Payerbach Sonnenpromenade "Feel Good Circular Walking Route in Winter"

This walk or circular hike is particularly suitable for children due to the low altitude difference and terrain. However, since cars have to be expected again and again in certain areas, please never let your children walk unattended and alone!

You can also easily do this walk or circular hike with a stroller.

The section from the "Vinodukt" (Anton Weiser Road) via the unpaved path to the railway underpass ("Geyerhof underpass") in Baurat Schneider Road is not cleared in winter. That means in snow or ice it is advisable, depending on the situation and self-assessment, to take the option via the Wasserleitungsweg to the Baurat Schneider Road intersection and then continue to the railway underpass, especially for strollers.

Good and warm shoes with a well-profiled sole in winter.

We start the Payerbach "Feel Good Route" via the Sonnenpromenade at the municipal office or at the pavilion on Dr. Coumontstraße towards Reichenau.(Option: we can also walk through the Payerbach Park, past the pavilion and continue on the back of the outdoor pool along the asphalt track of the ice shooters)

From the family-friendly outdoor pool, we continue along the street to the shady park area, where we can admire the miniature anniversary house and a small weather station. (Here a playground also awaits our little guests, where - as an alternative - a narrow path runs next to the Schwarza behind the mini golf course and tennis courts and near the viaduct in front of the Nature Friends' House meets the Dr. Coumontstraße again)

If we stay on Dr. Coumontstraße, the path leads past the historic villas, the mini golf course and the tennis courts, which in winter are popular ice skating rinks, all the way to the Schwarza viaduct, the longest viaduct of theWorld Heritage Semmering Railway. Here we cross the Schwarza River on the Ghegasteg, a wooden construction of the pioneers of the Federal Army. (A bench in the middle of the bridge invites you to rest so you can calmly enjoy the wonderful view of the Rax massif and downstream the view of the Geyerstein and the Grillenberg with its show mine)

After the wooden bridge we now cross the main road at the pedestrian crossing. From afar, the red-white barrier marking the "Vinodukt" can already be seen. In front of this architectural special feature of the Payerbach viaduct (which can be visited by prior appointment) the 1.5 km long route, the "short round" of the "Feel Good Route" leads via Anton Weiser Straße back to Bahnstraße. If we now turn right and walk past the Hotel Hübner/Payerbacher Hof over the intersection, we come right back to the starting point of the "Short Round".

The "longer option" takes us directly past the "Vinodukt" along the unpaved footpath. This leads us along the "Bahnleiten" and past an impressive natural garden including overwintered beehives and free-range chickens to Baurat Schneider Straße. Please note that this section is not maintained or cleared in winter! (Alternatively, we can also initially stay on Wasserleitungsweg or Anton Weiser Straße and then turn uphill into Baurat Schneider Straße towards Geyerhof, where both paths meet again before the railway underpass)

From here we can also take a small detour to the historic Payerbach train station, from which a small marked path branches off. (In addition to the architecture of the station building and much more, there is also an old steam locomotive here, which is very popular with our little guests!)

The "Feel Good Path" now leads us straight through the Geyerhof underpass uphill. (Immediately left after the underpass, we reach the station of the Höllental Museum Railway via stone steps, which operates seasonally between Payerbach and Hirschwang)

We walk along the street, past peaceful Scottish Highland cattle, keep right at the Geyerhof and leave behind the agricultural and forestry operation we previously passed through. Now we are on the Sonnenpromenade, which offers an exceptionally beautiful view of the Payerbach valley towards Gloggnitz, Semmering, Kreuzberg, Gahns, and the mighty Rax. After a short rest on one of the many benches along the Sonnenpromenade, we continue to the Werning. Now it goes comfortably downhill. (Immediately after the "Werning-Platzl" there is now the possibility to hike along the road to the well-signposted "show mine" which is open from May to October)

Further across the railway crossing, we go to the "Werning Chapel" where we turn right to the Werningweg and follow it to Schulgasse. Along Schulgasse, past the elementary and the new Lower Austria secondary school, we walk to Bahnstraße. We keep left and walk past the Payerbacher Hof / Hotel Hübner, cross the traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossing and the bridge, and reach again our starting point of the round trip at the municipal office or pavilion.

Here at the town square you will also find the popular Konditorei Alber. On cold days, an ideal place to warm up again after our walk with tea or coffee and perhaps a delicious pastry.

Parking is available among others at the pavilion in the town center, along the B27, and at the Park&Ride facility at the Payerbach-Reichenau station. From Payerbach station, it is about a 5-minute walk to the town center.

Take the South Motorway coming from Vienna or Graz and at the Seebenstein junction take the exit towards Semmering. Drive along the S6 Semmering expressway, take the Gloggnitz exit and continue towards Payerbach/Reichenau (Rax area).

At the only traffic light intersection in Payerbach, turn left and drive over a bridge. You are now on the town square where you will find numerous parking options.

Train: ÖBB Payerbach-Reichenau station. The next railway hub is Wiener Neustadt. For more information on the timetable, please visit www.oebb.at

Bus: Retter lines 1746, 1748, 1746/48 run in and to Payerbach; you can check timetables at http://www.retter-linien.at/fahrplaene/fahrplaene-noe-2017/.

Since this path is very well lit, you can also walk it well in the evening. Tip: For better visibility, also take a flashlight or headlamp with you or wear clothing with reflectors.