Lower Austria's longest route through the Weinviertel and Waldviertel regions
The Weinviertel is not the only region where tourism is just awakening, and there are always sections without restaurants or supermarkets. However, the cycle-friendly inns along the Kamp-Thaya-March cycle route offer packed lunches just in case. Otherwise, the cycle tour through the tranquil north-east offers plenty of scenic variety, from the pretty little towns and villages in the Kamptal to the unspoilt nature in the Thayatal National Park and the tranquil meadows along the March.
Character:
The long-distance cycle route is well signposted and mostly runs along quiet country roads and traffic-free field and forest paths. The first few kilometres of the route are pleasant cycling in the Kamptal, after which it can get steep in the Waldviertel. In the Weinviertel, the route is often downhill and later gently undulating again towards the Danube. A large part of the route is recommended for children aged 10 to 12.
Tour dates:
420 km, medium
Route:
Krems - Gars - Zwettl - Waidhofen - Raabs - Drosendorf - Retz - Laa - Poysdorf - Hohenau - Marchegg
Best time to travel:
May until the beginning of October
Journey:
The starting point in Krems is easy to reach by train, as are the towns in the Kamptal. Cyclist hotline for the railway on 01805/99 66 33 (14 ct/min. from landlines, max. 42 ct/min. from mobile phones).
Bike service:
Bike hire and repair facilities can be found in many places, such as Krems, Drosendorf, Frauenhofen, Gars, Hohenau, Horn, Laa, Langenlois, Raabs, Retz, Seefeld, Waidhofen, Zistersdorf and Zwettl
E-bike:
From spring 2012, a total of 120 e-bikes will be available at seven hire points throughout the Weinviertel.
Cycling hotels:
Bicycle-friendly hosts include Gasthof zur Hammerschmiede in Drosendorf, http://www.hotel-hammerschmiede.at
Faulenzerhotel Schweighofer in Friedersbach, http://www.faulenzerhotel.at
Waldpension Mück in Gars, http://www.waldpension-gars.at
Hotel Althof in Retz, http://www.althof.at
Further addresses at http://www.weinviertel.at
Maps/literature:
Bikeline cycle tour book and map "Kamp-Thaya-March-Radweg" 1:50,000, 152 pp. 11.90 euros; Bikeline cycle atlas "Weinviertel" 1:75,000, 160 p., 12.90 euros.
Information (general):
Weinviertel Tourismus GmbH, Kolpingstraße 7, A-2170 Poysdorf, Tel. 0043-2552/3515, Fax 0043-2552/35154.
Internet:
http://www.weinviertel.at (General and special information about the region and cycling), http://www.ktm-radweg.at (Important information about the Kamp-Thaya-March cycle path)
