When the yellow greengages bloom: Autumn in Waldviertel

Read about which wonderful fruit the Waldviertlers have been cultivating for hundreds of years and how they taste. Or simply try for yourself.

When the leaves around the Ysperklamm Gorge turn from green to gold, a regional highlight, the sweet greengage, reaches its peak. Read about where you can taste greengages in a particularly refined setting - and what else there is to enjoy in the Waldviertel.

Greengages: Our top tasting tips
If you haven’t tried greengages, now’s the time to change that. This ancient fruit has a unique, sweet taste. To be more precise, they are small yellow plums. Hans Krenn from the Landgasthof Peilsteinblick restaurant knows just how good they taste. He uses them in his homemade specialities and in the innovative distillery, where the Kaiserholzbirne and Horseradish Gin are distilled. The family guest house is also the ideal starting point for excursions, such as a walk on the Druidenweg to see mystical stones from the Celtic period. At the Forellenhof Yspertal you can enjoy trout from the on-site pond. And pork roast, poppy and dumpling dishes... We would have liked to have ordered everything on the menu. We then ordered our pudding at the Willis Bauernhof - and a greengage hamper too. Our foodie tip: Be sure to try the chef’s greengage tart!

Greengages and gorge: Our producer and travel tip
Many producers are devoted to greengages. These include, for example, the Destillerie Rogner, which refines greengages into a fruity gin. We recommend that walkers enjoy a tour through the Ysperklamm Gorge, where the Ysper descends in small and larger waterfalls almost 300m high. The crystal-clear water is the perfect way of cooling off on the way and is accompanied by handy climbing aids such as stone steps, wooden poles, small bridges and secure passages. We were impressed by the enormous, moss-covered granite rocks encountered on the tour. Our tip: Bring your dog along. He (or she) will love it!

Schnapps and sleep: Our secret highlights
Don’t miss out on greengage toasting at the Kriecherl brennt event. On 15 October, the distilleries celebrate the day of open breweries and invite you for a shot of Schnapps. Hence our overnight tip: The wonderful rooms at Schreiners – the Waldviertelhaus hotel. The impressive gardens with natural pool impress throughout and guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to meaty culinary delights from the hotel’s own butcher. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!