The Herrensee near Litschau is our third and, for now, final destination during our 2021 Waldviertel holiday. Murphy, Archie, my favourite man and I have already taken you along to the Blockheide Gmünd and the Hochmoor Schrems.
The Herrensee near Litschau
Facts about the Herrensee
Originally the Herrensee was known as the Herrenteich or Mühlteich. The lake owes its existence to the damming of the Reißbach, as part of the fish-pond farming that was widespread in this area.
The lake covers 24 ha and stretches 1.6 km in length. Its abundance of "noble fish" makes it very popular with anglers.
The lido at the Herrensee is also a popular destination. Dogs are not permitted during bathing hours (10 am to 6 pm, as of August 2021). Outside those hours the lido is freely accessible — though dogs must be kept on a lead.
If you'd rather be out on the water yourself, the local boat hire offers a choice of pedal boats or electric boats.
Facts about Litschau
The market town of Litschau is the northernmost town in Austria and has held the status of health resort since 2007.
Litschau is known, among other things, for the Schrammel Klang Festival, but among dog lovers it may also ring a bell because of the IronDog. This human-and-dog triathlon event was, as far as I know, organised and hosted by the club Racedogs Austria from 2010 to 2019.
Whether these events will return, I'm afraid I can't say.
The Hundereise Team Circles the Herrensee
6,570 steps, says the information board at the start of the trail. The circular walk is 4.6 km long and is waiting for us to explore it. On Sunday we set off punctually at 9 am, heading counter-clockwise from the southern tip of the lake.
What Archie thinks of that, you can see in the photo below ;)
By the way, we parked right on the town square.
The Tour Begins
The tiredness soon wears off and we start along the eastern shore. The first refreshing spot where the dogs can get into the lake is just around the corner, and the path is simply breathtaking.
I can't spot any signs about a lead requirement anywhere, so Archie is mostly free to roam. Of course we're considerate of other dogs, hikers, joggers and so on — I put his lead on whenever needed.
In general, everything about this walk is very relaxed and every encounter goes smoothly.
Through the Lido or Around It
As mentioned above, we would still have been allowed to walk through. We also saw other dog owners doing so, but we weren't sure and decided to go around the outside instead.
No problem at all — just a few extra metres of elevation ;)
What Would the Waldviertel Be Without Its Giant Rocks
Around the Herrensee we also come across the odd stone giant. Not as plentiful as in the Blockheide Gmünd, but no less fascinating.
The Flora Around the Lake
Yellow, white, green, brown — the colours of nature that make me melt and breathe deeply.
A Relaxed Sunday Walk
We reach the atmospheric northern tip of the Herrensee, take a breakfast break on a bench, and then continue along the slightly sunnier western shore.
Back to the Start Along the Western Shore
This side is a bit more open and less wooded, and somehow I get more of a jungle feeling here. There are several access points to the lake, so Murphy and Archie make the most of this shoreside stretch.
The Finish Line in Sight
Near the end of the tour we pass a fairly large meadow where some visitors are spending time with their dogs. Then comes a short stretch through a small residential area, from where we can admire Burg Litschau. Unfortunately, visiting inside is not possible.
Since Archie and Murphy are still nicely cooled off, we two-leggers get a refreshing treat after the lake loop. My favourite person finds the Towerstüberl on Google, which is right on the way back by car through Heidenreichstein.
We turn into an industrial estate and spot the colourful little place. The surroundings aren't exactly a highlight, but the vegan ice cream is absolutely convincing!! The detour was totally worth it.
Verdict on the Herrensee Loop
The loop simply couldn't have been more relaxed, and the many spots to access the lake were perfect in the sweltering heat.
Route details
- Pace: leisurely
- Stated walking time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Our time: 2 hours
- Distance: 4.6 km
- Ascent: 12 m
- Descent: 12 m
- Highest point: 528 m
- Lowest point: 517 m
Dog facts
- The hike follows a lovely trail for the most part, with some gravel sections.
- A very easy route.
- We found plenty of spots along the way where the dogs could take a dip.
- Throughout the day we kept crossing paths with walkers and runners, and met a few fellow dog owners too. Everyone was very relaxed and considerate.
