Wine cellar lanes: a unique cultural heritage

Whilst the former Kaiserstrasse was once a much-used thoroughfare, today around 25 wine press houses, complete with cellar tunnels, form the wine cellar lane at the northern entrance to Drasenhofen. Lovingly restored by hand, the layout of the wine cellar lane and the historic wine press houses has been preserved. Today, the wine cellar lane in Drasenhofen is one of many cultural monuments in the Weinviertel and the perfect place to get in the mood for the upcoming Weinviertel Way of St James.

The “Oagossn” (Eiergasse) in Falkenstein – as it is affectionately known by the locals – is an unusually colourful and lively wine cellar lane. A popular excursion destination, most of the 64 wine cellars invite visitors to open cellar days, atmospheric cellar lane festivals and traditional wine christenings. For anyone wishing to take a closer look inside the dark cellar passages, guided tours of the cellar lanes are available.

Once you arrive in Poysdorf, the Weinviertel Way of St James leads straight through the longest wine cellar lane in this town of wine and sparkling wine – the Radyweg. Overgrown with acacia trees, the Radyweg, with its around 90 cellars, is a classic sunken cellar lane. Far removed from the stress and hustle and bustle, time seems to stand still amidst the wine press houses – the perfect place to let your thoughts wander. For those who wish to explore further, a guided tour of the cellar lane is highly recommended.

After your walk through the Leiser Mountains, you’ll arrive in Großrußbach, passing another lovely wine cellar lane on the way. The Kellertrift is situated on the south-eastern outskirts of the village.

The best place to immerse yourself in the wine culture of the Wagram region is the wine cellar lane in Stetteldorf. The wine press houses here are lined up on one side of the street, with around 30 buildings spread out over a distance of approximately 300 metres.

Thanks to its many hours of sunshine and prime location, the wine cellar lane in Absdorf is the ideal place to take a short break on your journey along the Weinviertel Way of St James. On the one hand, the wine cellar lane allows pilgrims to experience the beauty of the Wagram in all its facets; on the other hand, it helps them to recharge their batteries thanks to water fountains and benches. Visitors are particularly drawn to Absdorf’s cultural heritage by the annual Bründlfest, the theatre in the wine cellar lane and many other cultural events centred on food and wine.

A harmonious array of wine press houses greets pilgrims in the Königsbrunn wine cellar lane. Rising gently, the ‘am Bromberg’ wine cellar lane leads up the Wagram and enchants wine lovers with historic wine press houses that were once dug deep into the Wagram’s loess. Here, time seems to stand still – the perfect place to gather your thoughts and recharge your batteries for the final few kilometres.

Gedersdorf – effectively the gateway to the Wachau – is characterised by wine-growing and fruit-growing. The landscape and its proximity to the Danube create a picturesque scene. The village’s wine cellar lanes, such as Reisenthal and Schäffgasse, branch off directly from the Weinviertel Way of St James. Getting a taste of the wine cellar lane atmosphere here is definitely recommended.

Stretching for just over 1.5 kilometres, the Rohrendorf wine cellar lane is lined with around 70 wine press houses and cellar tunnels. Lovingly cared for and maintained, Lindobelgasse is the jewel in the village’s crown. Interested visitors can find out interesting facts about wine and the region at six information pillars along the Rohrendorfer wine cellar lane and, from April to October, can treat themselves to tasty Heurigen snacks and excellent wines during the open cellar days.

Just before you reach the end of your pilgrimage, the town of Krems also has a wine cellar lane in store for you. Situated just east of the town of Krems, the wine press houses here form a wine cellar lane stretching for around 200 metres along a sunken path, just waiting to be discovered by you.