Katzenburg Tour

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A hike full of history on the tracks of medieval knights. The remains of Katzenburg castle make this tour a journey into the past.

There is a legend of the treasure around the remains of Katzenburg castle

The legend

The legend tells us that the former lord of the castle amassed a treasure of gold, silver and valuable jewelry - nobody knows if through smart business or gainful raids. One day, the lord went to war, and was afraid to leave his treasures behind unguarded.

To protect the treasure from thieves and robbers he burried it below the vaults of the castle and also kept the key in a secret spot. Many years went by, but the lord never returned to his castle: he lost his life in battle in a country far away. However, the knowledge and mystery about the treasure has not been forgotten.

In dark nights when heavy clouds cover the Dachstein massif and rough storms go down on Schladming and Ramsau, and even the wild animals retreat to the woods for safety, some people say they have seen a mysterious creature among the ruins of Katzenburg castle: a tall, black dog with a golden crown, wandering through the remains of the castle, and having a peculiar key between his jaws.

It is said, that only in a time of great need a youngling with clean heart will be able to snatch the key from the fierce dog, and be able to lift the treasure for common welfare.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Experience

Scenery

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

9,1 km

Route

3:00 h

Time

352 hm

Uphill

349 hm

Downhill

1062 m

Highest point

723 m

Lowest point

Map & downloads

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More information

Take exit "Schladming-Ost" from highway B320 Ennstalbundesstraße and continue to Planai stadium at Planai gondola.

From Planai stadium at Planai gondola you follow Augasse and pass by congress Schladming and hotel Falkensteiner until you reach the Rechte Ennsau road right next to the river Enns. Make a left, walk up to the street and cross over the bridge to restaurant Zirngast where you also cross the railway. Make a left there and follow the trail up to Hochstraße road and on to Ramsauerstraße road. Follow the side walk (ascending to the right) for about 100 m until you reach the turn-off of Waldstraße road (on the left side of the road).

At the end of Waldstraße road (at the barrier) you make a right and follow trail n° 13. This trail ascends fairly steep to the plateau of Ramsau and crosses Ramsauerstraße two times. Near pension "Adlerhorst" you reach flatter terrain again. You pass by the pension and follow Buchenweg road just before Reiterhof farm. The trail to the remains of castle Katzenburg turns off at the end of the paved road. From the ruins (only a few walls remain today) you take the same way back to Buchenweg road and make a right there. You follow the trail for about 30 minutes until you reach the turn-off to Schladming.

Now the trail descends and crosses Leitenstraße road before you reach the houses of Nußdörfl and continue towards Untere Klaus. At the Skihandelsschule business school you cross the railroad again and continue to Enns river. Make a right and follow the river towards the center. At the pedestrian bridge cross over the river and follow the trail past congress Schladming back to Planai stadium where you started.

Character

at first a steep forest trail; after reaching the plateau of Ramsau more wide and almost flat; then with a fair descent to Schladming. Nice views to the town of Schladming and the village of Rohrmoos as well as the Scheichenspitz massif in Ramsau.

Possibilities for a snack

Restaurant Sanino, Sporthotel Royer, Restaurant Zirngast

POIs

Ruins of castle Katzenburg - some walls of the former castle "Statteneck" still remain.

Todays remains of castle Katzenburg (formerly castle "Statteneck") were the center of a battle between the archbishop of Salzburg Rudolv von Hoheneck and the Styrian Duke Albrecht I. The battle was about land holding, but also about the attempt of Salzburg to extend its territory beyond Mandling. The castle had an important function at this time: its extend, the safe location with the wide view over the valley (from Mandling to Aich) made it a stronghold in this area - together with castle Säusenstein on the opposite side of the valley (remains at Hotel Rohrmooser Schlößl). The castle is first documented in the year 1286.

In the town the Citybus connects to Planai stadium. From Rohrmoos the buses of Planai-Hochwurzen, and from Ramsau the buses of Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe connect to Planai stadium.