Ried im Innkreis
THE INNVIERTEL
A THREE-DAY INTRODUCTION
THE INNVIERTEL IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE CITIES OF SALZBURG AND PASSAU IN THE TRIANGLE BETWEEN THE INN, DANUBE, AND HAUSRUCK. FOR MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, IT’ S THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SPOT ON EARTH. THE INNVIERTEL NATIVES LOVE THEIR HOMELAND. AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AT LEAST ONCE KNOW EXACTLY WHY.
“ Here you go!” says the waitress as she places a frothy, tantalizing, golden beer on the table.“ Cheers!” says the guest as he looks forward to the 72 hours that lie ahead of him. Three days and three nights in the Innviertel, a stretch of land in northwest Upper Austria as lovable as it is undiscovered. Much is rumored about the Innviertel and its residents: they are freedom-loving, friendly, have an overwhelming love of life, and are proud of their homeland. You can understand this when you see the area. The view from the ski center tower of the“ Skiflyers” in Höhnhart is particularly spectacular: secured by a steel cable, the brave( and even the somewhat less courageous) can soar 200 m above the ground – fun, excitement, and a real kick of adrenaline are guaranteed.
BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, SUCCULENT ENJOYMENT
If you prefer to stay firmly on the ground, you can explore the Innviertel on bike. Many well-developed bike paths( including the Danube, the Inn, the Tauern, and the Roman bike path) will tempt you to get pedaling. Gentle hills are interspersed with flat stretches, and forest and fields immerse the landscape in lush greenery. Along the Inn between Haiming in Bavaria and the town of Schärding extends the“ Lower Inn European
Nature Reserve”. It is a scenic jewel, with unique plants and animals, which glides past bikers. Here it’ s worth it to just take a break, breathe in deeply, look around, and take in nature. And you definitely have to try the local specialties. After all, we are in the heartland of“ Innviertel Surspeck”( cured bacon), a tender, irresistibly tempting treat – at least, this is what everyone who has already tried it says. Whether with chives and pepper on bread or as a succulent filling for the legendary Innviertel dumpling –“ Surspeck” is a sinfully delightful indulgence. After enjoying this rather luxurious delicacy, we may wish to take things a little easier. And very conveniently, Obernberg castle invites us to our next stop only a few kilometers away. Daily( except for Mondays) at 3 pm, falconer Christian Großkopf lets his majestic birds of prey soar and circle over the Inn. Here, and nearby at the beautiful market square in Obernberg, or in neighboring Reichersberg, you will find good places to sit and relax. As well as to eat and drink, plan the next day, and wind down.
THE BAROQUE AND COLORFUL GOINGS-ON
Day two in the Innviertel. All paths are open to the guests, and one of the most beautiful of these leads to Schärding. Continue following the Inn
bike path, and you’ ll come right to it. Distinguished by its Baroque appearance, the small town on the Inn masterfully combines the past with the present. Whoever loses themselves in the maze of historic lanes and alleys, squares, promenades, and parks will feel not only the sense of long-standing history, which characterizes these beautiful spots. Equally as present is modern Schärding: the first rays of sunlight have just barely warmed the ground, when life relocates outside. The Schanigärten and street-side cafés are always busy and swarming with unmistakable signs that the Schärding residents are no enemies to dining out. They understand how to celebrate and how to live: more than 50 pubs and a full events calendar throughout the year leave no time for boredom. This ranges from the Schlemmerfest culinary festival to the cultural Schärdinger Festwochen. Great importance is also attached to the beer here. Two breweries provide the people of this baroque town with this nectar of the gods. Together with six other Innviertel private breweries, they have joined forces to form the“ Innviertel Beer Region”. Also, more than 30 local inns are part of this beer region and feel especially committed to this palatable potable. A silver logo at the entrance to the inns will point you in the right direction. A leisurely experience is promised by a stroll on the Relaxweg, leading you straight through