The historic buildings around Zelking Parish Church tell the story of a time when the village was a very popular summer retreat. Zelking also has many different facets: a sunken lane leads to a wine cellar lane, marked hiking trails cross the heavily forested Hiesberg, and Zelking Pond is an important regional breeding ground for waterbirds.
Church, Summer Retreat and Castle History
The parish church, dedicated to Saint Erhard, stands on a hill. The historic buildings around it help explain why Zelking was once a very popular summer retreat. Zelking Castle Ruins, on the slope of the Hiesberg, were first mentioned in 1100 and were once the ancestral seat of the Zelking family. The church and ruins offer different ways to explore the past: the buildings reflect the village’s former popularity as a summer retreat, while the ruins are linked to their first mention and former role as the family’s ancestral seat.
Sunken Lane and Wine Cellar Lane
West of Zelking, a sunken lane cuts through the natural Melk Sand and leads to an attractive wine cellar lane. Here, a distinctive landscape feature meets a culturally shaped lane. This offers a particular focus for visitors interested not only in architectural history but also in the character of the cultural landscape. The sunken lane offers a different kind of discovery from the history of the church and castle: the focus here is on the path through the Melk Sand and the wine cellar lane it leads to.
Hiking on the Hiesberg
The heavily forested Hiesberg is a hiking area with a rich history; numerous marked hiking trails cross the mountain. One longer option with a clearly specified distance is the Hiesberg-Melktal Circular Route No. 68. It is 38 kilometres long and runs from St. Leonhard am Forst through romantic forests and along the Melk River landscape. This offers different scales to choose from: a variety of marked trails on the Hiesberg and a named circular route with a stated total distance and described course. If you are planning around a specific distance, you can consider the circular route as a distinct option; if you prefer to choose from several marked trails, you will find a different way to find your bearings.
Waterbirds, Geology and Tradition
Nature and local tradition offer their own highlights, too. Zelking Pond is considered an important regional breeding ground for waterbirds. The Rogelstein is a rocking stone, a remnant of a mighty group of ancient rock formations. The White Stone, in turn, is associated with a 1,200-year-old tradition. These themes offer distinct points of interest for trip planning: waterbirds at the pond, a geological feature at the Rogelstein, and a connection to a tradition at the White Stone.
Cycling Route and Trip Planning
For cyclists, Melk provides a specific point of reference: the Melktal Cycling Route joins the Danube Cycle Path there and connects with the Pielachtal Route. This connection at Melk is a distinct planning consideration, different from the hiking trails on the Hiesberg and the 38-kilometre circular route. If you are looking for a hotel, it is best to decide first which theme you want to shape your stay: Zelking’s local history, hikes on the Hiesberg or the route connections at Melk. Please note that the castle ruins must not be entered because of the risk of collapse; check this access restriction again on site before planning a visit.
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