The area of the Willersdorfer Gorge begins in Willersdorf, a district of Oberschützen, and extends northward to the approximately 6 km distant Three-Country Corner, the border between the federal states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Burgenland. About halfway along the route, a side valley branches off toward Aschau, also a district of Oberschützen. Immediately to the northeast, the Bernsteiner Mountains adjoin the area. The entire length of the area is traversed by the Willersbach, which has retained its originality up to Oberschützen. The entire region is climatically influenced by the Wechsel.
The Willersdorfer Gorge - Aschauer Au is unique in both biological and geological-geographical terms. As an outlier of the Wechsel massif, the area is part of the Central Alps of Austria, which is also reflected in the presence of montane and alpine flora and fauna elements. A large portion of the area is forested, with the slopes particularly highlighted by mixed forests consisting of hornbeam, ash, and mountain maple. At higher elevations, European beech, occasionally mountain elm, and even green alder can be observed. In autumn, these mixed forest stands are of exceptional landscape beauty. The vegetation of typical gorge forests, with beautiful alder stands along the valley floor, indicates high humidity and good water supply.
Particularly interesting is the valley floor with its differently developed valley meadows (wet, marshy, and even dry meadow areas), which provide essential habitats for a great diversity of plants and animals. These extensively maintained meadows have been increasingly afforested, especially after several flood events, or fallen into fallow, which has sustainably affected the landscape.
Numerous efforts have been undertaken in recent years and decades to secure this gem with its high biodiversity in the long term, unfortunately so far without success. However, as part of an ÖPUL program (Austrian Program for Rural Development) coordinated by the Austrian Nature Conservation Union, a meadow restoration project was launched and implemented in 2004.
In 2006, a nature experience trail with eight stations, covering various thematic areas related to the landscape was established. From a cultural-historical perspective, the Willersdorfer Gorge - Aschauer Au also holds some special features. The once continuous meadow landscape was an important milling region in historical times, of which only a few witnesses remain today. The Valtl Mill is privately owned and serves today as a residence. The Patrizl Mill is only remaining as a ruin, and there is also the Kirnbauer Mill at the end of the valley floor before the village of Loipersdorf.
Right at the entrance of the valley on a left-side slope called Schlossleiten once stood a small castle complex, which remains only in modest ruins today. It was presumably built in the 12th and 13th centuries as a fore-and main castle. The fortification likely existed until the 16th century, after which it was abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair. Several stories surround the castle, with the most famous being the tale of "Schlosshansl," who was a notorious robber lurking primarily for the passing traders and merchants.
(Text: Josef Weinzettl)
