Railway Hiking Trail Breitenstein - Gloggnitz

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 13,34 km
Ascent: 140 m elevation gain
Descent: 503 m elevation gain

This stage of the railway hiking trail leads from Breitenstein past the most impressive viaducts, viewpoints, and buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage Site to Gloggnitz Train Station.

Starting point of the tour: Breitenstein Train Station
Tour destination: Gloggnitz Train Station

Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 13,34 km
Ascent: 140 m elevation gain
Descent: 503 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
5/6
Overall experience:
5/6
Scenery:
5/6

Lowest point433 m
Highest point834 m

Stage tour
Nice views
With refreshment stops
Accessibility by train and bus
Suitable for families and children

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Description

Karl Ritter von Ghega built a breathtaking railway line over the Semmering. Many architects before him had already planned this great project, but only he dared to undertake the construction of 15 tunnels and 16 viaducts.

This stage leads from Breitenstein Train Station to Gloggnitz, passing some beautiful viewpoints and cultural highlights.

From the Breitenstein stop, you hike along the railway via the Weinzettlwand, from which you have a splendid view of the Klamm castle ruins with the church. The path later passes the listed ruins and the church. From the Weinzettlwand, the route continues up to Kreuzberg to the Gasthof Polleres for a refreshment, then on to the Wagnergraben with its two-story viaduct and then to Klamm. Another cultural spot on this route is a chapel dedicated to the Holy Trinity and Saint John of Nepomuk. From there, it continues towards Gloggnitz, passing Gloggnitz Castle on the way. From the castle, the path can lead towards the town and further to Gloggnitz Train Station. Along this route is also the large construction site of the Semmering Base Tunnel, with an info box below the castle.

History

Originally, there was a path over the Semmering Pass - records for it exist since the Middle Ages. Then in the early 18th century, Emperor Karl VI commissioned a road with gradients up to 17 percent, over which horses labored with heavy loads. Finally, in 1841, the order was given to build a railway line from Vienna to Trieste to meet the transport needs of the emerging industrialization. In 1844, the final gap between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag over the Semmering had to be closed. Under the direction of Carl Ritter von Ghega, 20,000 workers built the first standard-gauge mountain railway in Europe, which has seen only minor modifications to this day. On the 41 km long route, the trains cross 16 viaducts, 100 bridges, and go through 15 tunnels. Since 1998, this "outstanding technical solution to a major physical problem in the construction of early railways" has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Equipment Always bring suitable maps. Wear sturdy shoes adapted to the route, bring sun and rain protection as well as water and a snack. Take your mobile phone and save the mountain rescue emergency number: 140
Route description The hike begins at Breitenstein Train Station. From here, always follow the signs towards Klamm Train Station. First, go down the street to the municipal office. At the intersection, turn left into Lindenstraße, which later becomes a forest path.At the next fork, you will meet an asphalt road again. Follow it uphill. On the right is a playground with a locomotive. Continue along Untere Bahnstraße, which eventually turns into a forest road.At the end of this forest road, there is an option to wander right over a meadow to the Weinzettlwand. There, two viewpoints offer impressive views of Klamm, Breitenstein, Semmering, and the famous Semmering Railway. Please respect the grazing animals when crossing the meadow.Next, follow Karl-Schubert-Straße to the Blauer Einschnitt. There, follow the road downhill to the right. Then always stay on the forest road. Keep left at the Rumplerviadukt. Alternatively, at Blauer Einschnitt, you could also hike via the Panoramaroute to Klamm and stop at the Gasthaus Polleres or Alterhammerhof for refreshments.After the next railway underpass, turn left onto a meadow path, which is also signposted towards Klamm Train Station. The path leads to the Gamperlviadukt; here again, follow signs to Klamm Train Station.Walk downhill on the forest road, then turn left through a wooden fence and continue. This path reaches the Wagnergrabenviadukt. Cross the bridge and follow the steep path uphill. The path leads to an asphalt road – the Musikerweg – which leads directly to the church in Klamm.At the church, go left up the street, then turn right into Deiningerweg, continuing towards Klamm Train Station. After the station, always follow the road to the Eichbergstraße junction. (Here the Panoramaroute also rejoins the railway hiking route.) From here, follow the signs towards Gloggnitz / Eichberg Train Station.Walk along the road and immediately turn right onto the white-red-white marked forest road. Follow this marking for a while on a forest road. Before reaching Eichberg, the path runs beside the tracks up to the underpass at Eichberg. There, continue straight on the road – opposite the fire station, a road leads down to Eichberg Train Station. At the bottom, turn left into the underpass that takes you to the other side of the station.Now again follow the road and signs towards Gloggnitz. The path becomes a forest road again and eventually ends at the info box for the Semmering Base Tunnel in Gloggnitz. Go left down the road towards Gloggnitz Castle. Left of the castle, the Kirchensteig path leads down to the Stiegenwirtshaus.Here turn left onto the footpath into the town center to the Raiffeisenbank; turn left there, and after the bridge, immediately turn right along the road to Gloggnitz Train Station.
Getting there From Vienna take the A2 Süd Autobahn onto the S6 Semmering Expressway and take the Gloggnitz exit. Continue straight towards Schottwien and over Adltzgräben to Breitenstein.From Graz take the S6 Semmering Expressway and take the Spital/Semmering exit. Drive over the federal road to Semmering and from there towards Breitenstein.
Public transport Travel comfortably by Südbahn to Breitenstein Train Station, where the hike also begins.Alternatively, book an individual ride with the RUFbus Semmering-Rax.The following RUFbus stops are along the route:95 Breitenstein Train Station88 Klamm Train Station87 Eichbergstraße, Klamm92 Blauer Einschnitt93 Untere/Obere Bahnstraße50 Gloggnitz Castle51 Eichbergstr./Güterweg Riegler55 Dr. Karl Renner Platz62 Gloggnitz Train Station(85 Gasthaus Polleres)(86 Althammerhof)TIP: Simply book the RUFbus easily with the Postbus Shuttle App or via hotline +43 660 900 88 22 and travel individually.Return:The return is either with the RUFbus Semmering-Rax to the starting point of the railway hiking trail or by train from Gloggnitz Train Station back home.Further information and timetables can be found at fahrplan.oebb.at and anachb.vor.at.
Editor’s tip The information center at Semmering Train Station provides detailed information about the Semmering Railway World Heritage Site. (May to October)Playground in Breitenstein with locomotiveCollect feelings of happiness - collect hiking badges: Collect the digital "Railway Hiking Badge".Panoramaroute with refreshment options via KreuzbergChildren's locomotive Breitenstein