Description
In the nature park’s enclosure, you can see wild animals, such as deer, ibex or roe deer in their natural environment. What do the animals eat, how do they communicate with each other? It’s easy to learn and be astonished in the Hohe Wand Nature Park. For groups, there is also guided feeding of the wild animals with the nature park’s ranger, llama excursions or guided forest walks.
In Köhlerplatz, you will receive information about the old traditions of the Hohe Wand inhabitants - burning lime in the lime kilns or making charcoal in the charcoal kilns. The deer in the enclosure are very inquisitive and will even eat out of your hand. There are ibex and marmots, as well as roe deer and sika deer to see. There is a good view of the residents of the enclosure from the wooden walkways. The highest point of the walk is the witch’s hat.
Starting point of the tour
Nature park centre – vivarium car park
Destination point of the tour
Nature park centre – vivarium car park
Route description Hohe Wand Nature Park – Animal encounters
The walk begins at the petting zoo - here you can feed the hungry residents of the petting zoo with feed from the machine. It continues towards Köhlerplatz. Over a small hill then through the forest to the deer enclosure. The deer are very inquisitive and will even eat out of your hand. After you have met these animals, go uphill to the enclosure with ibex/marmots and roe/sika deer. There is a good view of the residents of the enclosure from the wooden walkways. The route leaves the animals and heads uphill to the witch’s hat. This is the highest point of the walk around the enclosure, simply follow the wide path downhill to return to the starting point. In snowy weather you could whiz down on sledges.
Directions
1) A2 – departing from Wöllersdorf – turn right onto the B21 towards Gutenstein – turn off towards Dreistetten – Muthmannsdorf – Emmerberg – Gaaden – Stollhof – toll booth (fee) – take the year-round mountain road to the Hohe Wand plateau
2) A2 – departing from Wiener Neustadt West – Weikersdorf – Winzendorf – Emmerberg – Gaaden – Stollhof – toll booth (fee) – Hohe Wand
Travelling from Graz
3) From Neunkirchen – Würflach – Willendorf – Höflein – Zweiersdorf – Maiersdorf – toll booth (fee) – Hohe Wand
Parking
Nature park centre – vivarium car park, Kleine Kanzelstraße 241, 2724 Hohe Wand
By train from Vienna or Graz to Wiener Neustadt – from there by local train in the direction of Puchberg am Schneeberg or by bus to Winzendorf – from Winzendorf hike to Maiersdorf via Prossetschlucht (5km), from where you can hike up Hohe Wand on one of the many routes in approximately 1 hour. Or switch in Wiener Neustadt to a train heading to Puchberg am Schneeberg. Disembark in Grünbach am Schneeberg. By following the Grafenberg route (marked by blue signs), you will reach the Wilhelm Eicherthütte on the plateau in about 1.5 hours. You can also take the Gutensteinerbahn (from Wiener Neustadt) to Oberpiesting or Waldegg, and hike on the rear side of the Hohe Wand. Visit: www.vor.at or www.oebb.at for more information
Author's tip
A trip to Hohe Wand goes well with a stay in Schneebergland! You can book overnight stays at the Landgasthof Zur Schubertlinde or the Ferienhaus Land Romantik in Urschendorf online.
