Au: Trails by the Water, Climbing and History

Au combines hiking and climbing with named destinations by the water and a historic site. The route descriptions differ in duration, course and character: the Auenweg is an easy hiking trail measuring 8.46 kilometres and taking two hours. The Wiesle can be reached from Au or the Nösslach Chapel via a narrow, somewhat steep hiking trail in about one hour and 15 minutes. There is also the Auplatte climbing garden in the Au district and the Winkelberg Geo-Trail. If you are looking for accommodation in Au, these different activities can help you decide which interests you would like to shape your stay.

Hiking: Routes and directions

The Auenweg initially follows the Ötztaler Ache downstream, then upstream to the hamlet of Au. The route then returns to Längenfeld along the opposite bank. Its length, duration and classification as an easy hiking trail give you several specific points to consider when planning. The route is also clearly described: the Ötztaler Ache accompanies the trail at first, before the return to Längenfeld follows the other bank.

The Warch-Weg also begins in Au, but follows a different route: it runs along the banks of the Ötztaler Ache to Aschbach. This means that different destinations are specified for orientation. The Auenweg description includes the hamlet of Au and the return to Längenfeld; Aschbach is the destination of the Warch-Weg. You can therefore distinguish between the named routes by where they lead and the role the river plays along each route.

Another route description covers the Auen cycle and hiking trail. At the beginning of Au, you can reach it by turning right towards Winklen and then left after a few metres. After a short road crossing, the trail continues to the hamlet of Unterried. This sequence gives the starting point, the turn and the route after the crossing, providing specific directions for this section of the trail.

Climbing and destinations by the water

The Auplatte climbing garden is in the Au district and has 41 routes. This makes climbing a distinct part of travel planning alongside the hiking trails described above. The number of routes gives a specific impression of the climbing garden’s scale; together with the different hiking trail profiles, it offers a choice of activities without implying any particular difficulty level.

The Winkelberg Geo-Trail ends at a water playground at Winkelboden. This named endpoint gives the route description a clear destination. The Winkelbergsee also has distinctive features: it is jade green, fed by spring water and has three islands. These details offer a different way to experience the landscape than the route information, which focuses mainly on trail course, duration and starting points.

The Wiesle: History and route

The Wiesle was already mentioned in official documents as a Schweighof (a farm with grazing rights) 450 years ago. This historical reference gives the site a time frame that differs from the practical information about the hiking trails. You can also take the route description into account when planning a visit: the Wiesle can be reached from either Au or the Nösslach Chapel via a narrow, somewhat steep hiking trail in about one hour and 15 minutes.

Different details come to the fore when comparing it with the Auenweg. The Auenweg’s length, duration and classification as an easy hiking trail are specified. For the route to the Wiesle, the possible starting points, approximate duration and trail character are described. These differences can help you assess the two outings based on the time information and the stated profile, rather than looking only at walking time.

Discover more travel destinations: Gries, Oberlängenfeld, Huben, Unterlängenfeld, Winklen, Burgstein

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