A little break in the countryside always does you good. Together with a friend, I spent some time in the southeast of Upper Austria. We stayed on a farm in Losenstein for a few days and not only got to know the region but also learned how to work with herbs. Find my tips for a cosy farm holiday in Losenstein at the herbal farm Miesrigl and things to do in the surrounding area in this blog post. 
The smell of hay and countryside is in the air. The bells of the goats ring from the meadow. The wind rustles in the trees and elsewhere it is quiet. No street noise. No sign of rush. Perfect for a relaxing holiday with a good friend.
And yet this trip is a little different. Many think of a girls’ holiday as wellness, hot thermal springs or a city trip to a European capital city. This year everything is different anyway, so why not take a little time out. Instead of long-distance travel, we explore our home country, instead of getting to know unknown habits, we get to know our traditions and instead of hip hotels, we have a farm holiday and lots of nature all around us.
Herbal Farm Miesrigl in Losenstein
For our farm holiday adventure, we decided on the herbal farm Miesrigl in Losenstein. We were looking for a place that was located in a part of Upper Austria that we didn’t know yet.
The Herbal Farm Miesrigl is one of the National Park farms in the Upper Austrian Enns Valley and – as the name suggests – has dedicated itself entirely to the world of herbs. Our host Cornelia processes all the herbs that grow in her garden and in the surrounding fields and woods in one form or another at her farm. Be it refreshing mint syrups, herbal teas, schnapps, herbal pillows or herbal salts. If you are on holiday at Cornelia’s farm at the right time, you can ask her to show you how to make herbal pillows at home. The perfect programme for bad weather days.
My blogger friend Jasmin and I felt particularly comfortable in the spacious holiday flat with two separate bedrooms and bathrooms. This way you can have a cosy and safe holiday with a friend even during the times of Corona.
Every morning we enjoyed breakfast with Cornelia in the farmhouse parlour on the ground floor. All kinds of local products were at the table – many of them were brought by our hostess from the surrounding farms by bicycle.
I may have fallen a little in love with the youngest of the farm cats, who accompanied me almost everywhere I went. But not only a handful of cats live here at the Herbal Farm, but also a flock of goats who work diligently as landscape architects – in other words, as lawnmowers.
What to see and do in and around Losenstein
Losenstein is ideal as a base camp for some day trips and excursions in the region. During our short holiday we did not only enjoy the time at the farm, but also visited some other places:
Castle Losenstein
In the middle of Losenstein stands a mighty rock with one of the oldest castle grounds in the federal state:
In the middle of Losenstein stands a mighty rock with one of the oldest castle grounds in the federal state: Losenstein Castle. The first castle was built here almost 900 years ago. In the 16th century, however, it was no longer needed as an administration seat and was left to deteriorate. In 1905, the state of Upper Austria bought the castle ruins and thus secured the building substance.
Today the castle ruins can be visited free of charge at any time of the day. On the castle grounds there are several fireplaces which can be used for a campfire or a cosy barbecue. There is also plenty of firewood for you to use.
From the car park it is a 5-10 minute walk along a wide path to the castle ruins. The car park is also free of charge.
Tip: For more information, there is also a new audio guide for Losenstein Castle as an app to download.
Short hike to the Anton Schosser Hut
The short hike to the Anton Schosser Hut can be perfectly combined with a visit to the Losenstein castle ruins. From the car park it is only 30 minutes – without photo stops, mind you. The hiking trail leads on the forest road along the meadow, where we also discovered some cows with their calves. When the weather is clear, the view along the path is simply fantastic and you can see far into the valley and the Alps behind it.
Recently new tenants have taken over the Anton Schosser Hut, who take care of the well-being of the hikers and mountain bikers. We recommend chive bread and Kaiserschmarrn.
If the 30 minutes of hiking are too short for you, follow the signs to the Hohe Dirn, which is another 30 minutes away.
Nail smith trail in Losenstein
The Nail Smith Trail in Losenstein begins virtually at the cemetery or the supermarket Billa. On a short journey through the past, this themed trail is dedicated to the production of nails. The work of the hand forged nails is described on information boards. If you book in advance, you can take a guided tour of this trail and make nails yourself.
Straussi’s Farm Shop (Straussi’s Hofladen)
On the day of our arrival we already spotted the sign for Straussi’s Hofladen on the main road. On our journey home we stopped for a short break to have a look inside. This farm shop is unique: modernly furnished with a huge range of products of delicacies and useful things. Not only their products but also some from other farms can be found here. Straussi’s farm shop is a self-service shop – all products have a barcode or can be entered manually at the cash register.
If you are ever in the area, be sure to stop by. I can recommend the delicious mint syrup, the freshly baked bread, the frozen Kaspressknödel for a soup and the chocolate-coated pumpkin seeds.
Where to eat – restaurant tips
Rau – nature based cooking: This restaurant would probably deserve its own blog post. You would expect a place like Rau in the major metropolises – and not hidden somewhere in the countryside. Michelin-crowned chef Klemens Schraml and his team create exquisite dishes and serve their creations. The ingredients all source from the region and you can taste this difference with every bite. Rau is probably the best insider tip in Upper Austria! Speaking of insider tips: you must enjoy the chocolate mousse as a dessert.
Forellenhof: The Forellenhof in Laussa is a good address for fish lovers. Especially recommended is the house style trout – that is, breaded in almond flakes.
Craftwerk: We actually wanted to try one of the homemade beers in the pub in Großraming and have a snack. Unfortunately, the pub does not match the internet presence at all and the penetrating smell of cigarettes and deep fryer made us give up our plan and eat somewhere else.
Looking for more tips for Upper Austria? There you go:
One day in Linz
What to see and do in Hallstatt
Summertime in St. Wolfgang am Wolfgangsee
How about some more Austria travel tips?
Austria Bucket List
A perfect day in Salzburg
The best photography spots in Salzburg
Fun Facts about Salzburg
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With support from the Federal and Regional Government and the European Union (LE 14-20).
