Hollental Attractions

From Hirschwang (494m/1621ft), 12km/7.5miles northwest of Gloggnitz at the mouth of the Höllental, the Raxbahn, a cabin cableway more than 2km/1.25mi long, ascends to the Raxalpe (upper station, 1,545m/5,069ft). The Rax, a high plateau at between 1,500-2,000m/5,000-6,700ft with open pasturelands, is well provided with footpaths and there are several mountain huts. Also popular with winter sports enthusiasts, the highest peak is the Heukuppe (2,007m/6,585ft).

To the north of Gloggnitz towers the Schneeberg (2,075m/6,808ft; extensive views), the highest point in Lower Austria and considered their "own mountain" by visitors from Vienna, as it can be seen from the Viennese mountains on a clear day. From Puchberg there is a rack railroad to the Hochschneeberg station at 1,795m/5,890ft.

South of the Hermannshöhle lies the village of Kirchberg am Wechsel (577m/1,893ft; pop. 1,600), well known as a summer and winter resort. Worth seeing are the Baroque parish church of 1755 and the Monument to Our Lady (Mariensäule) dated 1713; just outside the village stands the Late Gothic church of St Wolfgang (15th century) with a beautiful west door.

The Luge Museum is located in the town of Payerback in the Holl valley. The Payerbach Rodelsportmuseum has a good collection of the little sleds and is a must see for intense tobogganists and luge enthusiasts alike.

7km/4.5mi southeast of Gloggnitz is Kranichberg (620m/2,034ft), with an interesting 16th C. Schloss (rebuilt in the 18th C.; old keep). From here there is a road over the Ramssattel (818m/2,684ft) to the Hermannshöhle, a cave with multicolored stalactites.