From the climb to Reitberg to views across the Machland, Saxen’s hiking trails vary considerably. The Klamschlucht gorge and cultural sites connected to August Strindberg and milling are also part of the picture. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on a particular route, the gorge landscape or cultural history.
Hiking trails by route and views
The S1 Reitsteig is about 7.2 kilometres long and leads from the centre of Saxen up to Reitberg. The approximately 7.5-kilometre S2 Lettenweg also starts in the town centre, but follows the Saxner Bach through the Lettental valley. The climb to Reitberg defines the route of the S1; the stream and valley are among the features described for the S2.
At about 7.5 kilometres, the S6 Machlandweg is roughly the same length as the S2, but runs via Eizendorf, along the old Naarn river and through Saxendorf on the way back to Saxen. The approximately 9-kilometre S7 Höhenwanderweg offers views across the entire Machland region as far as the foothills of the Alps. On the S3 Waldhexrundweg, you can choose between a shorter and a longer route.
Klamschlucht gorge: landscape and route
The approximately two-kilometre-long Klamschlucht gorge begins below Clam Castle in Klam and ends in the village of Au west of Saxen, at the HintermĂĽhle mill at the start of the Machland plain. The hike through the Klamschlucht begins in Saxen at the SturmmĂĽhle cultural centre and leads uphill to Clam Castle. After descending from the viewing platform, a wooden walkway leads to the waterfall in the Klamschlucht.
The gorge’s damp, shady microclimate encourages lush vegetation. This gives it a different landscape character from trails whose descriptions highlight a climb, a stream, a valley or sweeping views. The gorge can therefore be considered a distinct focus alongside the hiking trails with their varied routes.
Church, Strindberg and Dornach Castle
Saxen Parish Church is a two-aisled Gothic hall church with a Romanesque core; its patron saint is Saint Stephen. It also has a Rococo pulpit. The Gothic hall form, Romanesque core and Rococo features bring together different styles in one church building.
The Strindberg Museum Saxen explores the Swedish playwright August Strindberg’s stays in Saxen and Klam from 1893 to 1896, as well as the works he produced during that time. It is the only museum outside Sweden dedicated to August Strindberg. Dornach Castle has a personal connection to local history: Strindberg and his then wife, Frida Strindberg-Uhl, lived there temporarily in 1893.
Dornach Castle is a Neo-Baroque castle with an octagonal, crenellated tower. Its stucco ceilings are classified as Neo-Renaissance or Neo-Baroque. These architectural details add a distinct cultural aspect to the literary history, without implying that the castle can be visited.
Mill museum and regional pastries
The mill museum at the Sturmmühle inn in Saxen features a wooden mill that is practically fully operational and spans four floors. It offers an insight into grain processing and can be visited by appointment. The Sturmmühle’s Mühlenstüberl serves regional specialities and homemade pastries.
Saxen offers a range of interests: routes and views, the landscape of the Klamschlucht gorge, architectural and literary history, and insights into grain processing. You can give these different themes priority according to your travel interests, rather than treating the places and activities mentioned as a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Langenstein, Henndorf, Sankt Thomas Am Blasenstein, Waldhausen Im Strudengau, MĂĽnzbach, Grein An Der Donau, Sankt Georgen An Der Gusen, StraĂź
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