The best dog-friendly hikes and walks around Wöllersdorf-Steinabrückl

The Schlössl Wöllersdorf was built at the end of the 17th or beginning of the 18th century as a stately manor house. It served primarily as a representative residential and administrative seat for the operators of the local iron and metal processing industry. An overview of the historical milestones: • Expansion into a castle (18th century): The industrialist Ferdinand Schmid took over the property, expanded the building generously, and gave it its characteristic, castle-like appearance with Baroque vault forms. • The Wöllersdorf Mint (from 1759): The building became a central economic hub. Commissioned by the Vienna Mint, blanks (planchets) for state silver and copper coinage were produced here in an attached copper hammer mill. • Use in the 19th and 20th centuries: After the end of coin blank production, the building changed owners several times and was used primarily as a residential and administrative building, while the surrounding Wöllersdorf region grew into a significant center of the armaments industry (Wöllersdorfer Werke). • Municipal center (since 1998): The market town of Wöllersdorf-Steinabrückl bought the dilapidated castle in 1998. After a comprehensive revitalization (2000–2002), including a modern extension, it is used today as a public community center.

The Höhlturm ruin was built in the second half of the 15th century and served as a high medieval defensive structure. Unlike classic castles, it was not a permanent residence for the nobility, but a purely functional fortification. The most important stages of its history: • Strategic security (15th century): The tower was built to monitor and secure the strategically important entrance to the Piestingtal valley. At the same time, it protected access to the cave located directly behind it. • Place of refuge during enemy incursions: In the crisis times of the late Middle Ages and the early modern period (e.g., during the Turkish wars), the facility served as a refuge for the local population. If the defense at the tower collapsed, the population retreated into the underground cave system. • Decay into ruins: With the change in warfare and the increasing pacification of the region, the facility lost its military significance. It was left to itself and decayed into ruins over the centuries. • Rescue and monument protection (1994): To save the historical landmark from final collapse, the ruin was extensively renovated in 1994 and secured as a historical monument.

The path to the two caves is not clearly visible and is adventurous due to the logging work.

The Waldandacht (often associated with terms like Karmenruhe) is an idyllic and peaceful place of worship located in the middle of the wooded area of Bad Fischau-Brunn. This picturesque spot serves as a popular resting place for hikers, who can undertake tours from there, for example, in the direction of Größenberg or to the Eisensteinhöhle. Additionally, traditional mountain masses are occasionally held there, combining a connection to nature with spiritual contemplation.

The protected rock formation of the Teufelsmühle is a remarkable natural monument made of Pannonian Piesting gravel in the Malleiten area. After a strenuous climb from the Marchgrabenbach, hikers can expect a welcoming bench with a magnificent panoramic view. This scenically attractive viewpoint can be wonderfully combined with other prehistoric highlights, such as the Steinerne Stadl, via popular circular trails.

The Counterfeiter's Cave is a historically significant and legendary place in the Fischau foothills. According to local traditions, it owes its name to the legend that counterfeiters once plied their trade there. Today, this natural rock formation is primarily a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts exploring the surrounding regions.

The "Schlössl" in Wöllersdorf, built as a manor house around the turn of the 18th century and later expanded in a castle-like manner, once served as a production site for silver and copper coin plates. After being acquired by the municipality in 1998, the building was extensively renovated and extended with a modern annex. Today, the historic estate houses municipal apartments, the local library, event rooms, and a small museum.

The Höhlturm in Wöllersdorf is a widely visible, historic defensive structure from the 15th century, whose name goes back to the natural cave directly behind it. The round tower, renovated in 1994 and freely accessible, is a listed building and even adorns the market town's coat of arms today. The late medieval ruin features wedge masonry, embrasures, and a machicolation and is a popular destination.