ホーホブルク-Achでの周辺の簡単なハイキングとウォーキング

The current structure, a steel and concrete bridge, was inaugurated in 1963 – three years after the "New Bridge" further upstream. Locals still refer to it as the "Old Bridge," as it was first mentioned in 1272 and had several predecessors, which were completely or partially destroyed at least 12 times by floods and 6 times by ice jams. In 1809, Austrian troops rendered the bridge unusable to hinder Napoleon I Bonaparte's advance to Vienna. During a minor flood in 1959, a work platform that broke loose from the "New Bridge" severely damaged the "Old Bridge," before the major flood of the same year destroyed the temporary bridge that had been erected at short notice; for a time, there was no permanent crossing of the Salzach River near Burghausen, only a ferry service. This flood – with a maximum water level of 8.14 meters, one of Burghausen's worst – was the catalyst for the construction of the flood protection wall.

A bridge over the Salzach at this location was first mentioned in 1272. Even after that, salt from Hallein continued to be transported here by boat, but was only permitted to be landed and paid customs duties in Burghausen. The salt toll made the town and the Wittelsbach dynasty, who ruled here, wealthy in the late Middle Ages. The Old Bridge connected Burghausen with Hochburg-Ach, which belonged to the town, on the opposite bank. Only after the Innviertel region—all areas east of the Salzach and Inn rivers—was ceded to Austria in 1779 following the War of the Bavarian Succession did Hochburg-Ach develop its independence. Following devastating floods in 1959, the Old Bridge was rebuilt and opened to traffic on August 23, 1963. It was extensively renovated in 2000 and 2025.

The Naturfreunde forest inn in Hochburg-Ach is located at an elevation of 450 meters above sea level, about seventy meters above the Salzach River, directly opposite the Bavarian border town of Burghausen. From the terrace, guests have a magnificent view of Burghausen's picturesque old town and the imposing castle complex. Lodge owner Marek Duda opens his forest inn Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursdays to Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Closed on Wednesdays.

Since the late Middle Ages, this view has been offered to all travelers coming to Burghausen from the east. They no longer had to cross the Salzach by boat, but could use the bridge, first mentioned in 1272.

The Catholic parish church of Maria Ach, originally built as a wooden church in 1354 and rebuilt as a stone building in 1404, is dedicated to the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1771, the pilgrimage church was expanded in the Rococo style to better accommodate the large number of pilgrims. The ceiling of the main hall is adorned with a fresco by Johann Nepomuk della Croce depicting the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It also dates from 1771. The Baroque west tower, with its pointed onion dome, is three years younger.

The old mill wheel next to the chapel symbolizes the Achmühle (Achmühle), which once stood here at the confluence of the Wanghauser Mühlbach and the Salzach River. From here, a themed trail leads to the former sites of the area's other five watermills: Stampflmühle, Sagmühle, Mittermühle, Obermühle (the building still stands here, housing a small mill museum), and Grandlmühle.

Wanghausen Castle is probably much older than its first documented mention in 1240. The four-story, plastered quarry stone building with a high gable roof, which acquired its present appearance in the 17th century, has a striking stepped gable on the east side, dating from the 19th century. The castle is privately owned; the interiors, with their Renaissance ceilings, cannot be visited. The many details of the facade are fascinating. The castle was once a knight's residence. Until 1779, the building, then still called Ach Castle, belonged to the castle and judicial district of Burghausen in Bavaria. Following the separation of the Innviertel region, it subsequently became Austrian.

It's also part of the Marian Trail! You get a pilgrim stamp there!