The best family-friendly hikes and walks in St. Pölten

In the first phase, you clamber over stones between the windings of a small stream (no, it wasn't a rainy day…), then a slippery steep section follows, where you probably move most safely on all fours, followed by a few more unpleasant spots, and then a traverse along the slope that is as long as it is boring.

The catering is entirely geared towards seminars and conferences, with small snacks in between and a buffet during the main meals. Unusual requests are also kindly accepted and fulfilled.

The panoramic view from the steel tower of the former Kaiser Franz Joseph Warte and today's Franz Eduard Matras Warte still impresses. In a work published by Crown Prince Rudolf about the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, the view is described so aptly that it still entices people to tour the mountain today. The Leopold-Figl-Observatorium is within sight. Only a few minutes' walk away, the Schöpfl-Schutzhaus of the ÖTK invites you to linger. In 1865, the Imperial Royal Forestry Authority built a viewing platform on the highest point of the Schöpfl at 893 meters. It originally served as weather protection for the still existing survey marker. Due to the good view, the platform quickly developed into a popular excursion destination. Source: https://schutz.haus/de/poi/aussichtsturm/matraswarte/13538804/

Detour to drink spring water

The Matraswarte is a 17-meter-high steel structure that adorns the summit of the Schöpfl, the highest elevation in the Vienna Woods. It stands on the border of the communities of Altenmarkt an der Triesting and Brand-Laaben and is the highest structure in the Vienna Woods. The observation tower offers a breathtaking panoramic view that stretches from Vienna's city center in the northeast to the Limestone Alps in the south. The climb to the Matraswarte is straightforward, as numerous hiking trails lead to the summit, making the place a popular destination for hikers of all ages. The panoramic view, which includes the Vienna Woods, the Alpine foothills and the Schneeberg, is a true highlight of the hike.

The Schöpfl, as the highest mountain in the Vienna Woods, offers an ideal combination of nature experience and impressive views. The climb to the Matraswarte is particularly worthwhile, from which a spectacular 360° panorama stretches - from Vienna across the Tullnerfeld to the Schneeberg and Ötscher. After the hike, the Schöpflhütte invites you to stop for a cozy break. The well-marked paths make the climb a pleasant experience, even for less experienced hikers. A detour to the Mitterschöpfl and the Leopold Figl Observatory rounds off the tour with beautiful natural impressions.

The Ratzersdorfer See in St. Pölten was created in the 1970s as a local recreation area and offers numerous leisure activities. It is an artificially created bathing lake. The sports and leisure facilities include beach volleyball courts, a basketball and football pitch, and a mini golf course. There are restaurants to cater for your physical well-being, and you can take a short break here during your tour. The lake is easily accessible by bike via the Traisental cycle path. Admission is free.

The Matraswarte is a 17-meter-high steel observation tower on the summit of the Schöpfl, the highest elevation in the Vienna Woods on the municipal border of Altenmarkt an der Triesting and Brand-Laaben. This observation tower is therefore the highest building in the Vienna Woods. It is located near the Schöpfl shelter.