Hidden Attractions.

Challenge: 3 (hiking boot)
Circuit: Parapluiberg via Lutterwand, Bierhäuslberg, Schotterteich and heath
Length: 8.6km
Start Point: Sonnbergstraße rail crossing, 2380 Perchtoldsdorf, 105 Sonnbergstraße
Coordinates: 48° 7'46.59"N, 16°15'18.11"E
Public Transport: 60 > Rodaun stop, change for the 255 bus > Sonnbergstraße stop (Vienna ‘Wiener Linien’ tickets are valid!)

Google-Maps

TRACK DESCRIPTION
After jumping off the bus at the border between the provinces of Vienna and Lower Austria, an exciting hike was waiting for the urbs. This is a very varied stretch of countryside, lots of ups and downs and different     landscapes. Walking along you can find forest, cliffs, quarries, caves, a lake as well as rare heath. We recommend that you wear good walking boots, because there are some steep parts, unless you are urb enough to take on this track barefoot!

 
ROUTE
We set off from the rail crossing at Sonnbergstraße. Shortly after that turn into Waldmühlgasse, which opens onto the path to the heath at the end. Just a few meters further on you are already at the Lutterwand rock formation. Go past this to the right, into a feature called Saugraben [pigs ditch] by the locals. Now it's up the mountain all the way till you get to a place to rest at Bierhäuslberg. From here you come to a crossing which takes you to the right, to a ruin (signposted). Now things get a bit tricky, because somewhere between the ruin and the crossing a small path leads down to the quarry. (It's easy to miss, but it's also possible to get to the quarry via the ruin by going down to Kaltenleutgebner Straße, following this a little way toward Kaltenleutgeben, and after the abandoned cement works going up the private road to meet our track again at the start of Schotterteich pond). Arriving in the quarry, follow the private road to the end of Schotterteich. Here leave the road and join the hiking route (41, 444), that goes to Josefswarte and Kammersteinerhütte. From Kamersteinerhütte the hiking route goes off to the east (401, 404, 406), to the edge of the vineyards. Here the path forks – we will take the left (north) fork and a short walk takes us onto Perchtoldsdorfer Heide [the heath at Perchtoldsdorf].

 
Now go cross-country till you reach the corner of the heath diagonally opposite, take the steps past the forest sanatorium into Dr.-Gorlitzer-Gasse. At the end of this lane we find ourselves back at Sonnbergstraße, the start point.

HISTORY
The history of the heath at Perchtoldsdorf is a paradox, because this biosphere reserve with its rare dry grasslands was primarily created by human intervention. Originally this area was covered by the Vienna Woods, until forest clearance began in the Neolithic period to create land for cultivation. Without the retentive forest root system however, the soil soon dried out and was then used for grazing sheep. From this time drought tolerant plants migrated here from the pannonic steppes and find a foothold. During the Second World War the heath was used for tank training. This created open, stony ground where the rare heath plants could establish themselves and increase in numbers. The heath today is a nature reserve and much effort goes into preventing the land from reverting.

 
THE GROUND SQUIRREL – A TIMID HEATH RESIDENT
Walking over the heath at Perchtoldsdorf, you stumble now and again over holes in the ground and every so often, when things are quiet, small creatures pop their heads out – the European ground squirrel. These cute creatures belong to the family of gophers that spread from Austria through central Asia to Mongolia. The ground squirrels are masters at burrowing, and create two distinct types of burrow; the solid earth constructions where they hibernate, bear young and spend the night, and the makeshift protective structures they use as shelters when looking for food. From September the creatures start to store food (roots, tubers, onions … ) and then seal the entrance to the burrow in preparation for hibernation till March.

AREA TIPS
Kammersteiner Alpine Hut
Austrian Alpine Club, Liesing-Perchtoldsdorf division
Open all year (Closed Monday and Tuesday)
Phone: +43 2238 77392

Traditional Perchtoldsdorf Taverns
Calendar of traditional wine tavern seasonal opening times, with descriptions in German of each, and the food and wine available.
www.perchtoldsdorf.com

 
Caves and holes on the route (Parabluiberg)

Excentriqueshöhle: 48° 7'19.48"N, 16°13'20.34"E

Fuchsbandwurm: 48° 7'2.82"N, 16°14'13.55"E

Blockhaufenhöhle: 48° 6'59.33"N, 16°14'19.12"E

Saugrabenloch: 48° 7'11.91"N,  16°14'20.35"E