Nature parks in Upper Austria
Nature parks protect cultural landscapes that have evolved over centuries and have been shaped by human cultivation. Many plants and animals are native to these landscapes and have safe havens in nature parks. There are currently four nature parks in Upper Austria, which invite you to discover and enjoy them, to go hiking or cycling: The Mühlviertel Nature Park, the Obst-Hügel-Land Nature Park, the Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park and the Bauernland Nature Park Irrsee Mondsee Attersee.
Mühlviertel Nature Park
The Mühlviertel Nature Park is Austria's Nature Park of the Year 2019 and is located in the municipalities of Rechberg, Bad Zell, Allerheiligen im Mühlkreis and St. Thomas am Blasenstein.
The character of the Mühlviertel Nature Park is characterised by colourful meadows with quendel as well as granite boulders and wobbly stones such as the "Schwammerling". It is the landmark of this nature park. Ravine forests with mighty granite formations accompany rivers and streams. The "Stoakraft-Weg" - a 46.5 km long-distance hiking trail - leads right through the nature park to the most extraordinary geological and cultural sites.
The Großdöllnerhof, a 400-year-old Mühlviertel three-sided farmhouse, is a museum and event centre.
Nature Park Obst-Hügel-Land
Meadows and fields stretching across an undulating hilly landscape. Gnarled fruit trees line the paths, surround the mighty square farmhouses and line the meadow orchards. The municipalities of Scharten and St. Marienkirchen an der Polsenz form the Obst-Hügel-Land Nature Park.
The nature park is famous for the "Schartner cherries", whose trees sprout a sea of white blossom in spring. Old varieties such as the "Schartner Reinkirsche" are newly cultivated here. Speaking of old varieties with a long history: the "Weberbartl apple" is the second speciality of the region. It is one of the best cider apples and is mainly native to St. Marienkirchen.
Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park
The Attersee-Traunsee Nature Park, Upper Austria's largest nature park, is located in the municipalities of Altmünster, Aurach am Hongar, Schörfling, Weyregg and Steinbach am Attersee. This area of the Salzkammergut is characterised by blossoming fruit trees as well as extensive forest areas.
The landscape between Lake Attersee and Lake Traunsee is known for its rich variety of rare original plums, the "Zwetschkenreich". At the same time, it is the wood-rich "Waldkammergut". Orchards, larch meadows, flower meadows, hidden mountain pastures and forest wildernesses are closely interwoven habitats for a variety of plants and animals.
Nature Park Bauernland
Upper Austria's newest nature park, the Bauernland Nature Park in the municipalities of Oberhofen am Irrsee, Tiefgraben, Zell am Moos, Mondsee, St. Lorenz, Innerschwand am Mondsee, Oberwang and Unterach am Attersee, is in the starting blocks.
It protects the region's landscape, which is characterised and structured by the work of farmers. Among other things, the nature park has set itself the goal of providing impetus for regional value creation, awareness-raising and tourism.
