Merkenstein

Vienna Woods is the most northern foothill of the northern limestone Alps and consequently also the most eastern bouldering region of the Alps. All the bouldering areas are part of the typical Vienna Woods landscape: rolling country with beautiful deciduous woodlands. Scattered around the castle ruin of Merkenstein there are more than 200 boulders and thus make this area the biggest and most well-known bouldering area of the region. One usually boulders on quite small jugs of breccia for which you need a lot of callus! The ratings are not as difficult anymore as they used to be but you still won’t find any easy lines. The Merken- stein area was mostly developed by Roman Patlik — just like the Vienna Woods region as well. Only since recently the access to sector ‘Sperrgebiet’ has been prohibited. Unfortunately this sector has one of the best blocks of the Vienna Woods area which now cannot be climbed anymore.