Franziskusweg large round: Pitten - Wr. Neustadt - Pitten

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 38,53 km
Duration: 9:30 h
Ascent: 232 m elevation gain
Descent: 232 m elevation gain

This spiritual and cultural circular pilgrimage trail at the gateway to the Bucklige Welt leads along easy paths, some with slight ascents, through a varied landscape and past places of interest.

Starting point of the tour: Pitten - Market Square
Tour destination: Pitten - Market Square

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 38,53 km
Duration: 9:30 h
Ascent: 232 m elevation gain
Descent: 232 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
4/6
Overall experience:
4/6
Scenery:
4/6

Lowest point267 m
Highest point441 m

Round tour
With refreshment stops
Accessibility by train and bus

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Description

The circular hiking trail leads along easy paths, some with slight ascents, through a varied landscape, past sights, some of which refer to the life and work of St. Francis of Assisi.

In Pitten, it is the Creation Trail, a nature trail as an oasis of peace and contemplation along the Desbordesstiege to the mountain and rock church and on to the tower museum. In Bad Erlach it is the Antonius Church. St. Anthony of Padua was the first theological teacher of the Franciscans in Assisi. The Klemens Maria Hofbauer grammar school in Katzelsdorf was once a Franciscan monastery. The Capuchin or Jakobskirche was also a Franciscan monastery. The friar community invites people to the annual Portiuncula Church Day, which commemorates the origins of the Franciscan movement in Assisi. The "Glass Way of the Cross" in Linsberg/Bad Erlach invites you to follow Jesus' last journey through life and suffering and recalls his stigmata, which St. Francis of Assisi was also allowed to receive in La Verna. At the Mater Salvatoris convalescent nursing and residential home in Brunn/Bad Erlach, people are cared for with dignity until the end. St. Francis also once cared for the sick and lepers.

safety instructions Your hikes in the Vienna Alps should be a completely beautiful and safe experience. Please therefore observe the following:PreparationMake sure the route you choose matches your hiking experience and your fitness. Inform yourself in advance about the weather forecast. Weather in the mountains can change suddenly. Always start out properly equipped (e.g. rain protection). Check whether the huts and snack stations you want to visit along the way are open. Inform someone about your route choice and planned return before you start.
Equipment Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes adapted to the route, take sun and rain protection as well as water and a small snack. Take your mobile phone with you and save the mountain rescue emergency number: 140
Route description Pitten:Market Square (Main Square) - Aspangerstrasse - Bergstrasse - Desbordes Stairs (Creation Path) - Bergstrasse (Mountain Church/St. George, Rock Church, Tower Museum of St. George) - Bergstrasse - Castle Path (Pitten Castle/no visits possible)Bad Erlach:Castle Path (branch to Ziegelofen, Walpersbach possible) Hubertus Chapel - Bromberger Strasse - Main Street (Hacker House, Parish Church/St. Anthony) - Riverside Road - Three Steps Path - Meadow Alley - Schleinzer Path (Thermen Cycle Path Velo 9)Lanzenkirchen:Schleinzer Path (Thermen Cycle Path Velo 9) - OfenbachstrasseKleinwolkersdorf:Fitness MileFrohsdorf:Wiener Neustadt Street - Mühlbach AlleyEichbüchl:Leithaau Paths - Ford Path - Eichbüchl StreetKatzelsdorf:Eichbüchl Street (Parish Church St. Radegund, former Franciscan Church, former Redemptorist Monastery, Klemens Maria Hofbauer Gymnasium, Francis Statue) - Eichbüchl Circular Hiking Trail KA2 - Cellar Lane (Castle, Village Church St. Lorenz, Tin Figure Museum) - Mühl Alley - At the Mill Stream (Cultural Hiking Trail KA3, Anthony Chapel) - Grill Lane - Main Street (Chalice Cross) - Thermen Cycle Path Velo 9Wr. Neustadt:Gutshof Lane - At the Foal Farm - Kinsky Avenue (Theresian Military Academy / Castle) - Grazer Street B17 - Szokoll Park - Neunkirchner Street - Railway Lane (former Franciscan Monastery, Capuchin or Jakob Church, branch to Wiener Neustadt Cultural Trail possible) - Railway Lane - RETURN WAY Neunkirchner Street - Carl Szokoll Park - Grazer Street B17 - Castle - Kinsky Avenue Frohsdorf Settlement - B54 - City Path (Pine Forest Round L2, Golf Course Föhrenwald)Lanzenkirchen:Lanzenkirchen Trift - City Path - School Lane - Main Square (Marian Statue, Parish Church St. Nicholas) - Ofenbach Street - Leitha Source Round L17Haderswörth:Leitha Source Round L17 (Leitha Source) - Leitha Alley - Thrush Alley - Railway Path - Haderswörth Trift Path - Haderswörth Main StreetBad Erlach:Erlach Street - Thermen StreetBad Erlach / Linsberg:Erlach Street - Thermen Street (Linsberg Asia Spa) - Linsberg Street - Brunner Street (Glass Way of the Cross, Ulrich Church, Forest Cemetery) - Forest PathsSchwarzau / Stfld.:Field Paths - Border Path - Pitten Street (Recovery, residential and nursing home) - Sheep SlopesPitten:At Krampenstein - Sheep Slopes - Kreithtal Path - Railway Lane - Alley Lane (Baroque and Rose Garden, Parish Courtyard with Arcade Courtyard and Parish Church St. Martin) - Alley Lane - Market Square (branch Wiener Neustadt Street to Regional Museum PIZ 1000 m possible) - Aspanger Street - Bergstrasse - Desbordes Stairs (Creation Path)
Parking Free parking spaces are available in the communities. Note local conditions and short-term parking zones.
Getting there From Vienna:A2, exit Wiener Neustadt South (S4) towards B54, turn off to Bad Erlach and PittenFrom Graz:A2, exit Seebenstein - B54 - Sautern - Pitten
Public transport Each of the places is easily accessible by public transport. There are train stations in Pitten, Lanzenkirchen, Bad Erlach, Katzelsdorf and Wr. Neustadt.More information can be found at www.oebb.at and www.vor.at
Editor’s tip Pilgrim accompaniment can be requested from Johann Weik: j.weik@gmx.atIt is recommended to walk the path counterclockwise, following the arrow direction. Along the pilgrimage routes there are various sculptures, small shrines and picture panels inviting you to pause.Along the way there are many inns and restaurants, as well as accommodation options.

Recommended period

Vienna Alps in Lower Austria, www.wieneralpen.at, +43 / 2622 / 78960
Opening hours: Mon - Thu 08:30 - 16:00 / Fri 08:30 - 13:00

Franziskusweg
j.weik@gmx.at

Letzte Änderung: 20 Mar 2026