Manche der hier vorkommenden Arten sind in sterreich einmalig. There are chances to see wildflowers and wildlife, however, the panoramic views are the highlight of the outing. It is largely based on the international criteria for national parks published by the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Thayatal National Reserve covers an area of 1,360 hectare and is the smallest in Austria. Die zwei Nationalparks haben zwei eigenstndige Verwaltungen, verfolgen aber viele gemeinsame Ziele. The national park reflects the country's commitment to protecting these endangered species while also providing protection on the scenic landscapes and cultural heritage found in the area. The park is difficult to access, as it is close to car traffic. In the herb layer grow the Turkish union, daphne, wood sorrel, onion-tooth root, Single-flowered pearl grass, and as a specialty the white forest bird. Questions & contact: Office of the Lower Austrian provincial government State Office Directorate/Public Relations Mag. Covering part of the Thaya valley in Lower Austria and the Czech Republic Established in 2000 Covering one single local authority area: Hardegg The smallest national park, with just 1,330 hectares in Austria 500 species of lichen, 950 species of butterfly, 20 species of bat, 100 species of birds and 1,288 species of plants 90% forest, 3% open water areas, 3% wetland meadowsThe 1,330 hectare Thayatal National Park - one of the last near-natural valleys in Central Europe - was established in 2000 and includes the Czech Nrodn Park Podyj. The 3-hour tour takes you along the Thaya River so you can admire the countryside formed by the river up close. Send to Phone Customize Sign Up To Discover Places Like This The Thayatal with its steep hillside forests is one of the most beautiful breakthrough valleys in Austria. There are two river sources combining to create the larger Thaya River. The national park shop, the caf restaurant, the large adventure playground, the natural science workshop and the caravan parking area complete the service facilities for visitors. Mehr erfahren, Die Natur ist und bleibt die beste Lehrerin. Unprotected areas are more open to foraging and you will be able to find some great edible mushrooms. The protected area combines 44% of native flora into just 0.016% of the land area of Austria. in the price per night, and it was 9,20 Eur (one camper with two persons) in 2020. AT, office@np-thayatal.at Diversity under one roof: National Parks Austria gives Austrias protected areas a strong and common voice. After the national park was created in the Czech Republic in 1991, it was already decided in 1992 in Austria to draw level with the protection status. Animals that are active at night find an ideal, protected habitat in the Kajabachtal valley. The park is also home to a diversity of plant and animal species, including bats and wildcats. This is another rated-easy trail that features a little more elevation gain at 738.2 feet (225 m) while traversing along the river and through the forest over a distance of 3.73 miles (6 km). Visit the two wildcats Frieda and Carlo in their large viewing enclosure in the National Park Centre. With its magnificent view of the meandering river and Umlaufberg mountain, this is one of the hotspots of the Thayatal trail the most beautiful route in the National Park area. Further official information about the park you find here.RV PlacesThe National Park Thayatall is camper-user-friendly. In addition to typical members of Pannonian-Central European flora, endangered and highly threatened plant species can also be found in the National Park. Overview Photos Map - Where is Thayatal National Park? Good fitness required. Supported by the Federal Government and the European Union. A right turn will take you back to Hardegg. Location shared! The black stork is one of the more popular bird species that may be seen. You can finish the hike in 2 hours if you do not take long breaks. Then browse our collection of 5 mtb rides around this beautiful natural park around Hollabrunn below and discover more of on . Austria Direct, The Thaya Valley National Park. 1.3 km upstream on the Czech side.The trail around the meander cut-off along Thaya 1a is easier (walking time: 1 hour/3.5 km). Discover, envision and plan your outdoor trip with travel guides, destination information, maps, and photos from Trekhunt. The Thayatal National Park shows just how stunning the natural environment can be when it is left to its own devices. The trail becomes easier after the steep ascent over the Gabrielensteig. (Prices might slightly increase every year!). 23,3 km Flusskilometer auf 10 km Luftlinie, 92 % Wald, 4% Wiese, 1 % Trockenrasen & Fels, 3 % Gewsser, 40 % der heimischen Flora auf 0,016 % der Flche. By decision of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the European Diploma for Protected Areas of the Council of Europe has been awarded to the National Park of Thayatal for the very natural state of the park, its biological components and the model co-operation on either side of the border with the Czech Podyj National Park. 5. Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. sterreich, Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Conclusions of the biogeographical evaluation seminars, Disclaimer - Council of Europe 2023 - Photo credit. The trail meanders through the forest and along the Thaya River. The heart of the national park lies in the Thaya Valley where the Thaya River features gneiss slopes alongside the riverbanks. Our wildcat facility is the largest in Austria at 450 m, thanks to the incorporation of the adjacent woodland. The Thaya River stretches well outside the borders of the national park covering a distance of 139 miles (224 km). Whether you love hiking or cycling, Thayatal National Park is a region where 16 hidden gems are waiting to be explored and visited. 3. Sporty visitors can make the most of the numerous hiking trails and observation points in the National Park. Visit the two wildcats Frieda and Carlo in their large viewing enclosure in the National Park Centre. By continuing to use our website, you consent to the storage and further use of cookies. The map of our trail named Thayatal and Podyji National Park is shown here, our trail is marked in purple with white crosses: An interactive map of the trail together with the downloadable recorded GPX file you find. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in . Thayatal National Park in Austria provides both natural and cultural heritage wonders in the country's smallest national park. The secluded little countryside is an ideal long weekend program if you don't want to climb huge mountains. Back The journey with the nostalgic train connects you to a bicycle tour and a trip in the national park. Lower Austria, Thay Valley National Park. Do your research on the fly when you need to. Thayatal National Park. Restaurant with good kitchen. A caf ensures that no-one will go hungry between all those activities! The vegetation includes forested banks along with variegated iris, yellow ladys slipper, Turks-cap lily, and the Cornelian cherry. Einsiedler trail 2 forks left at the trail crossing. The German Thaya and the Moravian Thaya. It is the smallest gallery in the country, which the artists of the area created. At the information point, there are hiking guides, hiking maps, nature information, the current events programme as well as information on tourist offerings in the region surrounding the national park. This is a large and stunning National Park that provided us much needed respite from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. In some cases, the slopes are quite steep, and even near-vertical rock faces. The Thayatal is referred to as a Category II area. The national park area in Lower Austria is 1,360 ha. Discover the majesty of this valley bordering Austria and the Czech Republic with the help of the National Park Rangers as you keep an eye out for mighty old trees, black storks and meadow flowers. After 1 km, a path branches off to the Hardegg observation point. Mehr erfahren, Die Forschung zeigt uns, wie wichtig die intakte Natur der Nationalparks fr das berleben vieler Arten und das Funktionieren der kosysteme ist. The park covers an area of 5.02 square miles (13 sq km) making it the smallest of Austrias national parks. These two areas are the forerunners of today's national park. 2082 Hardegg The two wildcats are then allowed to enter and the visitors experience the skill with which Frieda and Carlo seek out the pieces of food and the power, elegance and speed with which they climb the shrubs and trees. You will find several tours and excursion routes in the park area, of which we will now present 6 routes. Europe / Austria In Hardegg, you can walk directly from the Austrian part over the Thaya bridge, which forms the state border, into the Czech National Park or go by bike. The easy excursion covers a distance of 1.17 miles (1.89 km). Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Disclaimers Version: v1.3.2-21-g46580de7b, https://www.alltrails.com/parks/austria/lower-austria/nationalpark-thayatal, https://www.austriadirect.com/thayatal-national-park/, https://www.interreg-central.eu/Content.Node/Thayatal-National-Park.html, https://www.lower-austria.info/thaya-valley-national-park, https://www.np-thayatal.at/en/pages/default.aspx, https://www.waldviertel.at/en/national-park. A short distance after the hillside footbridge, the Merkersdorf circular route 4 turns right and makes a steep ascent.The trail splits at the first fishing huts. 303. The Thayatal with its steep hillside forests is one of the most beautiful breakthrough valleys in Austria. Roughly 25 km after the border post, a marked path forks left which leads through the forest to Thaya. A short tunnel for children to crawl through and observe the animals in their enclosure is a firm favourite. The fauna of the Thayatal is extraordinarily diverse. Nationalpark Thayatal Mu Ko Surin National