Introduction

Dear participants,
That was fast! In less than 2 months, all spots for this year's safari were pre-reserved and then firmly allocated. Thank you very much for your interest, we're already really looking forward to our weekend together in September!
 
Now that our group is complete, we wanted to give you an update on the schedule and logistics. On this page we've gathered all the necessary information so you have the program and locations at your fingertips. Below you'll find:

• Schedule
• Locations and addresses
• Recommended equipment

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Schedule

Friday, September 18 – Arrival day & home course

• By 3:30 PM - Independent arrival at the Hotel Maurerwirt (Kirchschlag 46, 4202 Kirchschlag bei Linz)
•  4:00 PM – Sighting-in and flying start on one of the 3 courses of the nearby Bogensportzentrum Breitenstein (about 10 min walk from the hotel). If you arrive later, one of the two shorter courses is recommended.
• 7:00 PM – Check-in at the Hotel Maurerwirt (if not already done earlier)
• 8:00 PM – dinner together at the hotel

 
Saturday, September 19 – Waldenfels course & picnic

• 8:00 AM – Breakfast at the hotel
• 10:00 AM – Drive (about 30 min) to Parcours Waldenfels (Hayrl 16, 4193 Hayrl) and picking up supplies on the way (Hofer in Hellmonsödt or Billa in Reichenau)
• 11:00 AM – Sighting-in and flying start on one of the two courses
• 2:00 PM –  Picnic together at the course hut
• 3:00 PM – 2nd round on the Parcours Waldenfels or at the Bogensportzentrum Breitenstein
• 7:00 PM – dinner together at the hotel
• 8:30 PM – Evening program

 
Sunday, September 20 – Stoneface Archery course, picnic & return trip

• 8:00 AM – Breakfast at the hotel
• Before 10:00 AM – Check-out from the hotel
• 10:00 AM – Drive (about 1 hour) to Stoneface Archery (Windhing 11, 4273 Unterweißenbach)
• 11:00 AM – Sighting-in followed by a flying start
• 2:00 PM – Picnic together
• 3:00 PM – Drive back to Vienna

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Recommended equipmenT

Most of us already know this from experience, but a reminder never hurts, especially when we're on the move for three days straight. Here are the key points, split into non-negotiables and useful extras.
 
Non-negotiable

• Sturdy footwear: at least trekking shoes, ideally proper hiking boots. Especially at Breitenstein and Stoneface there's uneven, sometimes boggy terrain, and we don't want to risk wet feet or a twisted ankle.
• Weatherproof outdoor clothing: a rain jacket belongs in everyone's bag, along with sturdy, freely-moving trousers. Mühlviertel weather can turn quickly even in late summer.
• A water bottle per person; on hot days we tend to underestimate how much walking three rounds a day really involves.
• A backpack for food and drink. On two of the three days we'll be picnicking along the way, so please remember to pack provisions for that too.
• At least 6 arrows per person, more rather than fewer, in case one disappears into the bushes or gets damaged.

 
Useful extras

• A finger tab/glove and quiver, if not already a fixed part of your gear.
• Sun protection (sunscreen and possibly a hat), especially on the more open meadow sections at Breitenstein and Waldenfels.
• Insect repellent, the wooded stretches along the Kettenbach at Waldenfels are practically an open invitation to mosquitoes.
• A small first-aid kit for scrapes or blisters, since we're not always quickly back at a car between targets.
• Some cash for on-site registration (envelope system at Stoneface) and for the shop at Breitenstein, in case anyone wants to pick up extra gear on the spot.
• A spare set of nocks or some tape for repairs along the way, wear and tear tends to show over three intense days.
• Sunglasses, especially for shots facing the open meadow areas.

 
Anyone who likes can of course also pack a camera for a few keepsake photos, the rock formations at Stoneface and the dino targets in particular are worth capturing.

