The running route from Weignersdorf covers 6.9 kilometres through characteristic meadows and forests; it is often completed in about 45 minutes. A short forest path near Weignersdorf lies at the eastern end of the Breitlüsserwald. As route information can change, check the route before setting off.
Trails with different highlights
Hiking maps for the Hellmonsödt trail network are available from the Hellmonsödt municipal office. The listed routes include the 6.00-kilometre R3 Vogellehrpfad loop. The map and individual route descriptions can help you plan different walks and routes separately, rather than assuming they form one combined loop without checking the connection.
The Hans Helmon Storybook Trail runs through the grounds of the Hellmonsödt leisure park. It is suitable for pushchairs, approximately 2.5 kilometres long and takes about 40 minutes. Nine information boards tell the story of the poor farmer Hans Helmon; each board has a riddle and a task. So this is more than just a route: it combines walking with an ongoing story and little tasks along the way.
The four-kilometre Hellmonsödt Planet Trail has a different focus: it is an accessible circular route established in 2006. Information boards introduce the planets and the solar system; children's play equipment and a picnic area are also part of the trail. The two routes can be compared by length: the Storybook Trail is shorter, while the Planet Trail covers four kilometres. In terms of content, they focus on a story with riddles and information about the solar system, respectively.
Winter trails and cross-country skiing
The Nordic Arena Oberaigen/Hellmonsödt includes an easy, flat two-kilometre stadium loop and a 7.7-kilometre cross-country ski trail with varying levels of difficulty. It offers an easy, flat two-kilometre stadium loop and a 7.7-kilometre cross-country ski trail with varying levels of difficulty. The two routes therefore differ in both length and stated difficulty. Availability of winter activities depends on seasonal snow conditions.
A winter walking loop runs mainly along the Planet Trail route. In winter, it is cleared for walkers and strollers, though clearing depends on local conditions. The loop also passes through Wasserwald Leisure Park. When planning, it is worth distinguishing this winter walk from the ski trails: this is a cleared walking route, while those are for cross-country skiing.
History and architecture
At the Pelmberg Open-Air Museum, the Mittermayrhof was first mentioned in a document in 1325. The farmstead is built in the Steinbloß masonry typical of the Mühlviertel. It features a thatched roof weighing about 35,000 kilograms and an 18-metre-long escape tunnel carved into granite that can still be walked through. The building style and tunnel offer different perspectives on the historic farmstead.
Hellmonsödt also has tangible traces of history. In the crypt of the Starhemberg Chapel is a small mummy, about 400 years old, which can be viewed through a glass cover. The Starhemberg Chapel and the outer walls of Hellmonsödt parish church contain a total of twelve marble grave slabs dating from 1418 to 1675. A dated event directly connected with Weignersdorf took place on 20 April 1663: Regina Hueber, widow of Weignersdorf, sold her dwelling there, together with its appurtenances, to Jakob Thanninger.
Plan your visits and stay
The Starhemberg Chapel crypt is scheduled to be open for visits daily from 8:00 to 17:00; visits are excluded during services. Guided tours of the chapel crypt and crypt last about 50 minutes and must be booked in advance. Confirm the times before your visit.
The Pelmberg Open-Air Museum is scheduled to be open from 1 May to 31 October. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, visiting hours are 14:00 to 17:00; visits by arrangement are also possible. Plan around the visiting hours and confirm them in advance.
When looking for a holiday apartment, it is worth first deciding which places you want to focus on: the running loop starts from Weignersdorf, while the cultural attractions described are in Hellmonsödt. For a specific property, check its location and availability, and coordinate planned visits with the relevant opening hours.
Discover more destinations: Eidenberg, Alberndorf in der Riedmark, Dürnberg, Kirchschlag bei Linz, Lichtenberg, Reichenau im Mühlkreis, Puchenau, Sonnberg im Mühlkreis.
Go to the regional travel overview: Urfahr-Umgebung.