Park. It is fascinating how the narrow river bends form two facing meander cut-offs. Hardegg (German pronunciation: ()) is a town in the district of Hollabrunn in Lower Austria, Austria.It is situated in the Waldviertel region on the river Thaya, directly on the border with the Czech Republic.The Thaya valley is protected as the Thayatal National Park, adjacent to the Podyj National Park on the Czech shore.. With the wild cat trail, the first stage also includes a themed path for the entire family, allowing us to get a deeper insight into the living environment and behaviour of what is probably the shyest inhabitant in the National Park. Suggest a route, Do you have any questions? The National Park Centre is the first point of call for visitors. 545. www.np-thayatal.at, Merkersdorf 90 Hardegg observation tower Hardeggsk vyhldka AWalking time: 1.5 hours/4 kmThe Hardegg observation tower can be found high above Hardegg on the Czech side. Wald Viertel, Thaya Valley National Park. Due to its small area, you won't find many castles, ruins, or waterfalls in the park. An adventure playground right next door provides no end of fun and memorable experiences for children of all ages. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. In the Kajabach moat by the bridge, a shortcut to the parking area turns right, or straight ahead there is a forest road by the ruins of Kaja to Merkersdorf (Kaja trail 5). Most national parks have there own trademarks. In addition to an information point, nature research workplace, Natur-Geschichten exhibition, large adventure playground and caf, the house offers the option of booking ranger-guided tours, renting e-bikes or making use of one of the National Parks eight caravan parking spaces. The national park is centered around a meander of the Thaya River that has been cut-off from the river due to sedimentation. You can only notice it in early spring when its flower heads shine out and cover the berstieg at the Umlaufberg mountain in an intense yellow colour. The huge aerial image invites you to experience the valley in its full glory and study it in every detail. Merkersdorf 90 National Parks. There are many attractions and interesting places in the Thayatal National Park and Podyji National Park: On the territory of the National Park, there is a rare project trying to bring a wildcat back to Austria after this species disappeared in the last century, you can find out more about it, Our video blogs about the National Park Thayatal you find. Nature researcher workshop and exhibition. This is a medium-rated extensive hike. This national park, which is in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, is notable for its limestone hills. The diversified geological bedrock, of a respectable age of up to 600 million years, is fascinating. The dry grassland and rocky sites are also an important habitat for endangered species such as the eastern green lizard, smooth snake, eagle owl and common raven. Thayatal National Park is located on the eastern side of Austria along the northern border shared with the Czech Republic. They are considered to be extinct in Austria, but they were rediscovered in the Thayatal National Park. Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks. The river Thaya meanders over 26 km through a unique valley landscape. Discovering it via hiking and mountain biking. Der Nationalpark Thayatal bewahrt gemeinsam mit dem benachbarten tschechischen Nrodn park Podyj eine der letzten naturnahen Tallandschaften Mitteleuropas. All but about 10% of the park is blanketed with forests comprised of conifers, red pines, fir, and junipers. A smaller part of the park is dotted with meadows, where, thanks to the place's unique climate, you can simultaneously find creatures native to Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Alps. This includes for example the first recently discovered plantain thrift. You can run along it in just 40 minutes. It hosts about 50% of all Austrian animal species (10,000 in total), including golden eagles, chamois, and marmots. From May to October, you can also visit the Merkersdorf ruin, one of the main features of which is an amazingly deep dungeon. Another options is to reach the park from the Czech Republic. The smallest National Park in Austria, Thayatal consists of a forested region of the Thaya Valley in Lower Austria. 