Description
The municipality of Schrattenthal is located in the Retzer Land at the foothills of the Manhartsberg and consists of the three cadastral municipalities of Obermarkersdorf, Waitzendorf and Schrattenthal - the smallest wine town in Austria.
The municipality of Schrattenthal is home to numerous renowned winegrowing families. The vineyards stretch all the way up to the forests on the Manhartsberg, and viticulture has been practiced here since the 12th century. If you are interested in wine, you have come to the right place - it is not for nothing that the "Rent a Vine" workshop for wine lovers takes place here every year.
In Schrattenthal, you should definitely not miss a visit to the lovingly restored Schrattenthal Castle. The castle with its late Gothic castle church, Baroque granary and medieval hunger tower with its dungeon is highly recommended. The shady wine cellar lane in the town moat is also very inviting; if you are lucky, a winegrower will have opened his cellar doors and you can enjoy a good drop of wine in a great ambience.
A landmark of the municipality of Schrattenthal is the Europawarte Hl. Benedikt in Waitzendorf. The ascent to the 26m high observation tower is rewarded with a sweeping view over the Weinviertel and Waldviertel. Waitzendorf is also known for the "most crooked church tower in Austria", the tower of the parish church of St. Trinity has an inclination of 1.1° (approx. 50 cm). The church is also the first stop on the Waitzendorfer Marterlweg trail, which links 31 wayside shrines with a hiking trail and shows the historical background.
Another hiking trail we can recommend in the municipality of Schrattenthal is the Urbanusweg, which is around 20 km long.
Obermarkersdorf is known to many for its pumpkin festival, which takes place in the village every five years. At the upper end of the village, along the Weinviertel DAC cycle route and the Urbanusweg, right next to the Jägerteich pond, there is an idyllic rest area for cyclists with seating under a pergola. Right next to it is a small hut with a well-stocked fridge with wine and grape juice from local winegrowers. Here you can quench your thirst on a "self-service" basis. Cycle past and enjoy a glass of wine in one of the most beautiful places along the DAC cycle route!
