01 - Overview
The Waterscape cycle loop circles the pond country of the Upper Waldviertel over some 83 kilometres - from Schrems via Gmünd and Heidenreichstein through a landscape of fish ponds, raised bogs, granite blocks and dense forest and back. A gently rolling circuit through one of the most water-rich corners of Lower Austria, taking in the UnterWasserReich nature park in Schrems, the Blockheide granite reserve near Gmünd and the moated castle of Heidenreichstein.
The Upper Waldviertel is a country of water and stone: hundreds of fish ponds, boggy hollows, clear streams and weather-worn granite blocks lie scattered across the high, cool plateau along the Bohemian border. The Waterscape loop threads this watery landscape onto a single circuit. At Schrems it begins at the Hochmoor nature park with the UnterWasserReich and the "Himmelsleiter", a viewing tower over the bog. Via Kirchberg am Walde the route rolls down through ponds and woods to Gmünd on the Czech border - with the Blockheide nature reserve, where giant granite rocking stones such as the "Pyramidenstein" and the "Devil's loaf" stand among the heath, and the Sole Felsen Bad spa. Further north, through the old glassmaking country around Alt Nagelberg and Brand, the loop reaches Heidenreichstein with its mighty, never-conquered moated castle and the Käsemacherwelt cheese world; the Heidenreichstein bog nature park lies right beside it. Via Amaliendorf the loop closes back to Schrems. Mostly on quiet side roads and firm cycle paths, with sections of gravel through forest and along pond dykes, the tour is moderately hilly - with around 660 metres of climbing over 83 kilometres, an enjoyable day loop for practised riders.
- Regions
- Lower Austria
- Start
- Schrems
- Finish
- Schrems
- Surface
- Paved
- Network
- Local
- Best season
- May - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Mostly pavedpartly estimated
91 % paved, longest unpaved stretch 1.1 km.
02 - Stages
2 stages · 83 km
01Schrems - GmündSchrems · Kirchberg am Walde · Gmünd40 km
The opening stage starts in Schrems at the Hochmoor nature park, where the UnterWasserReich and the "Himmelsleiter" tower offer a view over the still bog. Through the pond-and-forest country it rolls gently up and down via Kirchberg am Walde down to Gmünd on the Czech border. On the edge of town the Blockheide nature reserve is worth a detour: bizarre granite formations and rocking stones - the "Pyramidenstein", the "Devil's loaf" - lie scattered across the heath. In Gmünd itself the Sole Felsen Bad spa and the old town invite a break.
- Ascent
- 237 m
- Descent
- 278 m
- Duration
- approx. 3-4 h
- Surface
- Paved, some gravel
Surface (measured): paved
02Gmünd - SchremsGmünd · Alt Nagelberg · Brand · Heidenreichstein · Amaliendorf · Schrems43 km
From Gmünd the second half heads north through the old glassmaking country around Alt Nagelberg and Brand, where glass has been made for centuries. Across rolling, wooded uplands the loop reaches Heidenreichstein with its huge moated castle, ringed by water and one of the best-preserved, never-conquered strongholds in Austria, and the Käsemacherwelt cheese world; the Heidenreichstein bog nature park spreads out right beside it. Via Amaliendorf and through the last stretch of pond country the loop closes back to Schrems. The slightly more demanding stage, with most of the tour's climbing.
- Ascent
- 429 m
- Descent
- 385 m
- Duration
- approx. 3.5-4.5 h
- Surface
- Paved, some gravel
Surface (measured): paved
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 83 km. Ascent 666 m, descent 663 m. Lowest point 486 m, highest point 600 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Hochmoor nature park & UnterWasserReich
- Himmelsleiter - viewing tower over the bog
- Blockheide nature park (granite rocking stones)
- Sole Felsen Bad spa
- Glassmaking country Alt Nagelberg / Brand
- Heidenreichstein moated castle
- Käsemacherwelt cheese world
- Heidenreichstein bog nature park
Services along the route
- Bike serviceCycle workshops in Schrems, Gmünd and Heidenreichstein; e-bike service across the Upper Waldviertel.
- E-bikeCharging and rental stations in the larger towns along the loop.
- Bett+BikeCyclist-friendly accommodation in the pond country around Schrems, Gmünd and Heidenreichstein.
- Drinking waterPublic fountains and inns in the market towns; gaps are longer between the pond areas - fill up in good time.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water6
- Repair station1
- Bike shop3
- Charging station20
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
Giant granite boulders in the Blockheide nature park near Gmünd, a landmark along the WasserlandschaftsradwegPhoto: Granitfindlinge im Naturpark Blockheide bei Gmünd · Medbiker 1965 · CC BY-SA 3.0 AT Path through the granite blocks of the Blockheide nature park near Gmünd on the routePhoto: Turmweg durch die Granitblöcke der Blockheide · Funke · CC BY-SA 4.0 Medieval moated castle Heidenreichstein at the northern end of the WasserlandschaftsradwegPhoto: Wasserburg Heidenreichstein von Nordost · Duke of W4 · CC BY-SA 4.0
06 - Public transit
- Franz-Josefs railway (Vienna - Gmünd NÖ)The Franz-Josefs railway serves the loop directly: stations at Gmünd NÖ, Schrems and the Pürbach-Schrems halt sit right on the route. Bikes carried on local services.
- Waldviertelbahn (Gmünd - Groß Gerungs / Litschau)The narrow-gauge Waldviertelbahn runs seasonally from Gmünd into the pond country (toward Heidenreichstein and Litschau) and carries bikes - a charming way to arrive or leave.
Schrems and Gmünd sit directly on the Franz-Josefs railway, so the loop is easy to reach without a car and can be started at either station. By car, Schrems (Hauptplatz) is the official starting point.
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (2)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.