Buchenberg

The Naturpark Buchenberg sits in the Eisenwurzen region of Mostviertel, in the south-west of Lower Austria. It lies entirely within the municipal boundary of Waidhofen an der Ybbs and is one of twenty-two nature parks in the province. The park combines open meadows with mixed woodland and is dominated by the 790-metre Buchenberg, whose name it bears. A separate fenced area contains the Wild and Domestic Animal Park, while the rest of the park is open to all without charge. The animal section opens only at set times and for a fee.

Wildlife such as badgers, foxes, lynx and wildcats roam the enclosures alongside owls and other forest birds. A walk-through owl aviary lets visitors stand among the birds without barriers. Nearby, a farmyard section lets children meet donkeys, ponies, sheep and other traditional breeds. A climbing forest offers more than ninety routes of varying difficulty. Signposted trails lead through the woods and up to the summit chapel.

The summit trail climbs through beech and mixed forest to the upper Buchenberg Chapel. A second themed path explores water, with information boards and small experiments along the way. A circular high trail runs around the lower slopes, returning past the Weidenlabyrinth and playgrounds. From the chapel there are wide views over the surrounding countryside.