Höllental (Lower Austria)
Encyclopedia
The Höllental in Lower Austria
is a narrow valley between the steep limestone
massifs of the Schneeberg and Rax
through which the River Schwarza
flows.
It stretches for a total of 16.5 km between Schwarzau im Gebirge
and Hirschwang and, because of its natural beauty, it belongs to the Natura 2000 region
of Northeastern Border Alps: Hohe Wand - Schneeberg - Rax (Nordöstliche Randalpen: Hohe Wand - Schneeberg - Rax). It biggest side valleys are the Weich valley, the Großes Höllental (which is much smaller however), the Kesselgraben, the Nasswald and Voisbach valleys. A well-developed road, the Höllental Straße (B 27), follows the course of the river and is especially popular with motorcyclists. In the valley and its side valleys are important sources of drinking water supply (The Fuchs Pass Spring, Kaiserbrunn and Wasseralm Spring), whose water is delivered to the Austria's capital city of Vienna
over the 1st Viennese Spring Water Pipeline (I. Wiener Hochquellenwasserleitung). On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the pipeline, the so-called 1st Viennese Pipeline Way (1. Wiener Wasserleitungsweg) was built along the most attractive sections of the route, which runs as a walking trail between Kaiserbrunn and Hirschwang. The Kaiserbrunn Water Pipeline Museum has information on the history and construction of the pipeline and Vienna's water supply.
Because the valley is a popular tourist destination, there are several restaurants along the road. In Naßwald there are the Gasthof zur Singerin and the Weichtalhaus at the start of the Weich valley, and in Kaiserbrunn is the Landgasthof Kaiserbrunn. The Höllental is the start point for Alpine tours to the Schneeberg and Rax mountains. The Schwarza is used in this area for swimming and wild water kajaking and for fly fishing
.
There is a public bus line through the Höllental from Rohr im Gebirge
and Schwarzau im Gebirge to the station at Payerbach-Reichenau
, that runs several times daily in both directions. In addition the Höllental Railway runs on summer weekends from the Semmering Railway
to the beginning of the Höllental.
Lower Austria
Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...
is a narrow valley between the steep limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
massifs of the Schneeberg and Rax
Rax
The Rax is a mountain range at the border of the Austrian federal provinces Lower Austria and Styria, situated in the Northern Limestone Alps....
through which the River Schwarza
Schwarza (Leitha)
The Schwarza is a river in Lower Austria. It is a headstream of the River Leitha.- Course :It rises on the saddle of Rohrer Sattel, flows through the Höllental gorge and the Schwarza valley. Near Haderswörth in the parish of Lanzenkirchen the Schwarza combines with the Pitten and is then called the...
flows.
It stretches for a total of 16.5 km between Schwarzau im Gebirge
Schwarzau im Gebirge
Schwarzau im Gebirge is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria.- External links :*...
and Hirschwang and, because of its natural beauty, it belongs to the Natura 2000 region
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
of Northeastern Border Alps: Hohe Wand - Schneeberg - Rax (Nordöstliche Randalpen: Hohe Wand - Schneeberg - Rax). It biggest side valleys are the Weich valley, the Großes Höllental (which is much smaller however), the Kesselgraben, the Nasswald and Voisbach valleys. A well-developed road, the Höllental Straße (B 27), follows the course of the river and is especially popular with motorcyclists. In the valley and its side valleys are important sources of drinking water supply (The Fuchs Pass Spring, Kaiserbrunn and Wasseralm Spring), whose water is delivered to the Austria's capital city of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
over the 1st Viennese Spring Water Pipeline (I. Wiener Hochquellenwasserleitung). On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the pipeline, the so-called 1st Viennese Pipeline Way (1. Wiener Wasserleitungsweg) was built along the most attractive sections of the route, which runs as a walking trail between Kaiserbrunn and Hirschwang. The Kaiserbrunn Water Pipeline Museum has information on the history and construction of the pipeline and Vienna's water supply.
Because the valley is a popular tourist destination, there are several restaurants along the road. In Naßwald there are the Gasthof zur Singerin and the Weichtalhaus at the start of the Weich valley, and in Kaiserbrunn is the Landgasthof Kaiserbrunn. The Höllental is the start point for Alpine tours to the Schneeberg and Rax mountains. The Schwarza is used in this area for swimming and wild water kajaking and for fly fishing
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
.
There is a public bus line through the Höllental from Rohr im Gebirge
Rohr im Gebirge
Rohr im Gebirge is a village in the Wiener Neustadt-Land district of Lower Austria in Austria.-Geography:Rohr im Gebirge is located in the Industrieviertel, the first industrialised part of Lower Austria...
and Schwarzau im Gebirge to the station at Payerbach-Reichenau
Payerbach
Payerbach is a town in the district of Neunkirchen in the Austrian state of Lower Austria.-References:...
, that runs several times daily in both directions. In addition the Höllental Railway runs on summer weekends from the Semmering Railway
Semmering Railway
The Semmering railway, Austria, which starts at Gloggnitz and leads over the Semmering to Mürzzuschlag was the first mountain railway in Europe built with a standard gauge track. It is commonly referred to as the world's first true mountain railway, given the very difficult terrain and the...
to the beginning of the Höllental.