About a two-hour drive from Vienna, in the Mühlviertel region, the vegetation changes noticeably. At over 930 meters above sea level, you’ll swap the capital’s asphalt for a landscape that traces its roots back to the last Ice Age. The Tannermoor in Liebenau, at nearly 12,000 years old, is Austria’s highest-altitude raised bog. Once you leave the dense forest edge behind, you enter a completely distinct vegetation zone, visually dominated by stooped mountain pines, blueberry bushes, and the white cotton-like tufts of cotton grass.
If you’re in the mood for more hikes, click here. Near Vienna, there’s a special “lost place,” and this castle is beautiful and easy to reach from Vienna. Perfect for a day trip.
Moor Trail No. 35 over springy ground
For a leisurely nature excursion away from the city crowds, the Moor Hiking Trail No. 35 is the perfect choice. The marked route is exactly 8.5 kilometers long and, with an elevation gain of only 120 meters, very easy to walk. That’s why you’ll need about two hours and 15 minutes to complete the loop.
Under your feet, you’ll constantly feel the soft, springy peat soil, which in some parts of the landscape reaches depths of up to ten meters. If you’d like to learn more about the flora, you can book a guided tour with trained bog guides for your group in advance through coordinator Martin Groß.
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Granite lookouts and deep brown water
A visually striking highlight along the hiking route are the so-called Lehrmüller walls. This massive boulder castle made of fine-grained Weinsberg granite once served as the foundation for a wooden castle and is now the best vantage point for a panoramic view of the entire, unspoiled area.
After the hike, head to Rubener Teich, located right on the edge of the moor, which was once dammed for timber floating. The water is naturally colored a deep brown by the peat, providing a pleasant and skin-friendly way to cool off in the summer.
To wrap things up, the adjacent Moor-Treff serves up a hearty snack made with regional ingredients in its natural outdoor dining area (Phone: 07953/81250). Here, you can relax and round off your day trip with coffee and fresh pastries before heading back toward Vienna.
🌲 Location: Tannermoor Nature Reserve and Rubener Pond
📍 Address: 4252 Liebenau, Mühlviertel (Upper Austria) / approx. 2-hour drive from Vienna
💸 Admission: The nature area is free to visit (guided tours available upon request)
⏱️ Hike: Duration approx. 2h 15m (Trail No. 35), 8.5 km long
