Waldluftbadeweg St. Michael

Forest air bathing in Grünbach

Grünbach lies in the Mühlviertel highlands between the mountain ranges of the Bohemian Forest and Sternwald to the west and the Freiwald to the east. It lies on the edge of the north-south connection to Bohemia, which has been important since early history. With Grünbach, Lichtenau and Rauchenödt, the landscape is divided into three areas with very distinct qualities. The landscape area is home to St. Michael, a sacred centre that is as old as it is important and has an impact far beyond the borders of the village. And the nearby Feldaist spring is an important source of vitality.

Forest air bathing path St.Michael

The Waldluftbadeweg starts at the village square in Grünbach and crosses the forest area of the Heinrichschlägerberg on its southern flank. The hiking trail continues to Oberrauchenödt, the village with the largest triangular village green, where you can take a break. Walking southwards through the village, the craggy Hussenstein rises up not far from the village of Fünfling. This group of rocks is thought to be the site of a former castle. On the way to Mitterbach we come across the source of the Feldaist. The spring is not tapped, a bench invites you to linger. In Mitterbach, the Forellenwirt inn invites you to stop for a bite to eat. The grove above the inn is a powerful place of strength.

The small church of St Michael is visible from afar on the Michaelsberg hill at 918 m north-east of the village of Oberrauchenödt, with a sweeping view across the countryside to the Alps. A large regional cult centre was located on the hill in early history. Together with the two other Gothic churches in Kefermarkt and Waldburg, the church forms an equilateral triangle with a side length of around 10 kilometres. The giant larch trees, which symbolise the air and light energies and are protected as natural monuments, are worthy of note.

Waldluftbadeweg St.Michael - Waypoints

1st Wanderstein
2nd Lengau rock and triple summit
3. Heinrichschläger mountain
4th St.Michael, fireplace
5th Hussenstein, St.Oswald
6th Feldaist origin
7. cult place Mitterbach
8. power place Mitterbach
9. beer trail

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