The best walks and hikes around Weikersdorf am Steinfelde

The castle ruins of Emmerberg tower over a wooded ridge directly above the entrance to the strategically important Prossetschlucht gorge. The most important milestones in its history: • Founding for border security (around 1160/1170): The castle was built on behalf of the lords of Emmerberg and was first mentioned in documents in 1170. Together with the neighboring Starhemberg castle, it formed an important bulwark on the northern border of the then Carantanian March. • Strategic protective function: In addition to monitoring the passage to the "New World," the facility served as a refuge during enemy incursions and possessed an optical warning system (signal fires) to relay signals as far as Wiener Neustadt. • Change of ownership: After the male line of the Emmerbergers died out in 1455, the fortress changed hands several times and was expanded over the centuries with Gothic and Renaissance additions. • Artificial destruction (from 1760): Its downfall was – similar to Starhemberg – of an economic nature. To avoid the imperial roof tax, the administrator at the time, Heinrich von Heussenstein, had the roof of the fortress demolished in 1760. The structure was thus left unprotected against the elements, decayed rapidly, and was used by the villagers as a quarry. • Modern era and decay: In 1833, Archduke Rainer bought the site. Since then, the area has been owned by the Habsburg-Lothringen family. The condition steadily deteriorated; in the winter of 1997/98, the striking staircase tower in the inner courtyard finally collapsed.

The Winzendorf quarry in the Wiener Neustadt district is primarily known for the historical extraction of the characteristic red Engelsberg marble, which was used, among other things, in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral. The disused area was declared a protected geotop and technical monument in 1998. Today, the imposing natural backdrop of the quarry serves as a covered open-air stage for cultural events such as the Karl-May-Festspiele and musicals.

The Emmerberg castle ruins are a high medieval cliff castle in the market town of Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf, which was first documented around 1170 and once served as an important fortification point on the northern border of the Carantanian March to guard the Prosset gorge. After more than six hundred years of use, the castle was abandoned at the end of the 18th century, after which the covering of the roofs to save building tax, as well as stone robbery, initiated its decay into ruins. Today, the facility, threatened by collapses, is privately owned and may not be entered for safety reasons.

In the area of the marble quarry, several sculptures and worked stone blocks recall the sculpture symposium held there. The artworks appear particularly impressive in the rugged quarry landscape and combine nature, geology, and art in an unusual way. An interesting stopover along the hiking route and a beautiful photo opportunity.

Along the ridge, we reach the summit of Engelsberg (586m) after a short time, and a little further away, the sweet summit cross at the viewing bench "Steinfeldblick" above the marble quarry.

The tour is also a prime example of what great places there are to discover in eastern Austria and what unknown paths and adventures await right on your doorstep.

Great view from the New World Viewpoint or from Engelsberg

Limestone used to be quarried here; today it's a rock stage.