During the 11th stage of the Viennese Alps (WAB) route, the landscapes become more alpine in character. Initially, the route heads through orchards and farmyards then slowly through mountain woodland uphill to the high, rocky plateau of the Rax.
Description
The ascent to the Rax gradually starts from Prein onwards, which requires good conditioning as it takes the Schlangenweg route up to this high alpine plateau. After handling the demanding ascent of the Rax, take your time and enjoy the next stage on the way to the Habsburghaus. Upon reaching the Karl-Ludwig-Haus, you are rewarded with a tremendous view of where you have come from between the Wechsel and Semmering. When at Habsburghaus at the end of the stage, you have views of the adjacent Schneealpe summit and the Ötscher. If you arrive at the right time and the weather is fine, then the sunset is unforgettable.
Starting point of the tour
Prein, Raxalpenhof
Destination point of the tour
Habsburghaus
Route description WAB - Stage 11: Prein - Habsburghaus
This stage starts at the Raxalpenhof hotel in the centre of Prein an der Rax. We walk along Hauptstraße alongside the Preinerbach stream for around 20 minutes. Shortly after the Doderer monument, we turn right onto a narrow paved road and head uphill to the car park at Griesleitenhof. Continue to walk uphill along the forest road. Both the Haidsteig and Preinerwandsteig routes veer right after a few minutes, but we ignore both. After 20 minutes on the forest road, we arrive at the Oberer Griesleitengraben ditch and follow a steep forest path uphill to the Waxriegelhaus (open every day). From here, we can see the Siebenbrunnenkessel basin and the Schlangenweg route snaking its way up to it. We briefly descend from the Waxriegelhaus over a meadow and then ascend via the Schlangenweg route in drawn-out hairpin bends up to the Rax. Just before the Karl-Ludwig-Haus, we have two different route options available to us: A short, but steeper climb secured with steel cables is one option, or you can go right via the Törl on a simpler but longer route. We spoil ourselves eating at Karl-Ludwig-Haus before setting off on the way to the Habsburgshaus.
This route continues from the Karl-Ludwig-Haus for a few moments down towards the Törl before heading towards the Habsburgshaus on the western ridge of the Predigtstuhl. We hike downhill slightly into a ditch through Latschen before a steep ascent at the other end of the ditch and more even terrain meets us on our way to the Habsburgshaus. If the views are clear we can enjoy the sunset over the Schneealpe. If the weather is not ideal, then Alpine salamanders may appear instead.
Directions
If you are travelling from Vienna on the A2, take the S6 towards Semmering/Bruck a.d. Mur/Neunkirchen West then leave at the Gloggnitz exit. Continue on the B27 towards Höllental, then turn left just after Reichenau an der Rax and follow the signs to Prein. If you are travelling from Graz on the S6, leave the Schnellstraße at the Mürzzuschlag West exit, head towards Mürzsteg on the B23, then turn right off the B23 at the chapels and follow the signs over the Preiner Gscheid to Prein.
Parking
Car parking is available at the Raxalpenhof in Prein.
Take the train via Wiener Neustadt to Payerbach-Reichenau railway station. Carry on with the 1748 regional bus to the centre of Prein an der Rax.
More information can be found at www.öbb.at
Author's tip
Combine your hike with a stay in the Wellness-Seminarhotel Raxalpenhof**** and be pampered. Bookable packages can be found here.
