The best road cycling routes around Arbesbach

Arbesbach Castle is a top highlight that you should definitely plan a visit to. Even from a distance, you can recognize the so-called "Waldviertel's fang" (Stockzahn des Waldviertels). Once you arrive at the site, 126 steps lead up to the entrance where admission (currently €2.50) is payable in coins or by card. Then it continues inside upwards to the platform, which offers a fantastic view. There is also a circular path around the tower, which however requires some surefootedness and suitable shoes.

The village was first mentioned in 1246 and was originally owned by the Kuenring line of Weitra-Rappottenstein. In 1282, the estate passed to the Lords of Falkenberg, and in 1291 to Ulrich von Kapelln. In the 14th century, Arbesbach is mentioned as a freehold property. From 1326 to 1348, it was owned by the Lords of Klingenberg, who in 1347 mortgaged "the castle and the house at Arbesbach" to Weikart and Katharina von Winkl. From 1348, Arbesbach was owned by the Lords of Dachsberg, and from 1423 by the Lords of Starhemberg. In 1480, the castle was destroyed by a Bohemian raiding party and was not rebuilt. In 1600, the estate passed to the Lords of Tschernembl, and in 1604 to Georg Fenzl von... Grueb and as early as 1605 to Georg Kaspar von Neuhaus. From 1614 owned by the Lords von Hackelberg, from 1675 to 1862 by the Countess Dietrichstein. Afterwards, it passed to the Herberstein, Geusau, and Baron Holtz families, and from 1877 onwards to the Altzinger family, who still own the estate today and reside in part of the castle complex. Text by G.R., K.Ki.

Ohne ein Foto zu machen komm ich da nicht vorbei 😇

The Arbesbach Castle ruins, also known as the "Molar Tooth of the Waldviertel," are located in the market town of Arbesbach. It was built at the end of the 12th century, presumably around 1180, by Hadmar II von Kuenring and served as a border fortress to secure the Kuenring family's holdings in the Waldviertel region. The most striking remaining structure is the pentagonal keep, which sits atop a granite rock and was originally about 25 meters high. In 1480, the castle was destroyed by Bohemian troops and was not rebuilt. Instead, the Arbesbach Manor House was later built in 1593 as the new administrative center. On the ruins of the keep, the so-called Alexanderwarte, an 18-meter-high observation tower offering panoramic views across the Waldviertel, was built in 1884.

The Arbesbach Bear Sanctuary is a rescue center run by the animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS for bears in need. Here, bears who have been kept in inadequate conditions find a new, animal-friendly home. Nestled in the pristine Waldviertel landscape, the Bear Sanctuary enables a completely new form of animal observation. Three brown bears currently live here on a total of 14,000 square meters. The bears are most active in the morning (feeding) and are no longer visible in winter. They rest in their caves.

The Arbesbach Bear Sanctuary is a rescue center for bears that have not been kept in a species-appropriate manner. It is part of the animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS. Here you have the opportunity to observe brown bears in a species-appropriate environment. Information on opening times, admission prices and more can be found at https://www.baerenwald.at/.

You can climb the Ferdinandwarte/Alexanderwarte via 127 steps and from there you have a magnificent view all the way to the Alps. Admission costs 2.50 euros and can be conveniently paid with an EC card or coins at a turnstile. It is open all year round from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Particularly beautiful to look at, in September it wasn't too crowded here.