The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Geras

Crucifixes – that is, wayside crosses, field crosses, or crosses depicting the crucified Christ – can be found not only in villages and towns or in nature, but also in literature. Perhaps the most famous crucifix of this type can be found in the work of Giovanni Guareschi (1908 to 1968). He is the spiritual father of the humorous stories about the two protagonists 'Don Camillo' and 'Peppone'. Guareschi incorporated another main character into his stories – known and popular far beyond Italy's borders –: the crucified Christ, who speaks to Don Camillo from the crucifix on the high altar. The author himself makes the following comment: "So one must explain: If the priests feel offended by Don Camillo, they can smash a candlestick on my skull for all I care; if the communists feel offended by Peppone, they can break a club on my back; but if someone feels offended by Christ's speeches, there's nothing one can do. Whoever speaks in my stories... is my Christ, that is, the voice of my conscience. My personal business, my cause. And therefore: each for himself, and God for all." (G. Guareschi)

Nice place for a break. Possibly to have a drink or eat something in the deep shadows and a little "Streichelzoo" for the kids and young at heart.

The herb garden was laid out more than 30 years ago by the well-known herbalist Hermann-Josef Weidinger.

The first baroque impression is deceptive: Geras Abbey is originally a medieval complex - the collegiate church, the cloister and the adjoining rooms were always rebuilt on the floor plan of the original complex. The massive pillars of the first three-aisled basilica from the 12th century are still visible under the stucco marble in the church. One of the treasures of the monastery is the so-called Marble Hall above the main portal. The ceiling is adorned with a magnificent, signed fresco by Paul Troger, and the exterior facade bears the handwriting of Jakob Christoph Schletterer.

A stone high cross between Goggitsch and Geras. There is a statue of Mary in an attached wayside shrine.

According to the inscription, the cross was built in 1881 and renovated in 1959 by the Guth family from Geras.

Adrain Lambert Zach was born in 1845 in Stallek, in the district of Znojmo. In 1889 he was elected abbot of the Geras monastery - he died in Geras in April 1916. After all, he held a number of political offices and played a key role in many agricultural associations. So to the Geras beekeeping association, the Walkenstein fruit-growing association, but also to the Geras Raiffeisenkasse. And without his involvement there would probably be no train from Retz to Drosendorf. The memorial stone was erected by the municipality in gratitude for his efforts to build a water pipe.

Interesting for children, also a large playground 👍