6. Very rare yews are scattered around here. It is an impressive valley with steep cliffs and gentle meadows, natural forests, and fascinating fauna. Einsiedler trail 2Walking time: 2.5 hours/5 kmAt the entrance to the National Park Centre, you cross the Landesstrae and reach the edge of the forest via a track. Thayatal National Park, Austria. red pines) or yew trees. The focal point of the national park is the Thaya River running through the Thaya Valley. Entdecke die abgelegensten Winkel des Nationalparks, finden Sie die unscheinbarsten Details der Natur, hren Sie die interessantesten Geschichten unserer Ranger! In addition to the colourful flora, clean air is guaranteed here. Subcategories This category has the following 5 subcategories, out of 5 total. The Thayatal with its steep hillside forests is one of the most beautiful breakthrough valleys in Austria. See tours. More information and registration at the Thayatal National Park on 02949/7005, e-mail office@np-thayatal.at and www.np-thayatal.at. The Wildkatzencamp is located in the immediate vicinity of the National Park House and directly on the edge of the National Park forest. +43 (0) 2742 / 9000 - 9000 Also in this tiny settlement is Austria's only manufactory dealing with pearl cultivation, the Mother-of-pearl turnery Mattejka. The Thayatal with its steep hillside forests is one of the most beautiful breakthrough valleys in Austria. The park covers an area of 5.02 square miles (13 sq km) making it the smallest of Austria's national parks. Durch sanfte Wiesen, karge Felsstandorte und khle ppig grne Wlder an Fluss und Bach fhren Wanderungen fr Spaziergnger, Familien und fr tchtige Wandersleut. You can observe the animals climbing, lazing around and searching for food in the compound from the foyer and the event hall of the National Park Centre. It is however unlikely that you will come across a bear. It is a park on the border with the Czech Republic. Fauna The fauna of the Thayatal is extraordinarily diverse. The oak tree dominates in the eastern part, while the beech trees dominate in the western part. The magic of the Thaya Valley also lies in its especially great diversity of plant species in close proximity to each other. Employed in the service of nature: our National Park rangers are fervent ambassadors of nature and species conservation. After the preparation of the various feasibility studies and the creation of the legal framework, the state contract between Ministers Bartenstein and Edlinger for the Republic and Governor Prll for the state of Lower Austria was signed in 1997 to establish the national park. Numerous rare animal and plant species were able to defend their habitat in the Thayatal: otters, dice snakes, crested newts and white-tailed eagles as winter guests benefit from the intact river ecosystem. When it was founded, it was planned to enlarge it to 1.7km2. We are happy to help you. Open now. The unimposing shrub of the yellow cornel can frequently be found in the National Park area. Interreg Central, Thayatal National Park. The National Park House near Hardegg is a central point of contact for guests. In their free time, the pupils can explore the forest with its wild play elements such as a tree house or a cave, become active themselves in building the camp or in the clay pit or let off steam on the forest course. There is an unparalleled view of the Thaya river from here in calm weather. Nationalpark Thayatal 5 25 reviews #1 of 4 things to do in Hardegg National Parks Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying By Manfred F " Nice stay " Oct 2020 Cool shop to bring everything home you have enjoyed there, books, handcraft souvenirs, animal and botanic foto books, outdoor tools. Some concrete bunkers are evidence of the previous fortification. The basis for the national park is the Lower Austrian National Park Act. In places where economic interference has left its marks, where conifers were planted in inappropriate locations, the national park staff is trying to foster the growth of indigenous trees. The Thayatal trail then goes downhill again. The National Park is exceptional as these rocks belong to the oldest mountain range in Austria. The highest point is the gneiss mountain around which the Thaya flows. 8. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible service on our website. Gesuse National Park. There is a power source, the price is 1 Eur for 6 hours. Wild camping in national parks in Austria is prohibited. Copyright Niedersterreich-Werbung GmbH Lower Austria's official web portal for tourism and culture, Panoramabild vom Foyer des Nationalparkhauses. Saralinska - CC BY-SA 4.0 Docnd80 - CC BY-SA 3.0 at Herbert wie - CC BY-SA 4.0. Animals that would be categorised as belonging to Pannonian-Central European fauna, such as dice snakes and green lizards, can primarily be found in the Thayatal National Park. The once widespread European crayfish is one of the highly endangered species due to river engineering and pollution as well as crayfish plague and displacement by North American species. If so, save this link for later or share it with your friends. Joint activities to phase out borders in mind An important field of cooperation are research activities. The Thayatal is an impressive valley with steep cliffs and gentle meadows, natural forests and a fascinating fauna. The Neusiedler See-Seewinkel and Thayatal national parks stretch across the border with Hungary and the Czech Republic respectively. Thayatal National Park Hiking in Thayatal National Park Hiking in Our Tour recommendations are based on thousands of activities completed by other people on komoot. We discovered both of