Hollfall Waterfall, Waldviertel, Austria

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The Waldviertel, or Forest Quarter, is the northwestern part of Lower Austria, bordering the Czech Republic. It is a high, rolling plateau of granite and gneiss, part of the ancient Bohemian Massif, covered in dense spruce and pine forest and broken up by meadows, ponds, moors and scattered villages. The climate is cooler and rougher than in the rest of Lower Austria, and the region has long been known for its quiet, somewhat remote character. Water shapes much of the landscape. Small rivers and streams such as the Kamp, the Krems and the Ysper cut narrow valleys and gorges through the hard rock, tumbling over boulders and forming cascades and small waterfalls along the way. Walking trails follow many of these streams, leading through mossy woodland where the sound of rushing water, rounded granite blocks and shaded pools set the mood. The region is also known for its castles and monasteries, its traditional crafts, and its fishponds, especially around Gmünd and Heidenreichstein. For visitors, the Waldviertel offers hiking, cycling and a slower pace of travel, with streamside walks to cascades among its quieter pleasures.