Relatively easy to reach from Austria’s capital, the Türkensturz ruins, perched above the village of Gleißenfeld, are visible from the A2 highway, which connects Vienna to Graz. Via ferrata Pittentaler is built on the rock face just below the ruins and offers a proper climbing experience.
Summary
Grade: C – view topo
Vertical: 80m ferrata, 250m total
Time: 30min approach, 30min ferrata, 30min descent, 1h30min total
Access / Parking: 47.6799,16.1323 – Google Maps or any Android maps app
Start via ferrata: 47.6790,16.1365 – Mapy.cz or any Android maps app
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Map and photos
Access
We drive to Gleißenfeld and park at the edge of the village, near the bridge over Pitten river, where the hiking trails in the nature park begin.
If traveling by public transport, we take the train from Vienna to Gleißenfeld. From the train station, it’s just a short walk to the bridge mentioned above.
Approach to start
From the parking area, we cross the bridge over Pitten river and follow the Müllersteig trail into the forest. The signposts at the forest’s edge point toward Türkensturz and Pittentaler Steig.
After a few bends, we turn right at the Pittentaler Klettersteig sign and continue along a traverse with a gentler elevation gradient, leading us to the base of the rock face and the start of the via ferrata.
The route
The via ferrata begins with a metal “tree” structure, without a safety cable at first. The cable starts at the end of the iron tree.
The rest of the via ferrata is well-secured and predominantly vertical, with artificial holds supplementing the natural ones.
Take extra care at the end of the cable because the final step onto the plateau is exposed. After completing the via ferrata, we find ourselves directly inside the Türkensturz ruins.
Descent
We head northeast to a shelter hut and a trail intersection. Here, we turn left onto a path and descend all the way back to the car park.
For a longer descent, you can take the route via Burg Seebenstein. In this case, from the trail intersection with signposts, continue hiking north to reach Seebenstein Castle, and return from there.
Good to know
- Built in the 1920s by the Neunkirchen section of the Austrian Tourist Club, renovated since then.
- The iron tree is similar to the ones at Hans von Haidsteig via ferrata.
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Video
Weather
Main sources
- bergsteigen.com (German)
- we climbed the route on September 28, 2024