Description
From Brunn am Gebirge train station, the path leads via Enzersdorferstraße to Maria Enzersdorf. After passing the Franciscan Church (pilgrimage church "Maria Heil der Kranken"), turn right into Mariazellergasse. Past the former Pfandl fountain, you reach Liechtensteinstraße, where on the left is the park of Hunyadi Castle and diagonally opposite the "Schiffersäule," the oldest pilgrim monument on the way to Mariazell. At the end of Liechtensteinstraße, you reach Johannesstraße where, at a Mariazell votive image donated by Emperor Ferdinand, you follow the street to the Vacation Cross Chapel (01:00 h). This has always been an important reference point for Mariazell pilgrims. The path now descends to the Seegrotte and through Hinterbrühl (01:00 h). At Höldrichsmühle, turn onto a forest path leading into the Mödlingbach valley, where you walk partly beside the road and partly on hiking trails to Gaaden (01:45 h). From Gaaden’s Jakob Church, go right along the road westward to the Kalvarienberg of Gaaden. Then the path follows the road a bit further and crosses it southwards. Now the pilgrim path leads across fields and through the forest towards Siegenfeld, past the "White Cross" to Heiligenkreuz. Over the baroque Kalvarienberg, descend to the monastery (02:15 h). From Heiligenkreuz, continue near the road to Mayerling (01:15 h). Here you find the former hunting lodge of Crown Prince Rudolph. Today it is also home to a Carmelite convent. From here, you walk partly on paved and partly on field paths to Maria Raisenmarkt (01:00 h) and then further through the forest uphill to Holzschlag (01:15 h).
* Historically, the Via Sacra begins in Vienna at the Paulaner Church. It formerly led via Spinnerin am Kreuz into the Vienna Woods to Heiligenkreuz and further to Mariazell.
Route data in detail:
- Brunn am Gebirge - Vacation Cross
Distance: 3.1 km, Walking time: 01:00 h - Vacation Cross - Höldrichsmühle (Hinterbrühl)
Distance: 2.8 km, Walking time: 01:00 h - Höldrichsmühle - Gaaden
Distance: 5.2 km, Walking time: 01:45 h - Gaaden - Heiligenkreuz
Distance: 6.7 km, Walking time: 02:15 h
Starting point of the tour
Brunn am Gebirge
Destination point of the tour
Holzschlag
Directions
From Vienna:
South Motorway A2 towards Linz – Continue on Vienna Outer Ring Motorway A21 towards Linz/St. Pölten – Exit Brunn am Gebirge.
Suburban train lines S2 or S3, bus.
Author's tip
Attractions: Franciscan Church Maria Enzersdorf, Vacation Cross Chapel, Tree of Reconciliation, Höldrichsmühle, Cistercian Abbey Heiligenkreuz, Carmel Mayerling.
