Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
JOHNSBACH
Situated 17km southeast of Admont, the tiny settlement of Johnsbach is the focal point for hiking, climbing and
water sports in the region. It is wedged on a bucolic stream, with rugged mountains rising up on virtually all
sides.
This is one of Austria's earliest mountain-climbing centres, and testimony to this is the whimsical
Bergsteiger-Friedhof
(Mountain Climber Cemetery;
www.johnsbach.at
; dawn-dusk) , where bur-
ied alongside local citizens are mountain climbers who have come to grief in the Gesäuse over the centuries.
With its pretty white-washed church, this is a beautiful and strangely touching place.
Both easy and difficult trails lead off into the mountains from Johnsbach or the turn-off from the B146 main
road. The tourist office and national park information offices can help. A couple of rafting companies also have
bases here, including
AOS Adventures
( 03612-25 343;
www.rafting.at
;
3-4hr Enns rafting tours €50;
8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri, tours 9am & 2pm, Gesäuse camp closed mid-Oct-Apr).
There are several good guesthouses offering food and a bed in the settlement.
Gasthof zum Donner
(
03611-218;
www.donnerwirt.at
; Johnsbach 5; s €30-35, d €60-70, mains €9-13.50) sits alongside the church and
rafting base camp, while
Gasthof Kölblwirt
( 03611-216;
www.koelblwirt.at
;
Johnsbach 65; s €39, d
€66-72) is about 800m further up the road and has it all: a
Pension,
a restaurant specialising in Styrian beef, yo-
delling courses and Nordic ski hire, through to suggestions for hikes and winter tours.
With your own wheels, take the B146 east and the signposted turn-off to Johnsbach. By bus, call about two
hours ahead for the
Rufbus
(Taxi bus; 03613-2406, 03613-4170), which runs out four to five times daily
from Admont Bahnhof (€4). Regular buses also run from Admont to the turn-off at Bachbrücke/Weidendom (€4,
12 minutes), from where it's a 5km walk.
