Erkaburger Taferl

Erkaburger Taferl is a 697-metre-high hill in the main ridge of the Hausruck and Kobernaußerwald range in Upper Austria. It lies between the Innviertel and Hausruckviertel regions, straddling the border between the municipalities of Redleiten and Waldzell. The hill’s profile is so subtle that it barely stands out in the ridge’s skyline. Water on its north-west side flows into the Ach, a tributary of the lower Inn, while the south-east side drains via Eggerbach and Altbach into the Frankenburger Redlbach, which eventually reaches the Traun. The hill’s name comes from the nearby hamlet of Erkaburg, once a key stopping point on an old judicial route. The site has long been a crossing point for travellers and a boundary marker. In the 18th century a land ditch marked the border between Austrian and Bavarian jurisdictions. The Franzisceische Kataster of around 1830 records the area as ‘Der hohe Roid’, meaning a cleared patch of land. Today the Hausruck-Höhenweg, part of the Rupertiweg/E10 long-distance trail, passes close by, though it leaves the main ridge just before Schratteneck. A forest track leads up to the Taferlkreuz, a wayside shrine marking the summit. Visitors reach the summit along a quiet forest road that climbs gently from the surrounding farmland. At the top stands a simple wooden cross, the Taferlkreuz, surrounded by beech and spruce woods. The ridge offers long views across rolling farmland towards the Alps on clear days. The contrast between the gentle slopes and the historic role of the site makes it a peaceful place to pause. The forest paths are well maintained, and the summit itself is small and uncluttered.