Waldluftbadeweg Thurytal

The forests of Freistadt

The forests of Freistadt can be found along the Feldaist in the Thurytal and on the steep slopes of the surrounding hills, such as the Bockau in the west and the Zelletau in the east. You can still sense the energy of the primeval landscape - water that once flowed from these slopes through what was once moorland and flowed into the Feldaist. The special character of this horseshoe-shaped landscape suggests that this is a scenic centre of the Mühlviertel. The basic quality is emotional, sensual and fertile. This is exactly where a successful trading town could thrive.

From the main square, the route leads through the Böhmertor and Hafnerzeile down to the village of Graben and on into the Thurytal. The Thurytal valley is characterised by the "Thuryhammers" as valuable cultural monuments. The stream meadow after the second Thuryhammer is a very relaxing resting place and has an effect on women's throat chakra, a feeling of lightness, good for chilling out in the forest. At the third Thuryhammer there is a rest and bathing area, shortly afterwards the Teufelsfels (Devil's Rock) on the left. On the impressive rock, which is the subject of several legends, there is a bowl with an old trance cult site.

The valley was an ancient healing valley and must have been very important for the people of the region. In order to "wean" them off the old practices, several legends of the devil had to be used. It literally became a "war" between the old (giants) and new (devils) religions ...

After the mouths of the Grünbach and Prembach rivers into the Aist - two places of great impact - the route finally crosses the Aist to the Neumühle mill. The way back to Freistadt leads back to the town via Hammerleiten.

Side trip: From the Neumühle mill up through forest paths to the village of Vierzehn and on to the Dreißgerberg, the landscape centre of Freistadt. Via the Bockau on the meditation trail back to the town.

Thurytal forest air bathing trail - waypoints

1. Hiking stone
2. Hafnerzeile, ditch
3. First Thuryhammer
4. Second Thuryhammer
5. Stream meadow
6. Barrage
7. Third Thuryhammer
8. Resting and bathing place
9. Devil's rock
10. Mouth of Grünbach
11. Prembach estuary
12. New mill
13. Hammerleiten

This hiking trail is also possible as a snowshoe trail (start from the Thurytal car park through the Thurytal valley, a short stretch of road and then back into the forest along the meditation trail to Bockau).

For guided tours, please contact our qualified forest air bathing masters - you can find more information here.