At the gesäuse

Your summer vacation

If you ask the natives what makes their homeland special, you will remarkably often hear "diversity" as an answer. And who would doubt the wisdom of the wild Xeisler? They are right. You can't do everything just a little bit, but you can do it right and really grandiose. Nature seems to have meant well with this patch of earth. In almost lavish generosity, she has poured out two handfuls of perfection here. The Gesäuse is a national park, rock, climbing, white water, rafting, hiking, forests, wilderness. So you don't need to find a reason to go to the Gesäuse. You only need to choose one.

© www.stefanleitner.com | www.stefanleitner.com
© www.stefanleitner.com | www.stefanleitner.com

Outdoor-snacking

 

And yes, it's true: The tours here are long and steep and sweaty. But strength doesn't fall from the sky, even in paradise. But because we are in paradise, there are also plenty of opportunities for all those Gesäuse aspirants who are beaded with sweat at the mere thought of brittle dolomite on their foreheads. Normal mortals are also allowed to nibble along. In the Johnsbach Valley, for example, on the southern side of the Hochtor Group. Here everything is already much gentler and greener and hillier and sunnier. The pleasure hiker merely has to go around the mountain once. Or set out on one of the countless other hikes that lead through the wilderness of the national park. And here, too, you will find it, the diversity. Because not all nature is the same and not all forests are the same. A forest in the national park looks different from a commercial forest, where spruce alone dominates.

Outdoor-jukebox

Your Sommer-Vacation at the Gesäuse

Speaking of "Xeiseln". The Enns provides the background music. It soughs and roars and, as this jukebox, is responsible for the naming of the Gesäuse. The "Gesäusel" of the Enns is the etymological root of the Gesäuse. Variety. There it is again. Because the Gesäuse has not only one wild river, but two. In fact, the Salza is the longest wild river in Austria that has not yet been built upon. Forty kilometers of unregulated white water runs the Styrian Grand Canyon in the east of the Gesäuse, in the Salzatal. It is to the experienced water sportsman what the Hochtor north walls are to the ambitious climber. And so it should be noted: Since the Gesäuse is not one thing - although it is unique - but many things, you can only really get to know it if you explore it thoroughly. From above and from below, from the north and from the south, on the wall and on the water. You have to feel the dolomite under your nails, the Salza on your skin, the forest floor under your soles. Only then can you experience what the wild natives here rave about so unitedly. This diversity.

You don't buy the Gesäuse at the lift counter. If you want to climb high, you have to sweat.

Good to know
on the safer side

Outdoor wants and needs to be learned. After all, on your tour you should mainly devote yourself to pleasure and always think you're on the safe side. So you should know in advance when and where it's best to be on the road. If you are not sure yourself, then just book a guide - they know where to go.

Eat & sleep

Gesäuse

They are rustic and outspoken, the Gesäuse inns.  And "regional" is not a code word in the Gesäuse, but a duty. In their backpacks they have a selection of Styrian classics to delight the palate. The traditional preparation awakens a thousand and one memories and, on balance, simply makes you blissful.

And restful sleep is possible in the Gesäuse anyway. Hotels, guesthouses, huts and campsites are scattered all over the Gesäuse. Everyone is sure to find a comfortable bed for the night. That's a promise!