Visiting Bacchus - the best cellar alleys around Retz

It is impossible to no longer think of the cellar alley as a cultural asset. But these alleys have much more to offer, in addition to being a place of tranquillity that provides shade.

The wine region (Weinviertel) and its picturesque cellar alleys are closely connected to each other. You simply could not imagine the region north-east of Vienna without its winepress houses. Of the 1,100 cellar alleys in Lower Austria, most are located in the Weinviertel and are easily accessible by bike.

Whereas the winepress houses were once production sites for wine, today, they come to life again in the context of cellar alley festivals and cellar alley tours. Cellar alleys are considered a special cultural and historical feature in the Weinviertel as well as in the rest of Austria and have shaped the Weinviertel and its landscape for many years. Today, the wine is mostly pressed in the wineries themselves, but in many places the cellar alleys are maintained and brought back to life on special occasions. Find out how you can get to know tradition, history and a whole lot of fun while pedalling in our "Best of Kellergassen".

#1 Öhlbergkellergasse, Pillersdorf

The Öhlbergkellergasse in Pillersdorf is particularly good at one thing - captivating guests. Because when history, wine and winemaking tradition meet during a walk through the unique Öhlbergkellergasse, it is certainly hard to leave. The picturesque, romantic cellar alley is certainly not lacking in foresight either. Even as far as Retz in its place.

#2 Kellergasse Maulavern, Zellerndorf

If you want to see one of the most beautiful, longest and, above all, most informative cellar alleys in the Weinviertel, a visit to the Maulavern cellar alley is recommended. All kinds of interesting information can be found right at the beginning of the cellar alley. In the cellar museum, for example, you can learn about the history of winegrowing with a film about the grape harvest of yesteryear. Thirsty? Make a stop at the cyclist's rest! If there is still enough power left, children can let off steam at Riedlplatzl. At the end of the cellar alley is the courthouse square from the time of feudal rule.

#3 Kellergasse Hühnerkoppeln, Obernalb bei Retz

The Hühnerkoppeln cellar alley is completely mysterious and mystical. The meticulously and skilfully restored porches in this cellar alley give no hint of what lies beneath - a truly impressive labyrinth of sand cellars. Historical facts and interesting facts about the restoration work will leave you dropping your jaw in fascination - that much we can promise.

#4 Kellergasse Großkadolz (feel-good cellar)

The Großkadolzer Kellertrift is made up of a total of 200 cellars and winepress houses. The feel-good cellar located there, as it can be described, is situated directly on the most exciting cycling and hiking routes in the region. With its spacious seating, the cellar offers plenty of room for exhausted cyclists, and the automatic oven provides the last bit of Kellergassen cosiness. There is also an educational show vineyard behind the winepress house. Good to know - a possible bike service with all the necessary tools is provided.

#5 Hadreser Kellertrift

Everything has an end; everything except the Hadreser Kellergasse. At least that's how it seems, because at 1.6 km, the Kellergasse Hadres is the longest structurally closed cellar alley in Europe. All fans of winegrowing history are recommended to visit the showroom with old winegrowing equipment, and all crime fiction fans should get the knees when they hear the latest. The famous author Alfred Komarek filmed his novel "Polt" here and owns a winepress house with cellar himself. For all bookworms and those who want to become one, this is probably the cellar alley of the moment.

#6 Kellergasse Haugsdorf - Große Kellertrift

Picturesquely situated in a sunken path overgrown with acacias, it leads up to the Hutberg, visible from afar: the Haugsdorf cellar alley. Among other things, it has also been the backdrop for the wine festival "Kunst und Wein" (Art and Wine) and served as a filming location for the crime series "Polt". Here, you can simply get off your bike and enjoy to the full the intact, almost untouched nature and the view over the gently rolling Pulka Valley with its vineyards.

#7 Kellergasse Zipf Mailberg

The Zipf cellar alley in Mailberg was registered in around 1820 in the Franziszeische Kataster, i.e. the first complete Austrian real estate cadastre, and is the only listed cellar alley in Austria to date. It begins with history and continues with history. From this cellar alley, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the Maltese Castle. A guided tour offers the opportunity to learn all about the Zipf cellar alley in Mailberg.

#8 Schrattenthal city moat

The municipality of Schrattenthal is the smallest wine town in Austria, but its leisure facilities are in no way inferior to those of other towns. Especially as there is the carefully restored Schrattenthal Castle with its baroque Schüttkasten and the medieval Hunger Tower including a dungeon. With so much history, the shady cellar alley in the Stadtgraben is very inviting. If Lady Luck is with you, a winegrower will have opened his cellar doors and you can enjoy a good drop of wine in the most exquisite ambience.

#9 Kellergasse Leithen, Platt

The historic Leithen cellar alley lies not far from the village of Platt in the middle of the vineyard. The Stone Age cellar is very close by and easy to cycle to. But not only the antiquated cellar is a special feature, but also the sports field, which is located in the middle of the wine cellars. The sports field has existed since 1851 and is affectionately called "Kellerstadion” (cellar stadium) by the locals. So why not take a short break from cycling and enjoy a quick kicker in a very special flair?

#10 Kellergassen Roseldorf

Roseldorf is located in the western Weinviertel on the southern slopes of the Schmidatal valley. You can see and feel that nature is the basis of life here. Maintaining the ecosystem of the vineyard in its natural balance is a top priority for local winegrowers, and only healthy soil guarantees first-class wine. So if you stop here, you will breathe in true naturalness, taste it and, in good weather, even see as far as the Schneeberg mountain.