Klemens Maria Hofbauer—Pilgrimage Route
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Hiking tour Starting from Tasovice (Czech Republic)
The pilgrimage route begins in the birthplace of St. Klemens Maria Hofbauer in Tasovice, Czech Republic and continues via Znaim, the state border at Mitterretzbach, Retz and Eggenburg to Vienna/Maria am Gestade (approx. 150 km). Along the way you will find 28 information boards at intervals of around 5 km on topics that shaped and distinguished Klemens Maria Hofbauer in his life. At each panel you will receive a pilgrim's stamp for your pilgrim's booklet (32-page brochure & stamp fields). Once you arrive in Vienna, you can continue the route via Großrußbach, the Ernstbrunn Forest, Zwingendorf and across the border to Jaroslavice back to Tasovice. This makes this pilgrimage trail a circular route of 240 km in total.
The pilgrimage route begins in the birthplace of St. Klemens Maria Hofbauer in Tasovice, Czech Republic and continues via Znaim, the state border at Mitterretzbach, Retz and Eggenburg to Vienna/Maria am Gestade (approx. 150 km). Along the way you will find 28 information boards at intervals of around 5 km on topics that shaped and distinguished Klemens Maria Hofbauer in his life. At each panel you will receive a pilgrim's stamp for your pilgrim's booklet (32-page brochure & stamp fields). Once you arrive in Vienna, you can continue the route via Großrußbach, the Ernstbrunn Forest, Zwingendorf and across the border to Jaroslavice back to Tasovice. This makes this pilgrimage trail a circular route of 240 km in total.
Klemens Maria Hofbauer (26.12.1751 - 15.3.1820) is an important saint of the Catholic Church and is venerated as the patron saint of Vienna. The pilgrimage route was created on the 200th anniversary of his death and ends at the Gothic Roman Catholic church "Maria am Gestade". It connects 2 countries (Austria and the Czech Republic), 3 dioceses (Brno, ED Vienna, St. Pölten) and many parishes and communities along the way.
The pilgrimage route begins in the birthplace of Tasovice/Tasswitz and leads in large parts along the Thaya to the historic town of Znojmo, the Louka Monastery (Klosterbruck) and the house in the middle of the old town of Znojmo where Klemens Maria Hofbauer learned the baker's trade. An impressive narrow path leads steeply and with great views down to the Thaya and then into the Thayathal National Park. Past sheep and across the picturesque heath, you reach the national border at Hnanice and the Holy Stone in Mitterretzbach.
The route leads along vineyards and extensive fields to Retz and Klemens Maria Hofbauer Square. On the rest of the route, small villages and historic towns (e.g. Eggenburg) alternate with vineyards, the typical Weinviertel wine cellar lanes and rolling hills. Again and again, the trail runs alongside streams (e.g. the Schmida) or geologically interesting formations. After Großweikersdorf, the hilly landscape of the Weinviertel gently merges into that of the Wagram. You soon reach Stockerau and change to the floodplain landscape of the Danube. You cross the Danube at Greifenstein and walk along the Danube to Stift Klosterneuburg. The last part of the route continues along cycle paths to the Maria am Gestade church in Vienna (1st district).
Along the way, pilgrims will find 28 information boards at intervals of around 5 km on topics that shaped and distinguished Klemens Maria Hofbauer in his life. At each board there is a pilgrim's stamp for the personal pilgrim's booklet (32-page brochure & stamp fields).
The eastern route via Großrußbach, the Ernstbrunn Forest, Zwingendorf and across the border to Jaroslavice back to Tasovice/Tasswitz shows a different but equally scenic part of the Weinviertel (AT) and Moravia (CZ).
This pilgrimage trail thus becomes a 250 km long circular hiking trail.
Suggested stages:
Accommodation and restaurants along the route:
(in chronological order)
Tasovice:
Znojmo:
Oberretzbach:
Mitterretzbach:
Unterretzbach:
Retz:
Kleinhöflein:
Kleinriedenthal:
Obernalb:
Unternalb:
Schrattenthal:
Zellerndorf:
Deinzendorf:
Rohrendorf an der Pulkau:
Pulkau:
Leodagger:
Röschitz:
Roggendorf:
Eggenburg:
Kleinreinprechtsdorf:
Frauendorf:
Ziersdorf:
Rohrbach:
Glaubendorf:
Unterthern:
Großweikersdorf:
Hausleiten:
Oberzögersdorf:
Stockerau:
Vienna:
Maria am Gestade
1010 Vienna, Salvatorgasse 12
Tel. 01/533 95 94
sekretariat@cssr.at
www.redemptoristen.com
The route runs mostly along well-maintained bike or hiking trails, many of which are paved. In the Czech section (starting at the “Bakers’ Training Center” and ending in the village of Popice), the route passes through the national park and can only be tackled with sturdy footwear or on a mountain bike.
Sturdy shoes, plenty of drinks and/or food (the trail runs mostly away from populated areas).
For the Czech section: passport
Starting point address: Tasovice/Tasswitz 34, 671 25 Tasovice, church at the Redemptorist monastery (Note: not the parish church)
End point address: Maria am Gestade, Salvatorgasse 12/Passauer Platz 1, 1010 Vienna
Follow the yellow signs. You can find a detailed view in the photo gallery.
The following stops on the tour are accessible to the public:
Recommended stops along the route:
Responsible for the content of this tour
Weinviertel Tourismus GmbH
For more information, please contact the Retz Tourism Association, Hauptplatz 30A - 2070 Retz, Phone: +43 2942-2700, tourismus@retz.at,www.retzer-land.at
The pilgrimage route can also be traveled by bicycle (trekking or mountain bikes).
Letzte Änderung: 3 Aug 2026