Bike Trip: Hainburg - Schloss Hof

After short pondering near at crossroads 1 kilometer from Hainburg we decide to continue the Bratislava Tour. The road continued to a long bridge across Danube and next through the green Danube-Auen National Park . On the half-way across the bridge, there was a plastic box with the maps of the national park and bike trails around We took one and continued in our journey. On the other end of the bridge there was a steep turn which descended to a grassy area; there signboards directed us to grave bike trail. I can tell you this, it was a hell ride in 30 degrees Celsius. Ten minutes later we got at crossroads directing either to Wien or the town of Stopfenreuth. We turned and the first board we saw ensured us of our good choice. The town of Stopfenreuth is known for taking meadow in 1984 and also as a starting point for entrance to the Danube-Auen National Park. An old trade route used to go across the present town, it was the so called Amber Road. Even evidence of Roman presence were found here. The town consists of diverse houses and its center is a renowned small church.

Putování po rakouských obcích
After tour in the town we moved to neighboring town few kilometers away, Engelhartsetten. This asphalt bike trail lead through fertile fields and while riding we had a view of Devinska Kobyla. Today as then, the area we passed through has been known as Marchfeld and it is best known for the battle between Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf I Habsburg and Czech King Ottokar II who died in the battle. Also we had a chance to see wooden crosses and chapels with statues of saints. We stopped by one of these chapels; there were benches and precious shadow, which sheltered us from heat. Soon we were ready to explore the town of Engelhartsetten. Beautiful square , maintained houses, flower beds , memorial and total tranquility. These are the features of this town. Close to the town there was a baroque pearl, Castle Niederweiden, a royal hunting castle with a baroque garden, a destination of private parties of royal family in the 18th century. We visited this object by mistake. You ask why? It was because the bike trail continued along the creek however, we didn’t notice a bike trail sign and turned to the main road leading to the town of městečko Marchegg. We don’t regret this mistake for we saw a building one cannot see just so easily.

A visit of the castle’s compounds
Right behind the castle we turned right and about one kilometer later we joined “lost” bike trail Gravel road took us to a forest and when we got on the top of a large hill, suddenly we found ourselves at west side of the largest baroque castle compound in Austria - Schloss Hof. We stopped for a while on this beautiful place surrounded by many small lakes , farms and architectonic marvels. We had learned this compound used to be a rural residence built for Prince Eugene of Savoy and later it was used by Maria Theresa; she made this place even more beautiful. The compound has also beautiful gardens, cattle is bred there as well as game and camels. Various concerts take places here and gastronomical events as well as events designed for children and their parents

For our goal was to finish our today’s plan we had no time to visit interiors of Schloss Hof Castle so we just explored it from outside, or rather we ride around it on bikes. Then we returned back to our motherland, Slovakia. Where we crossed the border and what we saw you can learn in our following article about the end of our bike trip next week.


Text and photo: Oskár Mažgút