Straß im Straßertale can be explored from two distinct perspectives: the history of local institutions and paths through the village and vineyards. The fire brigade museum, listed buildings and hiking options of varying lengths give your stay a clear cultural and outdoor focus. This lets you decide in advance whether you would rather focus on cultural history or a walking tour.
Firefighting History and Buildings
The Straß Fire Brigade Museum traces the development of the local fire brigade, founded in 1874. Its collection includes equipment and flags, sheet music from the fire brigade band, and records from three former fire stations in the village. Notable objects bring different chapters of this history to life: a hydrophore from 1897, a fire engine from 1930 and an early powder extinguisher from a local carpentry shop. Technical equipment, music and records are presented side by side, offering different insights into the village’s firefighting history.
The history of the buildings also offers clear points of reference in time. The parish church of the Assumption of Mary is an Early Baroque hall church with a transept, built between 1638 and 1646. A Loreto chapel was added to the west of the church in 1666. This makes it possible to distinguish the construction phases chronologically. The Federal Monuments Authority’s register dated 23 June 2026 also lists Falkenberg Castle Ruins, the former parish church, known as the All Saints’ Church, together with its archaeological surroundings, the St. John of Nepomuk Chapel, the Marienbrücke—also known as Kaisersteg—and the statue of the Immaculate Conception as protected monuments.
Hikes with Different Foci
For a hike with a specific historical destination, the Ruins Hiking Trail leads from the church in Straß im Straßertale over the hills to Falkenberg Castle Ruins. The Wayside Shrine Trail also starts at the parish church, covering around 6 km through the village centre and surrounding vineyards, and passes statues of saints, crosses and wayside shrines. The village’s historic cellar lane is also home to the 1489 Schwertkreuz, described as Lower Austria’s oldest datable field cross.
If you want to choose between shorter and longer tours, the Straßertal offers several options. A large sign in the village centre shows five hikes, and the trails are well signposted. The shorter hikes include the Family Loop in Straß, the Germanenrunde and the Hiatarunde in Elsarn. There is also the longer Erste Lagen Loop and a longer mountain bike route. This gives you a choice of different types and relative lengths of route, without every tour having the same destination. As route classifications may change, check the latest route details before planning your trip.
Museums and Practical Information
The Germanic Farmstead Elsarn open-air museum presents a reconstruction of a Germanic farmstead from the 2nd and 3rd centuries, based on archaeological findings. It includes a large combined dwelling and stable building, a granary, craft workshops, a smoking facility, a Germanic show garden and a nature trail. The Straßertal app provides interactive information about the Straßertal and the open-air museum, as well as about the origins and way of life of the Germanic peoples.
At the Cooperage and Viticulture Museum, you can follow the journey of wine from vine to processing. The former workshop of the Schmid cooperage family presents the production of barrels step by step. During guided tours, you can also watch the saw and a Venetian frame saw in operation. Check the arrangements for a guided tour before your trip.
There is a seasonal way to get around on two wheels: E-bikes are available to rent from the Weinkontraste wine shop from 1 April to 31 October, by advance reservation. If you plan to use this option, confirm current availability in advance.
Discover more destinations: Weißenkirchen in der Wachau, Krustetten, Sankt Michael, Furth bei Göttweig, Grafenegg, Oberarnsdorf, Rastenfeld, Krems an der Donau.
For the broader travel overview: Krems-Land.
