altenmarkt.

Start:
Parish church in Altenmarkt
2.1 km Enns bridge
6.4 km View of the Enns loop
7.8 km Steinauer
10.7 km Pflegeralm
14.8 km Erbstraße
15.9 km Dienerhöhe
17.8 km Gallenstein Castle
19.2 km Zinkgraben
19.8 km Parish church in St. Gallen

High above St. Gallen lie the ruins of Gallenstein Castle – a detour along the long-distance hiking trail that is definitely worth the effort.
It has towered over the valley since the 13th century, served for a long time as a refuge and administrative seat of Admont Abbey, and was rebuilt with great dedication by the castle association from the 1960s onwards after falling into disrepair.

For more information on train and bus connections, see www.verbundlinie.at and www.oebb.at

With the Verbundlinie BusBahnBim app, finding timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train, and tram connections in Austria can be searched for by entering locations and/or addresses, stops, or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) on Google Play and in the App Store.

In the Gesäuse you are mobile in summer even without your own car. One call to t: +43 3613 2100099 is all it takes: During operating hours, the Gesäuse shared taxi will take you to any destination in the Gesäuse - without any timetable or stops. www.gesaeuse.at/mobil

Several parking spaces in Altenmarkt

Gesäuse Tourist Association
Hauptstraße 35, 8911 Admont, Austria
t: +43 3613 2116010
www.gesaeuse.at
Email: info@gesaeuse.at

Places to eat and shop in Altenmarkt

Gasthof Post, Tel.: +43 3632 28 484, 8934 Altenmarkt bei St. Gallen, Markt 20, www.gasthofpost-altenmarkt.at
ADEG Kämmerer GesmbH, Tel.: +43 3632 381, 8934 Altenmarkt bei St. Gallen, Altenmarkt 19