Kirchberg Am Walde brings together architectural and church history with options for an active stay. Castles, churches, and monuments give the town’s history a tangible presence; a cultural walk leads to 13 stops. There is also a steps trail with an opportunity to try forest bathing, as well as the Water Landscape Cycling Route. You can tailor your trip to your interests, focusing on either historical landmarks or walking and cycling routes.
Cultural history between the castle and the market square
Kirchberg am Walde Castle was remodeled in the Renaissance style before 1561. The parish church houses a Gothic image of the Virgin Mary and four Renaissance tombstones from the old parish church. Another site connected with church and architectural history is the hospital church, which belongs to the Bürgerspital: it is dedicated to All Saints and has a Baroque high altar. Count Johann Leopold Kueffstein and his wife Maria Franziska, née Countess Kollonitz, had the Bürgerspital built between 1715 and 1719 to care for their elderly servants.
Two monuments with distinct histories stand in the market square. The Florianibrunnen dates from 1732 and was moved there from the castle courtyard during redevelopment work. In 1714, Kueffstein also had the Trinity Column erected in the market square in gratitude. Reliefs on its base depict Saints Sebastian, Roch, and Rosalia, who were venerated as patrons against the plague. Another column, the Leonhard Column, was built in 1770/71. It commemorates a dangerous livestock epidemic that raged in Kirchberg for five months in 1766.
Smaller architectural details also tell of earlier forms of community life. The pillory bears the year 1714 and was used mainly as a punishment for minor offenses; its hand and neck irons are still well preserved. The Red Chapel was built in 1659 on the spot where an image of the Virgin Mary had previously been attached to a tree. Its altar dates from between 1670 and 1680. These different dates and functions give the town’s history more than one point of reference.
Cultural walk and regional routes
The Kirchberg am Walde cultural walk starts at the Florianibrunnen in the market square and has 13 stops. A free Hearonymus audio app is also available for exploring local history and culture. The walk and the app offer two different ways to discover the town’s history: a route with a set starting point and stops, and an audio exploration on your smartphone.
Those interested in routes and landscape themes will find further options. The tut gut steps trail crosses the European watershed at the junction with the road to Hollenstein and offers the opportunity to try forest bathing. Another option is the Water Landscape Cycling Route, which passes through Kirchberg am Walde. It is around 85 kilometers long and can also be ridden in stages. You can choose between a local trail featuring forest bathing and the watershed, and a longer cycling route that can be planned in stages.
Other historic sites in the municipality
About 1 kilometer toward Ullrichs, two granite pillars stand in a small wood on the so-called Galgenberg. They taper toward the top and are approximately 5 meters high. The Kindlstein on the road to Groß Höbarten also links a specific place with a distinctive feature: it is a cup-marked stone found in the Waldviertel, with a hollow that holds water all year round. The municipality is also home to Rauenstein Fortress, a former fortification with wall elements dating from the 13th century. These sites add further historical and cultural-history themes to the buildings in town, without needing to be combined into a single route.
Kirchberg Am Walde offers a variety of themes, from the 13 stops on the cultural walk to a cycling tour that can be ridden in stages.
Discover more destinations: Schrems, Haugschlag, Waldenstein, GmĂĽnd, Neunagelberg, Moorbad Harbach, Bad GroĂźpertholz, Sankt Martin.
Back to the main travel overview: GmĂĽnd.