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​Locations und Addresses

Hotel Maurerwirt
For our overnight stays during the archery safari, we've chosen the Maurerwirt, conveniently located right in Kirchschlag bei Linz and just a stone's throw from the Bogensportzentrum Breitenstein. The house combines a traditional guesthouse with a family-run, genuinely cozy atmosphere and a modern seminar hotel, designed in earthy tones according to building-biology principles. The location, at a healthy altitude, offers a panoramic view of the Alps and plenty of peace and quiet to put our feet up after two intense days of archery. On the culinary side, hearty, down-to-earth home cooking with a regional twist awaits us, mostly using produce from organic farmers in Kirchschlag, plus a large wine cellar. From previous visits we already know the friendly, personal service from the team and are looking forward to returning.
 
Address: Kirchschlag 46, 4202 Kirchschlag bei Linz
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LEKebE146zKhDYiF7

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Bogensportzentrum Breitenstein
Our safari kicks off at Europe's largest archery center, only about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. No fewer than three courses await us here: the red one with 36, the yellow one with 28, and the blue one with 20 stations, adding up to well over 80 3D targets inviting us to explore the grounds extensively. While the yellow round has a classic character, the blue one is especially popular with kids thanks to its more unusual targets, and the red round challenges the more sporty among us. Scenically varied and mostly easy to walk, the blue round in particular calls for sturdy footwear in its boggier spots. As an infrastructure highlight, we'll find the center's huge in-house shop, ideal for stocking up on gear along the way, as well as vending machines in the main building; there are no fixed rest stops or seating on the courses themselves, though, so we should bring our own food. Restrooms are available right on site. The center is very busy on weekends, all the more reason to enjoy the first safari day while the crowds are still manageable.
 
Address: Am Breitenstein 11, 4202 Kirchschlag bei Linz
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BMt7zxjbgbXWFjjD8

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Bogensport Waldenfels
Our safari continues to a true classic of the scene: Waldenfels has been one of the "Big Five archery courses" in the Mühlviertel region for years and sits idyllically near the count's castle. Since opening in 2007, two rounds with a total of 60 3D targets await us here, the Sportparcours with 32 and the Kleiner Parcours with 28 targets, suited to seasoned tournament archers and more relaxed shooters alike. The paths run almost entirely through shady forest and along the Kettenbach stream, which is just as pleasant on hot days as on rainy ones. Both rounds have well-stocked rest stops and lovely seating around the clubhouse that invite us to linger. The parking lot is spacious, registration in the cozy clubhouse, heated even in winter, is uncomplicated, and a restroom is right nearby. There's no shop here, but rental options are available with advance notice. Both the more ambitious and the more action-oriented members of our group will get their money's worth on this day, before we head into the grand finale.
 
Address: Hayrl 16, 4193 Hayrl
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cuZ1M5j7tmZKZXP49

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Stoneface Archery
Our safari wraps up at the trip's highest-rated destination, rated 4.96 out of 5 stars: a connoisseur's course in a dreamlike landscape right in the middle of the Mühlviertler Alm, run by the Haneder family. Two rounds await us, a main round with 32 (or 20 in the short version) targets, plus a separate "Jurassic Parcours" with six dinosaur targets, a real highlight for anyone with a taste for the unusual. The course is laid out as a thoughtfully designed figure-eight, passes striking Mühlviertel granite formations, and offers picturesque views. Thanks to well-built boardwalks, it stays safely walkable even after rain. Scenically, this is without doubt the high point of our three days: rock formations, forest, and a roughly 800 m² pond define the setting. Right by that pond is also the rest stop for the first round, and on top of that we return to the clubhouse several times, where further refreshments are available. On site there's also an archery shop with equipment rental as well as a restroom. The shots are rated as moderately to sportingly challenging, especially from the red peg, a fitting, action-packed finish to our safari, before heading back to Vienna.
 
Address: Windhing 11, 4273 Unterweißenbach
Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aPAxPcTfkXz7GsYs8