Pierbach offers several ways to embark on a journey of discovery: pilgrimage and hiking trails sit alongside architectural and collection history, and there is also a leisure park that is freely accessible all year round. When planning, it is worth choosing your preferred focus rather than combining all the destinations into a single route. Those looking for outdoor activities will find different options from those interested in the church, castle or the history of Häferls.
Hiking: from the pilgrimage trail to the riverside route
For pilgrims walking the Johannesweg, the village of Pierbach is the recommended starting point. The trail is signposted throughout and marked in a clockwise direction. The Johannesbrunnen with its Angels’ Chapel, near the farm of the Irxenmayr family, is the first stop and a place of spiritual energy on the Johannesweg. This provides both a guide to the route and a specific point along the pilgrimage.
Pierbach has four marked hiking trails. The ZweiFlĂĽsseWeg runs for about 3 kilometres along the picturesque Kleine Naarn river. The M2 Pierbach Tour leads from Pierbach through MĂĽhlviertel Nature Park; the Ruttensteinweg leads towards Ruttenstein Castle ruins. These offer different starting points for your choice: the pilgrimage and trail markers on the Johannesweg, the riverside route and approximate distance on the ZweiFlĂĽsseWeg, and the nature park and castle ruins on the other two routes.
Culture and history in Pierbach
Pierbach parish church is a three-aisled hall church featuring Romanesque and Gothic elements. Its Gothic chancel and Late Gothic side aisles create distinct architectural accents; the church also contains 16th-century murals. Its connection to the Mühlviertel Gothic Route is also part of the church’s context. Its architecture, paintings and route connection make it a cultural attraction in its own right in Pierbach.
Ruttenstein Castle ruins stand at an elevation of 758 metres on a wooded hilltop between the valleys of the Große and Kleine Naarn rivers. Ruttenstein Castle was mentioned as “castrum Rotenstein” as early as 1160 in connection with Bamberg ownership. At Ruttenstein, a distinctive landscape setting meets an early historical reference. The Ruttensteinweg leads towards the ruins.
At the Pierbach Häferl Museum, you can see rare Häferls as well as coffee and tea services. A particular focus is on porcelain manufacturers such as Meissen, Wiener Keramik and Gmundnerkeramik. The museum also explores both how a Häferl is made and its history. The collection thus brings together specific objects and their manufacture: you can explore the subject through the Häferls on display and the process of making them.
Leisure park and activities
Pierbach Leisure Park is freely accessible all year round. Its facilities include a pump track, a skate park, and a climbing and balance course. The multi-use sports court has space for football, basketball and volleyball. The activity options therefore range from wheeled sports to climbing, balancing and ball sports. If you choose Pierbach as your destination, you can compare these activities with its hiking and cultural offerings and weigh up what best suits your interests during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Sandl, GrĂĽnbach, Wartberg Ob Der Aist, UnterweiĂźenbach, Rainbach Im MĂĽhlkreis, Kaltenberg, Pregarten, Liebenau.
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