Kneipp - Peace Way

Description:
From the Gasthaus Kleinschönleiten, the circular trail leads to the juniper heath, in serpentines to the Schönleitnerberg and over to the Rebensteiner Mauer natural monument. in the Mühlbachtal valley, you meet the Wallerkapelle, continue past the Schattleitenmühle to the former tavern. On the left hand side you leave the Mühlbachtal in the direction of Jochberg, reach the Hetzerhöhe and from there you return to the starting point.

Trail number: E50

Directions:
From the Kleinschönleiten inn, the circular hiking trail (E50) leads to the juniper heath, one of the largest contiguous juniper stands in Upper Austria. In serpentines the ascent takes place through the forest to the Schönleitnerberg, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Laussa wind farm and the Schieferstein.

After this initial climb, the route continues leisurely over to the Rebensteiner Mauer natural monument. Arrived at the limestone rocks, the path leads into a gravel road.  From the Rebensteinbauern, the road leads along the Rebensteiner Mauer down into the Mühlbachtal valley, where you come across residential houses near the high Wallerkapelle chapel (built in 1854).

After another 10 minutes of walking you reach the old, restored house mill of the upper Mühlbach valley, the Schattleitenmühle (visit by appointment). On the little frequented road you continue to the former tavern, which has already served raftsmen and carters for refreshments. Unfortunately, it is no longer managed, but a rest area with millstones and a water fountain invites you to take a break.

Afterwards, you leave the Mühlbach valley to the left and hike on a goods road in the direction of Jochberg. Another short climb through a forest before you reach the legendary Hetzerhöhe and enjoy the view of Laussa.

The last stretch leads over the Schönleiten on a somewhat steeper meadow path back to the starting point.

Tip:
Alternatively, you can start the hike at the tavern in Mühlbachgraben (parking lot!) and take a break at Gasthof Kleinschönleiten.

Safety guidelines:
No gastronomy along the way, so bring drinks and a snack if needed.

Additional information:
The legend of the Wallerkapelle:

Georg Eitzenberger, the then owner of the Wallergut estate at the end of the valley once found a small box with foreign money on his way to Steyr (presumably from departing Frenchmen around 1800) and designated the money for the construction of a chapel above his estate, at the beginning of the Rebenstein walls. However, the construction did not take place for unknown reasons.

Only one of his successors, Leopold Brandecker, started the construction around 1850. In 1854 the building was completed. The Stations of the Cross next to the steps were built in 1859. The chapel still belongs to the property of the same "Wallergut" and is a lovely Marian pilgrimage site that enjoys a lot of visitors because of its idyllic location.

In 1985, the faded Stations of the Cross images were replaced with hand-carved groups of Passion figures, on permanent loan from noble donors.