01 - Overview
The Weinsbergerwald cycle loop circles the Weinsberger Wald, the largest contiguous forest of the Waldviertel, over some 144 kilometres - from Altenmarkt im Yspertal across the high, wooded granite uplands around Martinsberg, Rappottenstein and Arbesbach and back. A demanding, relentlessly hilly circuit with around 2,800 metres of climbing through one of the loneliest corners of Lower Austria.
The Weinsberger Wald arches as a dark, high-lying dome of forest over the south-western Waldviertel - the largest contiguous woodland in Lower Austria, a country of spruce forests, boggy hollows, weather-worn granite blocks and quiet ponds that rises to over 900 metres. This loop rides right around it. From Altenmarkt im Yspertal it climbs out of the narrow Ysper valley up onto the heights, over Gutenbrunn and the market town of Martinsberg into the rolling uplands and on to Bad Traunstein. Across the highest part of the tour - the open ridges around Weinsberg, with far views over the Mühlviertel and Waldviertel - it reaches Rappottenstein, watched over by one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Austria. Further west lies Arbesbach with the ruined "Stockzahn" castle and the BÄRENWALD, a sanctuary for former circus and zoo bears. Through the lonely, thinly settled heart of the forest - past granite formations and rocking stones, the Schlesinger pond and Bärnkopf, the highest village on the loop - the route finally descends by Dorfstetten back into the Ysper valley to Altenmarkt. Mostly paved on quiet forest and side roads, with sections of gravel, the loop is a sporting challenge in constant up and down, with around 2,800 metres of climbing over 144 kilometres.
- Regions
- Lower Austria
- Start
- Altenmarkt im Yspertal
- Finish
- Altenmarkt im Yspertal
- Surface
- Paved
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- May - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Fully pavedpartly estimated
100 % paved, longest unpaved stretch 163 m.
02 - Stages
3 stages · 144 km
01Altenmarkt im Yspertal - RappottensteinAltenmarkt im Yspertal · Gutenbrunn · Martinsberg · Bad Traunstein · Rappottenstein52 km
From Altenmarkt im Yspertal the loop climbs straight out of the narrow Ysper valley up into the heights of the Weinsberger Wald. Past Gutenbrunn - once a glassmaking village on the edge of the great forest - it reaches the market town of Martinsberg and carries on through rolling, wooded uplands to Bad Traunstein. In steady up and down the opening stage finally arrives at Rappottenstein, whose houses are dominated by the mighty, almost fully preserved medieval Rappottenstein castle. A long, demanding start with plenty of climbing.
- Ascent
- 965 m
- Descent
- 820 m
- Duration
- approx. 4.5-5.5 h
- Surface
- Paved, some gravel
Surface (measured): paved
02Rappottenstein - BärnkopfRappottenstein · Weinsberg · Arbesbach · Schwarzau · Bärnkopf57 km
The middle stage is the highest and hardest: across the open ridges around Weinsberg the route reaches the highest point of the tour (around 980 m) with wide views over the Waldviertel and Mühlviertel. At Arbesbach the ruined "Stockzahn" - the striking castle stump high above the village - and the BÄRENWALD, a sanctuary for former circus and zoo bears, are both worth a stop. The route then dives into the lonely, thinly settled heart of the Weinsberger Wald, past granite blocks and rocking stones, and climbs to the highest village on the loop, Bärnkopf. The most natural-feeling and most strenuous section.
- Ascent
- 1,231 m
- Descent
- 857 m
- Duration
- approx. 5-6 h
- Surface
- Paved, some gravel
Surface (measured): paved
03Bärnkopf - Altenmarkt im YspertalBärnkopf · Schlesinger pond · Dorfstetten · Altenmarkt im Yspertal35 km
From Bärnkopf the final stage passes the quiet Schlesinger pond and begins the long descent out of the high forest. Past Dorfstetten - on the south-western rim of the Weinsberger Wald, looking down towards the Danube valley - the route drops back into the Ysper valley. The last kilometres roll down the narrow, green Ysper valley to Altenmarkt, where the loop closes. The shortest stage, defined by its big loss of height - mostly downhill, but with a few counter-climbs along the rolling forest edge.
- Ascent
- 635 m
- Descent
- 1,151 m
- Duration
- approx. 3-4 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 144 km. Ascent 2831 m, descent 2828 m. Lowest point 462 m, highest point 973 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
- Rappottenstein castle
- Arbesbach castle ruins ("Stockzahn")
- BÄRENWALD Arbesbach bear sanctuary
- Weinsberg - highest point of the loop
- Granite formations & rocking stones
- Schlesinger pond
- Bärnkopf - highest village on the loop
- Ysper valley
Services along the route
- Bike serviceCycle workshops in the larger towns (Martinsberg, Arbesbach, Gutenbrunn); e-bike service across the southern Waldviertel.
- E-bikeCharging and rental stations along the way - a clear advantage on a loop this hilly, with 2,800 metres of climbing.
- Bett+BikeCyclist-friendly accommodation around the Weinsberger Wald and in the Ysper valley.
- Drinking waterPublic fountains and water points in the market towns; gaps between services are long in the lonely forest interior - fill up in good time.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water5
- Charging station10
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
Groß Gerungs station, a hub on the Weinsberger Wald cycle loop and terminus of the Waldviertel narrow gauge railway.Photo: Bahnhof Groß Gerungs, Endstation der Waldviertelbahn · Josef Moser · CC BY-SA 4.0 Open Waldviertel cultivated landscape near Kottingnondorf on the northern part of the loop.Photo: Kulturlandschaft bei Kottingnondorf · Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0 Silicate pine heath wood with a granite block near Griesbach, typical forest scenery along the loop.Photo: Föhrenheidewald bei Griesbach · Stefan.lefnaer · CC BY-SA 4.0
06 - Public transit
- Wachau railway / Danube valley (Emmersdorf - Krems)The Danube valley south of the Weinsberger Wald is the nearest rail corridor; from Emmersdorf/Melk or Krems by bus into the Ysper valley and the Waldviertel uplands. Bikes carried on local services.
- Franz-Josefs-Bahn (Vienna - Gmünd, via Schwarzenau/Zwettl)To the north the Franz-Josefs railway opens up the Waldviertel; from Zwettl by regional bus to the northern edge of the loop (Rappottenstein/Arbesbach).
The Weinsberger Wald has no railway - no station sits directly on the loop. Best arrive via the Danube valley (Melk/Emmersdorf or Krems) and continue by bus, or via the Franz-Josefs railway to Zwettl. By car, Altenmarkt im Yspertal is the natural 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 (3)
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.