Hollental Attractions
Northwest of Gloggnitz, beyond Hirschwang, stretches the wildly romantic gorge known as the Höllental ("Hell Valley"), which the River Schwarza has cut through the limestone rock between the Raxalpe (2,007m/6,585ft) to the south and the Schneeberg (2,075m/6,808ft) to the north. For some 12km/7.5mi the rocks are often so close together that there is barely room for the road. Parallel with the road runs a pipe carrying water to Vienna.
Raxalpe
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).
Schneeberg
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.
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Kirchberg am Wechsel, Austria
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.
Stalactite Caves
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.
