Kalksteinmauer Laussa

The Kalksteinmauer Laussa is a nature reserve in Upper Austria, stretching from the 688-metre Jochberg through Hetzerhöhe along the Laussabach stream to the centre of Laussa, then running east for about a kilometre to the southern side of the 680-metre Mitterberg. It marks the geological boundary between the Northern Limestone Alps and the Flysch ranges, where Flysch sands and Rauhwacke rocks mix. Steep Rauhwacke cliffs rise above gentler slopes, creating a striking landscape of layered rock and open meadows. The reserve protects rare habitats such as dry grasslands, thermophilic forests and rocky outcrops that support an unusually rich flora and fauna. Among the most notable plants are the pyramid bug orchid and the large yellow foxglove, alongside hart’s-tongue ferns, juniper and mezereon. Its high-quality dry meadows are among the best preserved in Upper Austria, supporting species that thrive in this transitional zone between alpine and lowland environments. Visitors follow the Energy Path Wind Farm trail, which explains climate and environmental themes, or the Sebaldus Way’s Laussa–Neustift section. The route passes through open grassland, shaded ravine woods and past rugged rock faces, offering changing views of the surrounding hills. Signs along the path describe the geology and the reserve’s ecological importance. The contrast between steep cliffs and gentle slopes makes each step reveal a new aspect of the landscape.