Altenfelden: Wildlife Park, Trails and Church Art

Altenfelden offers a variety of reasons to visit: wildlife viewing, hiking and historical and cultural landmarks. If you are looking for accommodation, start by choosing what you would like to focus on during your stay.

Altenfelden between the Kleine Mühl and Große Mühl rivers

The municipality of Altenfelden lies on a ridge between the Kleine Mühl and Große Mühl rivers. The Kleine Mühl forms the municipality’s natural eastern boundary, while the Große Mühl forms its natural western boundary. The rivers and ridge provide a clear structure for understanding the geography of the municipality as a whole.

Wildlife Park and Hiking Trails

More than 1,000 animals from over 200 species live at Altenfelden Wildlife Park. The shorter hiking route through the park takes about two hours and passes all the animals. Set aside this approximate duration as a dedicated block of time when planning your day; it is not a short detour. As access may depend on park conditions, check them before your visit.

Two hiking trails also differ in the planning information provided for them. The Mühltal Loop Trail No. 21 is a circular hike. Hiking information for the Wildparkweg Trail No. 22 is available to download. If you are specifically looking for a circular hike, this is the format listed for Trail No. 21; if you are planning to hike the Wildparkweg, you can use the information provided to prepare.

Church Art in Altenfelden

The large, old box-style nativity scene in Altenfelden parish church dates from 1820 to 1850. It is located in the left side chapel, on a Neo-Gothic altar carved by master altar builder Kepplinger from Ottensheim. The nativity scene includes 30 fabric-clad figures and 40 sheep, as well as a carved and painted wooden ox and donkey. Alongside the group of figures and animals, the altar’s design and the craftsman who made it are also noteworthy. The date range 1820 to 1850 refers to the nativity scene; the Neo-Gothic style and Kepplinger’s work describe the altar.

A tombstone for Gertrude Steinpöck, dating from 1355, is also located in the north chapel of the parish church. The tombstone and the box-style nativity scene are distinct historical church artifacts: one is a gravestone with a specific date, while the other is an ensemble of figures whose creation date is narrowed down to several decades. The nativity scene and the tombstone are also located in different chapel areas: the left side chapel and the north chapel.

Chapel History and Pilgrimage

The history of a chapel offers a different perspective on local history, complementing the church’s works of art. In 1875, the municipality of Altenfelden had the small chapel demolished and replaced with a much larger stone chapel. This was prompted by a growing influx of pilgrims from far away, even from Bohemia. The replacement building thus links a specific year with the influx of pilgrims at the time and the decision to build a significantly larger chapel.

Hunting History at the Wildlife Park

In 2019, the park’s 50th anniversary year, the Cultum Venandi hunting culture museum opened in the center of the wildlife park. It was intended to introduce visitors to the history and importance of hunting in today’s society and cultural landscape. Alongside wildlife viewing and church art, it adds a distinct cultural topic: the history of hunting and its importance in society and the cultural landscape.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Leonhard, Guglwald, Lembach Im Mühlkreis, Haslach An Der Mühl, Ulrichsberg, Kollerschlag, Julbach, Auberg.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Rohrbach.