Ternberg & Trattenbach - Natural power in the Enns Valley
Feitel and rocks. Forest air and far-reaching views.
Ternberg lies between the banks of the Enns and the rugged Limestone Alps as the gateway to the Kalkalpen National Park - a place where Upper Austria shows its original side. Hiking trails lead from the wide valley basin up to the Schoberstein, past meadows, forests and quiet resting places with views of the Enns Valley. In Trattenbach, the "Valley of the Feitelmacher" tells of a 500-year-old craft tradition: the Trattenbacher Taschenfeitl, recognised as a UNESCO cultural heritage site, is still made here with a steady hand and plenty of experience.
Travelling in 360° Alpenland is a natural combination of nature and culture. Climbing on the Beisteinmauer, cycling along the Enns or a visit to the museum village - everything is close together. Ternberg and Trattenbach stand for hiking in the mountains of Upper Austria, for living history and for moments in which the sound of the water and the beat of the hammer have the same rhythm.
Climbing in Ternberg - Trattenbach
Nestled in a wide valley basin, Ternberg is the gateway to the Enns Valley and the Kalkalpen National Park. An impressive climbing centre was built here 10 years ago. The Trattenbach climbing centre, initiated by the Ternberg-Trattenbach Friends of Nature, consists of the climbing routes on the Beisteinmauer wall and the Weißensteinerwand climbing rock. The abundance of climbing routes in one spot and the magnificent view from the summit of the Beisteinmauer (632m) over the Enns Valley in 360° Alpine country are impressive.
Facts & Figures
History of Ternberg-Trattenbach in the Enns Valley
Hammer sound and forest silence. Faith and craftsmanship.
Between the mountains of the Enns Valley and the forests on the edge of the Kalkalpen National Park, the municipality of Ternberg-Trattenbach tells a piece of Upper Austrian history. Here, in the heart of the 360° Alpine region, people not only settled and prayed - they worked, filed, hammered and passed on what has shaped generations.
As early as the Middle Ages, Ternberg was the ecclesiastical centre of the Enns Valley. The parish developed around the former Garsten Abbey and became the spiritual and social centre of the region for centuries. Agriculture, rafting on the River Enns and life along ancient trade routes characterised everyday life.
In the remote valley of Trattenbach, a craft developed from the 16th century onwards that continues to this day: the production of Trattenbacher Taschenfeitel. Along the stream, numerous small workshops once worked with water power. A simple, sophisticated tool was created from steel, fire and beech wood - robust enough for everyday use in the mountains. The Feitel makers characterised the economic life of the community for centuries. Today, this knowledge is kept alive in the museum village "In the Valley of the Feitel Makers"; the craftsmanship is part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Ternberg-Trattenbach thus stands for a history that combines nature and culture: Forests as a source of raw materials, water as a driving force, faith as support. Anyone hiking through the Enns Valley or cycling along the Enns today is travelling through a landscape where history is not staged - but has grown. A place in the Alps where origin remains tangible and the future is built on experience.
Things to know about Ternberg - Trattenbach in 360° Alpenland
Ternberg lies at the gateway to the Kalkalpen National Park and combines unspoilt mountain scenery with living tradition. Between clear streams, wooded slopes and the Trattenbach valley, space is created for a nature holiday in Upper Austria that has a quiet effect - and lingers for a long time.
The historic town square is one of the most beautiful ensembles in Austria. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles stand side by side here, and the Bummerlhaus is one of the most famous landmarks. Walking through the alleyways of Steyr, you experience architectural history as part of everyday life - authentically and without staging.
Trattenbach is home to a centuries-old craft tradition: the knife makers. Pocket knives were created here in small workshops and are still considered part of the UNESCO cultural heritage today. Visitors to the valley can sense how closely nature, materials and knowledge are intertwined.
In addition to the craft of whittling, historic forges, small museums and themed trails characterise the townscape of Trattenbach. Here, visitors can learn how tools with character are made from regional wood and steel - a piece of cultural history in the heart of Upper Austria.
The Feitelmacher tradition is more than a profession - it is identity. In Trattenbach, knowledge is passed on, not staged. Here, culture in the 360° Alpine region is reflected in everyday life, characterised by respect for materials and the landscape.
The themed trail in the Feitelmacher Valley leads along old workshops and tells of life in the Enns Valley. This combines hiking in Upper Austria with insights into regional cultural heritage.
The Enns accompanies Ternberg as the lifeline of the valley. Its banks invite you to pause for a moment, while cycle paths and footpaths keep the water in view at all times. The proximity to the Enns combines the experience of nature with the history of the Enns Valley.
Ternberg and Trattenbach bring together what makes 360° Alpenland special: alpine nature, established culture and short distances between mountain, town and national park. A place that shows how close recreation and adventure can be in the heart of Upper Austria.
Ternberg is a quiet gateway to the forest wilderness of the Kalkalpen National Park. Ancient beech forests, clear springs and unspoilt paths make the region an ideal starting point for guided ranger tours or individual discoveries in Austria's largest forest national park.