Nationalpark Thayatal Radweg - Variante Süd

The “Thayatal National Park Bike Trail” takes you through the impressive Thayatal National Park. Due to the terrain (which includes some steep sections), this trail requires a good level of fitness, and you should also carry a valid travel document.

The starting point for this tour is the National Park Center near Hardegg. From here, you’ll cycle toward Hardegg, Austria’s smallest town, with its imposing castle complex. Don’t underestimate the switchbacks along the route. Passing the clock tower and the border bridge, you’ll continue cycling through the Czech part of the national park to the village of Čížov. Incidentally, a remnant of the Iron Curtain stands here as a memorial. You can visit a small exhibition at the “Podyji Information Center.”

In Čížov, you have two options for continuing your tour. You can either head toward Lesná (see the Northern Route) or continue cycling toward Horní Břečkov.

If you choose the second option, the tour continues on to Lukov. There’s a place to stop for refreshments here for those who are thirsty or hungry. The varied route takes you through meadows, forests, and cultivated landscapes, as well as along the former course of the Iron Curtain. After a steep descent through the Šobes vineyard, you’ll reach the Thaya River. The route then continues over the suspension bridge at Neun Mühlen (Devět Mlýnu) and on to the “Holy Stone.” This site is an ancient place of worship featuring one of Austria’s most beautiful cup-marked stones. From a viewing platform, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Retzer Land, the Pulkau Valley, and the South Moravian region. You’ll then cycle leisurely back via Niederfladnitz and Merkesdorf to the National Park Center near Hardegg.

Hardegg is located in the Thayatal National Park, right on the Czech border.

There is a bus route from Retz to Hardegg.

This route is suitable for:

• Mountain bikes