Kajaweg

Sturdy footwear

Starting at the Kaja parking lot, the trail leads over the bridge at the entrance to the Kaja ruins and into the Kaja Valley. Rare crayfish live in the Kaja Stream, and otters can be seen here foraging for food. At the first bridge, the trail branches off to the left from the forest road and runs along the Merkersdorfer Bach. The castle ruins are now visible from the rear. After crossing two bridges, you reach a meadow, beyond which lies the Kaja parking lot once again.

Kaja Ruins Parking Lot, Merkersdorf

Vienna: A 22 – Stockerau – S3 – B 303 to Hollabrunn – continue to the roundabout with the L 1027 (Unterretzbach), then on to Niederfladnitz via the L 38 to Hardegg

Linz: A 7 toward Freistadt – B 310 to Freistadt – B 38 via Zwettl to Rastenfeld – turn left here toward Horn – B 45 to Sigmunsherberg – L 1155 to Weitensfeld – L 1065 to Waschbach – L 1044 to the intersection with the L 38 (turn left) and continue on the L 38 to Hardegg. From there, it’s another 5 km to the parking lot at the Kaja Ruins.

As a memento of your hike around the Thayatal National Park, you can pick up a hiking badge at the Thayatal National Park ticket office and at the Kaja Ruins.

Hiking badges are round plaques, designed and inscribed using pyrography, which serve as both a souvenir and a recognition of outstanding achievements. Dedicated hiking badge collectors are rewarded with a free premium hiking badge. For more information, visit http://www.wandermarken.at/