Kalkstein-Runde

Headwear

The hike begins at Café Doris on Ernstbrunn’s main square, with a view of the mighty Kaisereiche oak tree. You’ll leave the tree behind and walk down the main square—which is divided by rows of shady trees—toward Mistelbach. At the Steingläubl bakery, you can stock up on provisions before turning left into Kirchtalgasse just below the Billa parking lot.

If arriving by the Leiser Berge Adventure Train: head up Bahnstraße—continue a short distance toward the center at the top—then turn into Kirchtalgasse after the Billa parking lot.

After crossing the Kirchtalgraben and making it up the first small hill, you’ll reach a photo spot featuring “Ernsti,” the little owl and mascot of the market town of Ernstbrunn. From here, you’ll already have a wonderful panoramic view of the Leiser Berge, starting with Ernstbrunn Castle, across the limestone quarry, the Oberleiser Berg with its observation tower, the Buschberg with its large radar dome, all the way to the Steinmandl with its smaller military radar station. A little further on, the view opens up to the east over the hills of the Weinviertel and down to Ernstbrunn with the white towers of the lime works. The trail then continues downhill through the village of Steinbach, whose name already hints at the stony surroundings.

At the wayside shrine, turn left down toward Steinbach—in Steinbach, turn left – through the village to the church – at the bus shelter, take the dirt road through an idyllic little forest and up toward the quarry – from here, you’re practically on the Weinviertel Way of St. James (though heading in the opposite direction)

Limestone has been used for construction since ancient times and is now used for lime extraction and cement production. Eventually, however, you’ll leave the quarry on your left and head toward the Oberleiser Berg, whose observation deck is now coming into view. It’s always worth taking a moment here to look back at the impressive landscape of the Weinviertel. After passing a small pond and crossing the large parking lot, the trail now leads past the “Maria Oberleis” pilgrimage church and up to the plateau of the Oberleiser Berg. On a clear day, you have a view stretching over 100 km from here—from the Alps, including the Ötscher and Schneeberg in the southwest, through Vienna with the Danube Tower, all the way to the Carpathians in the east. To the north, you can see the Pollauer Mountains, and the view extends across the Laa Plain all the way to Moravia. To the northwest, you can see the Ernstbrunn Forest, and beyond it lie the foothills of the Bohemian Massif, which extend into the Waldviertel.

After descending from the plateau, it’s worth taking a detour to Au to the GH Riepl—about 1.5 km—heading down the so-called “Römerweg” from above the cemetery to Au—then turning right in town and heading down to the GH Riepl— (Closed all day Wed. and Sun. afternoons—reservations at 02576 80220)—return along the same path to the cemetery in Oberleis

Head back down from the cemetery—past the pilgrimage church—and from the lower corner of the Oberleis parking lot, take the paved farm road up through the Steinbacher Heide to Kalksteinbruchstraße. After crossing this road, continue walking downhill through the forest until you reach a gravel road that leads to the old granary of Ernstbrunn Castle. Then follow the Blauburg Bike Trail through the beautiful castle park, turn right toward Ernstbrunn, cross Federal Highway 40, and return to the main square via the Fasanhaus neighborhood. Now you can enjoy an ice cream at Café Doris or grab a bite to eat at the pizzeria.

If you’re departing on the Leiser Berge Adventure Train: continue walking down through the main square toward Mistelbach back to the train station. There you’ll also find the fossil exhibition hall with finds from the limestone quarries.

Parking is available at Ernstbrunn's main square.

On the Leiser Berge Scenic Train, you can travel comfortably from Vienna to Ernstbrunn via Korneuburg.

At the road leading to the limestone quarry, turn right and follow the road for a short distance. On the right-hand side, you’ll see a small, old quarry; hidden there is the Klafterbrunner Cave, a natural monument.