Guided Tour and Ride on the Mühlviertel Horse-Drawn Railway

In 1832, the horse-drawn railway between Budweis, Czech Republic, and Linz-Urfahr opened, and in 1836 it was extended to Gmunden.

For the horse-drawn railway, particularly lightweight freight cars with wooden wheels were built so that more cargo could be loaded. In most cases, a single horse pulled the heavy car; a second horse was hitched in front only on steep sections. The tracks were not made of iron rails, but of wooden rails to which flat iron strips were fastened with hand-forged nails. One must imagine the enormous difference in comfort between a journey by stagecoach on the bumpy roads of that time and a ride on rails—travelers of that era were certainly not accustomed to gliding smoothly through the countryside! However, the rapid development of the steam railroad soon spelled the end for the horse-drawn railroad. On December 15, 1872, the last horse-drawn railroad train arrived in Lest, and the entire line fell into a deep slumber.

Since 1996, it has been running again in the municipality of Rainbach. Along a half-kilometer stretch of track, you can once again experience the incomparable feeling of “traveling as it used to be”: in the luxury car “Hannibal,” in which the nobility of the Habsburg Empire once traveled, in the authentic setting of the historic horse-drawn railway station—complete with a museum—and with the exquisite cuisine of the “Wirte im Pferdeeisenbahnland.” During the reconstruction of the horse-drawn railway in Kerschbaum, special attention was paid to historical accuracy, making today’s nostalgic ride a journey back in time to the Biedermeier era. The former vaulted stables of the horse-drawn railway station now house the Horse-Drawn Railway Museum. The former premises of the first railway station restaurant on the continent still serve as a station restaurant today. In the rustic “Kutscher Stub’m” and the elegant “Biedermeierstüberl,” you’ll be served special nostalgic delicacies.

Horse-Drawn Railway “Matura”

The Horse-Drawn Railway Graduation Exam consists of various games that assess not only historical knowledge but also athletic ability and dexterity. Accuracy and speed as a team are just as much a part of the event as having a whole lot of fun. Then, of course, the results are tallied and evaluated, until it’s finally time to present the graduation certificates over a hearty snack.

Activities
• “Gleishupfa” for adults or “Kutschi-Maus” for children
• Horse-drawn railway—nostalgic ride
• Museum admission with guided tour
• Horse-drawn railway graduation ceremony and presentation of the graduation certificate
• Hearty graduation snack
• Nostalgic souvenir photo (don’t forget your camera!)

Duration: 3.5–4.5 hours
Adults: €29.50 / Children: €22.80 (price per person)