Getting here
How to reach the Kölblwirt Inn at Johnsbach in the Gesäuse National Park
As you approach Johnsbach you will already gain an unmistakable impression of the breath-taking beauty of the landscape surrounding you. The Gesäuse road meanders along the Enns River and through the "Gesäuse-Eingang", the gateway to the region. Rocks, mountains, rivers and spectacular views come into sight. Just when you think the North face of the Gesäuse Mountains will block any further progress, that’s the moment to turn onto the road leading though one of the most beautiful of all Alpine valleys that takes you to the mountaineering village of Johnsbach.
Autofahrt von Norden
If you are travelling from the North, take the Phyrnautobahn A9 motorway towards the south and take the exit Ardning/Liezen. As you look towards the horizon, you will already see the Gesäuse mountain range. This is where you want to go. After a few kilometres, you will reach the town of Admont. From there, take the Bundesstraße 146 road, leading to Gesäuse/Hieflau. After passing the aforementioned Gesäuse Eingang, take a right turn when you see the National Park Willow Dome Discovery Centre, and follow the road for a few kilometres to Johnsbach. Drive through the centre of the village and continue on the main road towards the head of the valley, and you will find the Kölblwirt Inn on your left.
Getting here by car from the east
If you are travelling to Johnsbach from Vienna, Austria’s magnificent capital, we recommend the A1 Westautobahn motorway. Johnsbach can be reached via two different routes. You can either take the exit Ybbs/Wieselburg and follow the Bundesstraße 25 national road through a stunning natural landscape straight to your holiday. This drive will take you along Scheibbs, Lunz am See, and to the Palfau region, where you will soon reach the Gesäusestraße 115 road. Continue your drive via Hieflau and Gstatterboden until you reach the turn to Johnsbach. Take it and follow the road for a few kilometres towards Johnsbach. Drive through the village centre and towards the head of the valley and you will find the Kölblwirt Inn located on your left. As an alternative route, you can stay on the A1 motorway until the exit Amstetten and continue on the Bundesstraße 121 national road until Weyer, where you take road 115 to the Gesäuse. After Palfau, drive to the Kölblwirt as described above.
Getting here by car from the west
If you are travelling to Johnsbach from the west – i.e. from around Salzburg –, leave the Tauernautobahn motorway at the motorway junction in Pongau and follow the Bundesstraße E651 national road towards Graz. On this route, you will pass the well-known winter sports towns Radstadt and Schladming and the impressive Dachstein Mountain. After approx. one hour you will reach the town of Liezen, and about 20 km later you will be in the historic town of Admont. You have now reached the gate to the Gesäuse National Park. After passing Admont, follow the Bundesstraße 146 road towards Gesäuse/Hieflau. After passing the aforementioned Gesäuse Eingang, take a right turn when you see the National Park Willow Dome Discovery Centre, and follow the road for a few kilometres to Johnsbach. Drive through the centre of the village and continue on the main road towards the head of the valley, and you will find the Kölblwirt Inn on your left.
Getting here by car from the south
If you are travelling from Graz, follow the A9 Phyrnautobahn motorway towards the north and take the exit Ardning/Liezen. You are now in the region of Upper Styria. As you look towards the horizon you will already see the Gesäuse mountain range. This is where you want to go. After a few kilometres, you will reach the town of Admont. From there, take the Bundesstraße No. 146 national road, leading to Gesäuse/Hieflau. After passing the aforementioned Gesäuse Eingang, take a right when you see the national park’s Willow Dome Discovery Centre, and follow the road for a few kilometres to Johnsbach. Drive through the centre of the village and continue on the main road towards the head of the valley, and you will find the Kölblwirt Inn on your left.
Getting here without a car
We are very much in favour of visitors travelling to Johnsbach by train. We recommend you take a train to either Liezen or Selzthal and then use a taxi or the shuttle service that brings you most conveniently to the Kölblwirt in Johnsbach. Enjoy the ride, there is a lot to see. Thanks to the unique XEISSPUR project, the whole endeavour is remarkably easy and affordable. Once you have reached Johnsbach, we and Xeisspur will do everything in our power to help you explore the region without needing your own car. In Johnsbach, everything is within easy reach and we gladly provide you with an electric scooter for short hauls. In case you require a rental car for experiencing the whole region, we will also happily assist you – again the keyword is Xeisspur.
