Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
THE GESÄUSE REGION
Andreas Hollinger, a ranger from Nationalpark Gesäuse outside Admont, explains what makes the Gesäuse spe-
cial.
Character of the Gesäuse
The Gesäuse is the last of the regions in the eastern Alps where the mountains rise up so powerfully. It's a rocky,
mountainous landscape with enormous differences in altitude in a small area. If you stand at Johnsbachsteg, near
the Weidendom national park complex, you can see the Enns River in the valley, the surrounding forest, and the
peak region, an altitude difference of 1800m all at a glance.
Trails
From Weidendom there are various theme trails leading out into the valley that are suitable for children and two
trails, the Lettmair Au trail and the Leierweg, for those travellers in wheelchairs. I think the trail that best gives
you the Gesäuse feeling with altitude differences leads to the
Haindlkarhütte
( 0664-114 00 46;
www.haindlkar-huette.at
;
Johnsbach; Sep-mid-Oct) at 1121m. It's 1½ hours each way and accessed from
the Haindlkarhütte bus stop between Gstatterboden and the turn-off to Johnsbach). It's an easy trail, and from
there you've got access to extreme climbing tours.
Sleeping
Jugend- und Familiengästehaus Schloss Röthelstein
( 05 7083-320;
roethelstein@jufa.at
;
Aigen 32; s/d/tr/q €54/88/132/176; )
This is where the monks
from the abbey used to stay in summer. It's located in a baroque castle from the 17th cen-
tury, about 5km southwest of the centre off Aignerstrasse. The renovated palace is
flanked by carefully manicured lawns, has an elegant glass-roofed, arcaded inner court-
yard, and tastefully decorated rooms with wooden floors and subtle tones. Some of its 40
rooms are located in towers.
HOSTEL
€€
Hotel Gastof Traube
( 24 400;
www.hotel-die-traube.at
; Hauptstrasse 3; s €58-68, d €96-116; )
One of the best places to
stay in the centre of town, with modern rooms that are a notch above the others on
Hauptstrasse.
HOTEL
€€
Hotel Spirodom Admont
HOTEL
€€
