Kajabach Valley – View of Hardegg Castle loop from Horní Břečkov

Hiking trails & Routes

Czech Republic

Southeast

Jihomoravský kraj

Kajabach Valley – View of Hardegg Castle loop from Horní Břečkov

Hard

4.8

(50)

192

hikers

Kajabach Valley – View of Hardegg Castle loop from Horní Břečkov

05:41

19.3km

470m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 5, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Národní park Podyjí

Nationalpark Thayatal

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

4.05 km

Thaya Bridge Hardegg–Čížov and Historic Customs Houses

Highlight • Bridge

The Thayabrücke Hardegg-Čížov is a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. The Iron Curtain used to run here.

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5.33 km

View of Hardegg Castle and the Thaya Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

Super nice view with a small bench!

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7.89 km

View of the Thaya River bend from Umlaufberg

Highlight • Viewpoint

There is also a bench up here for a rest. You can't see the whole loop because the hill is too low for that, but it's still great to see …

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10.3 km

Kajabach Valley

Highlight (Segment) • Gorge

This trail leads into the wild and romantic Kajabachtal around the ruin Kaja. In spring colorful spring flowers line the brook, in summer the canyon covered with ferns and mosses …

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10.9 km

Kaja Castle Ruins

Highlight • Castle

Relatively well-preserved castle ruins. Definitely worth a detour if you are hiking through the Kajatal from the Thaya up towards Merkersdorf. It is not always open though.

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14.3 km

Wooden archway at the entrance to Thayatal National Park

Highlight • Monument

Likewise the entrance to the short nature trail Hennerweg, a wonderful path even with children!

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15.1 km

View of Hardegg Castle

Highlight • Viewpoint

The hike from the Nature House to the Hermitage to Hardegg, over the bridge a round in the CZ, then on the summit cross in Hardegg, we have often gone …

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15.5 km

Thaya River Border Crossing Bridge (Thayatal National Park)

Highlight • Bridge

Don't forget your passport when hiking to the Czech Republic! A place steeped in history that brings back memories of terrible personal fates! We met a man whose family was …

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15.9 km

Viewpoint

19.3 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

6.89 km

5.09 km

2.91 km

2.63 km

1.78 km

Surfaces

8.88 km

8.26 km

1.43 km

432 m

219 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (440 m)

Lowest point (280 m)

Weather

Friday 9 October

16°C

10°C

73 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 16, 2025,Burg Hardegg

Hardegg Castle is a hilltop castle in the town of Hardegg in the Thaya Valley. Majestically perched on a rock above Austria's smallest town, with a circumference of 600 meters, it is one of Lower Austria's largest fortifications.

In the heart of the Thaya valley, the towering keep can be seen far into the river valley and draws all eyes. …

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October 16, 2021,Hardegg - Merkersdorf - Runde

Nice round, first along the Thaya, then over the ruins of Kaja to Merkersdorf. from there you go back along the road to Hardegg.

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October 3, 2023,Nationalpark Thayatal-Burg Hardegg-Ruine Kaja

We started today from a nature parking lot near the Kaja ruins. First we went on asphalt via Merkersdorf to the Nationaparlhaus and then on beautiful paths via Reginafelsen and Max Plateau to Hardegg, the smallest town in Austria with around 90 inhabitants. Small but nice - here you have a grocer/baker/tobacconist all in one, all in one small shop. …

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June 20, 2023,Wanderung im Nationalpark Thayatal: Hardegg-Umlaufberg-Merkersdorf

We parked at the National Park Center and walked towards Hardegg along the Einsiedlerweg. Then continue along the Thaya to the Thayatal suspension bridge. Then we switched to the Thayatalweg and went to the Rundeberg and on to the Kaja ruins. From there to Merkersdorf and back to the National Park Center. It was a very nice hike in a …

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August 3, 2024,Hardegg-Thayatalweg-Nationalpark Thayatal 💗

Beautiful hike, very pristine nature, not very busy, balanced terrain.
Only the last stretch from Merkersdorf back to the starting point is on asphalt... cycle and pedestrian path... unfortunately that wasn't so great.
Everything else was worth every step! 💗💗

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June 20, 2023,Nationalpark Thayatal 20.6.2023 w565

Our hiking destination today was the Thayatal National Park. The Thayatal National Park, together with the neighboring Czech Národní Park Podyjí, preserves one of the last natural valley landscapes in Central Europe. It's a beautiful landscape.

Most of the paths were in the shade and we often hiked right next to the Thaya.
komoot was very creative again today: I …

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