Schneeberg and the Schneebergbahn: A Mountain Railway with History
The Schneeberg, with its majestic peaks and the historic Schneebergbahn, is a popular destination for tourists and hikers in Austria. The Schneebergbahn, a cogwheel railway that has been in operation for over 120 years, offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape during the ascent to the summit. At the foot of the mountain, picturesque villages and hiking trails invite visitors to explore the beauty of this alpine region.
Quick Facts about Schneeberg & Schneebergbahn:
- Where is Schneeberg located? It’s a mountain massif in the Rax-Schneeberg group in Lower Austria.
- Where is the base station of the cogwheel railway? Bahnhofplatz 1, 2734 Puchberg am Schneeberg.
- How can I get there by public transport? Daily, hourly trains on the South Railway direction Graz to the main station Wiener Neustadt. Change to the next regional train with the final destination Puchberg am Schneeberg. Tip: Weekend direct trains are available from Vienna to Puchberg.
- How high is Schneeberg? At 2076 meters, it is the highest mountain in Lower Austria.
- How much time should I plan? A day trip.
- How much does the Schneebergbahn cost? You can find all fares here. With the Lower Austria Card, one ride is free.
- When does the train operate? You can find the operating hours here.
Over 100 years ago, people knew about the beautiful view from the Schneeberg. On clear days, Vienna (65 km as the crow flies) can be clearly seen. This was reason enough for Emperor Franz Joseph to build the Schneebergbahn in 1897. Since then, the cogwheel railway has been running from Puchberg am Schneeberg to 1796 m.
The Cogwheel Railway (Schneebergbahn)
Right at the station, the Schneebergbahn departs. It is highly recommended to buy tickets in advance. The number of seats is limited to 119. On beautiful weekends, it is guaranteed to be full. Planning ahead for the descent is also necessary.
Once you’ve secured your seat, the journey begins. The Salamander, as the diesel railcar train is called due to its spotted paint, takes about 40 minutes to reach the top. Along the way, there are several short stops. All trains stop at the middle station (stop “Baumgartner”) to give way to oncoming trains. So, if you want to get off to buy the famous Schneebergbuchteln, you’ll have enough time. We treated ourselves to some on both the ascent and descent.
We reach the mountain station on time, the Berghaus Hochschneeberg.
Berghaus Hochschneeberg
Here is the mountain station of the railway, a small shop, a ticket office, a restaurant, and even accommodations.
Just a stone’s throw away is the Empress Elisabeth Memorial Church, also known as Elisabeth Church or Elisabeth Chapel. The church was built in 1901 by Emperor Franz Joseph I in memory of Empress Elisabeth.
Also near the Berghaus is a very large children’s playground, which is of course also perfect as a waiting stop for the next train.
Hiking at Schneeberg
From Berghaus Hochschneeberg, there are more than 80 km of hiking trails and alpine paths. This makes Schneeberg one of the most beautiful hiking areas in Lower Austria. Here are some examples:
- Paradise of Views (60 min easy walk)
- The Plateau Hike (7 km) to the summit of Schneeberg to the Fischerhütte and back to the mountain station
- Railway hike along the Schneebergbahn (180 min to Puchberg)
The Plateau Hike
From Berghaus Hochschneeberg, past the Empress Elisabeth Memorial Church and then directly at the playground. The family-friendly path first leads past the Damböckhaus. Here you can find food and drinks. The gravel to slightly rocky path winds further along the ridge to the Fischerhütte, where you can also take a leisurely break.
If you continue a little further up, a Kaiserstein commemorates Emperor Franz I’s ascent of the Schneeberg in 1805 and 1807. For the complete tour, you should plan about an hour without breaks.
Tip: We also want to take the train down to Puchberg, but we still have too much time. Luckily, we have the idea to exchange our tickets. If seats are available, this is easily possible at the ticket counter upstairs.