them. The Thayatal is one of the last semi-natural valley landscapes in Central Europe.It is an impressive valley with steep cliffs and gentle meadows, natural forests, and fascinating fauna. tschergrben 2022 - Austria's most popular hiking destination. Another highlight of Thayatal National Park is the wild cat enclosure, which at 400m2 is the largest in Austria. Since 1975 the municipality comprises the Katastralgemeinden of . Thayatal National Park is a 13.3 km2 Austrian national park located in the Lower Austrian border area with the Czech Republic. The 5 km long circular trail gets its name from a legendary hermit from the time of the crusades, who is said to have lived in a rock face here. All Trails, Best Trails In Thayatal National Park. The Thayatal is one of the last semi-natural valley landscapes in Central Europe. Part of the trail is designed as a wildcat themed trail. There is a drinking water source, the price is 1 Eur for 100 liters. The drive from Brno is just a little over an hour. In addition to the Thayatal region, the Donau Auen National Park is also located here. We did our own mountain biking trail which was a combination of various existing routes, with that we started and ended at the parking space where we parked our camper.The map of our trail named Thayatal and Podyji National Park is shown here, our trail is marked in purple with white crosses: An interactive map of the trail together with the downloadable recorded GPX file you find here: Attractions & Recommendations:There are many attractions and interesting places in the Thayatal National Park and Podyji National Park: The Magic Castle in the village of Hardegg, The bridge (for hikers and cyclists only)between Austria and the Czech Republic, The only preserved piece of the Iron Curtain on the border from the old days (in the village of Cizov). Many endangered species have found a home and refuge here. Thayatal National Park. Der Green Canyon sterreichs ist ein einzigartiger Naturschatz. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. Good to know The protected area combines 44% of native flora into just 0.016% of the land area of Austria. The national park is conveniently located just a 1 hour drive from Vienna. Sturdy footwear and endurance are required. Part of the protected area is located in the Czech Republic, where you will find it called Podyj National Park. You can hike as much as you want, but there is also a bus service, or renting bicycles is also a suitable alternative. Our rangers accompany the adventure days and an evening programme during the stay. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. The feeding shows are a highlight for visitors. The deadwood found in the forest national park is therefore very suited to the largest beetle in Europe. To view this content, you need to accept our Cookies. See tours. Its fauna is very similar to its neighbour in Austria; only it covers a much larger area, 63 km2 (about five times the size of the Austrian Thayatal). The diversified geological bedrock, of a respectable age of up to 600 million years, is fascinating. On the other side of the river Thaya (called Dyje on the Czech side), there is a Czech National Park Podyji. The Thayatal National Park was established in 2000 and recognised by the IUCN as a protected area under category II in 2001. Then browse our collection of routes around this beautiful natural park in Hollabrunn below. AT, E-Mail: office@np-thayatal.at It is a steep valley embedded in natural forests located at the border of northern Lower Austria and the Czech Republic. And as it is right next to the Czech Republics Nrodn park Podyj, the outdoor enjoyment transcends national boundaries. Podyj is one of the Czech Republic's four national parks. Enables the use of the Vienna Government-Map service. The strong house means a castle in this case, which still stands today, although it was damaged by the 30-year war and by the great fire of 1764, which swept through the entire settlement. All of Austria's national parks meet IUCN Category II standards. Klima, Gesteine und die Mander der Thaya schaffen einzigartige Lebensbedingungen. It connects to the Czech Podyj National Park. This page was last edited on 7 November 2022, at 13:25. The old town hall of Hardegg has been home to the Kultur.Punkt gallery since 2006. You will also pass by castles and palaces reflecting the cultural heritage of the area. Both areas preserve the river world for posterity. 95 km).From the west:A 1 Linz - St. Plten, St. Plten express road - Krems, via Eggenburg and Pulkau to Hardegg.From the north:In Znojmo (Znaim) after Thayabrcke turn right towards Retz. 2 hours and 6 km / round trip: 3 hours and 9.5 km. In der Wildkatzen-Anlage bei Nationalparkhaus aber knnen Sie die Eleganz und Wildheit der seltenen Wildtiere beobachten. You can find many alternative programs here if you want to do something besides hiking and walking. Auf engstem Raum hat die Thaya Lebensrume und Waldtypen mit einer berraschenden Vielfalt geschaffen. Nationalparks stellen sicher, dass sich die Natur mglichst frei und ohne menschliche Eingriffe entwickeln und entfalten darf. These sections shows you some of the characteristic wildlife to the national park. The so-called shared park is located in the northern part of Austria. 