After the Über-Drüber Marathon: Stift Kremsmünster

The Route: Kirchdorf an der Krems → Kremsmünster (regional rail or bus) → Kirchdorf an der Krems Logistics: Check the OÖVV journey planner for Friday. Allow time at the abbey for two guided tours. Marathon Month: May Duration: Day trip

Kirchdorf an der Krems ──(regional train or bus)──> Kremsmünster
          ▲                                               │
          └────────────(same route back)──────────────────┘

Two laps of the Kirchdorf course leave a particular kind of damage. The Käfergraben climb, the steep pitch at Oberhamet and the downhill back to the Stadtamt all land in the quadriceps twice, and the stairs at the hotel the next morning feel like a second event. Friday is the day for sitting in rooms with high ceilings while somebody else does the talking.

May in the Kremstal: the nearest long climate series is Linz, which is a regional guide only. Its May normal is a mean daily maximum of about 20°C and a minimum of about 10°C, with roughly 89 mm of rain across the month. The valley around Kirchdorf is a little cooler and wetter than the Danube plain. Pack a light waterproof.

Getting there

Kremsmünster lies in the Kremstal, down the valley from Kirchdorf. Check the OÖVV journey planner for the rail or bus connection between the two towns. The exact Friday timetable depends on how the Ascension Day bridge is handled, so check the OÖVV journey planner the evening before and again at breakfast. Note the last return departure before you set off.

The day

The abbey runs a guided tour on Fridays at 13:00 and an observatory tour at 15:00. The latest published programme lists an adult ticket for the abbey tour at about €13. Prices and times are set each season, so confirm both on the abbey website before you travel, and book if the website offers it.

Arrive in the town by late morning and eat before the 13:00 tour. Kremsmünster has a handful of gasthöfe, among them Gasthof König, which also lets rooms. Confirm opening hours and whether they serve lunch on the day.

The abbey tour is a guided walk on flat floors with some stairs, so tell the guide at the start if your legs are in poor shape. The observatory tour at 15:00 is a separate booking. If you only have energy for one, take the abbey tour.

Where to stay

If you want to sleep in Kremsmünster rather than return to Kirchdorf, Hotel Schlair, Landhotel Schicklberg and Gasthof König all operate in the area. None is a walking-distance hotel for the race start, so use them only if this day trip is the whole point of your stay. Check availability and breakfast times for your dates.

Getting home

Take the last comfortable train or bus back to Kirchdorf, and keep a taxi number in reserve. Check the Friday evening timetable before you commit to the observatory tour.