100 km an Wander- und Radwege gibt es im Nationalpark Thayatal-Podyj zu entdecken. It was agreed between the republic and the federal state back in 1997. The conservation area is located on a distinct climatic border where Continental and Central European flora and fauna mix. Mountain Bike Trails in Thayatal National Park: See the top 5 most beautiful MTB routes and trails with personal tips from other mountain bikers. 90% of the park is forested. The varied range of information and activities for visitors to the Thayatal National Park invite us to uncover the secrets of the Green Canyon. Thayatal National Park is a 13.3km2 Austrian national park located in the Lower Austrian border area with the Czech Republic. In one , the trail turns right and leads through the forest on the high plain to an asphalted road. The European otter is a fun sighting playing in or along the river. But for anyone who would prefer to explore the area on two wheels, there are also lots of well-signposted bicycle routes. The most popular town in the area is Hardegg, which is just 1.5 hours away from St Plten (the capital o the province). Subject to modifications.office@np-thayatal.athttp://www.np-thayatal.at/en/pages/default.aspx, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Covering part of the Thaya valley in Lower Austria and the Czech Republic. With its forest wilderness and idyllic river landscape, this gem in the High North provides a habitat to animals such as the European wildcat, which seemed to have disappeared from Austria a long time ago. The protected area in Lower Austria was only established at the turn of the millennium to protect the natural treasures of the countryside. Geprgt durch die markanten Mander und Umlaufberge der Thaya, berrascht das "Tal der Vielfalt" mit beeindruckenden Ausblicken, einer Flle an Tier- und Pflanzenarten und vielen Orten, die sich ihren unberhrten, ursprnglichen Charakter erhalten haben. There are mainly hiking trails leading through the forest. Enables the use of the OpenStreetMap service. Country . A see-through dome gives them the chance to come eye-to-eye with these majestic creatures. There are often forests surrounding the protected areas where you can forage. There are plenty of places to see and visit in Thayatal National Park. Also, on the way, you will find the Brenmhle meadow, where a hermit lived. The Thayatal-Podyj National Park along the border to the Czech Republic encompasses unspoiled countryside rich . This protected area is also known as the Thaya Valley National Park, and then sometimes it is combined with the neighboring Podyji National Park in the Czech Republic and referred to as the Thayatal-Podyji National Park. They are considered to be extinct in Austria, but they were rediscovered in the Thayatal National Park. You may stumble upon some conifers during your trip (e.g. Merkersdorf 90, 2082 HardeggTel. The Thayatal is an impressive valley with steep cliffs and gentle meadows, natural forests and a fascinating fauna. From here, you can enjoy the view of Hardegg over the dam. The national park is located on Austria's border with the Czech Republic and . Both national parks protect the beautiful canyon-like valley of the river Dyje. School classes and youth groups with up to 60 participants are very welcome here. The National Park Thayatal is the smallest in Austria, and yet one can explore natures diversity here in small and big ways. Das ist auch gut so, denn die Natur kennt keine politischen Grenzen. Click to get infos around you. Wichtigste Ziele eines Nationalparks sind der Artenschutz und der Erhalt der genetischen Vielfalt. Ein Besuch bei Frieda & Carlo darf daher nicht fehlen. Natural Environment The unique landscape of the Thayatal. You will arrive back at the National Park Centre via the Kirchensteig, which starts behind the fire station or opposite the parking area of the Hardegg castle. If you can only spend a short time in the park, but want to feel like you've completed a full trail, then the Hennerweg route is for you. Some of the vegetation is endangered increasing the value of the protected area. The trail goes back along the hollow-way for a short distance, a steep path turns right and uphill and passes through oak and hornbeam populations. By carFrom Vienna:A 22 until Stockerau, B 303 to Hollabrunn and onwards via Guntersdorf and Retz to Merkersdorf and Hardegg (approx. In 1988 and 1991 two areas along the Thaya are placed under nature protection by ordinance of the Lower Austrian state government. This is an official map of hiking and cycling trails on the territories of both National Parks (Thayatal in Austria and Podyji in the Czech Republic), hiking trails in red color, cycling trails in green color.