Parcour reviews
When you hear the word "parcours" for the first time, you immediately think of the French urban running, which involves a lot of acrobatic and dangerous jumps. Naturally, an archer will shiver at the idea of having to run and hop around in full gear, waving pointy arrows around and possibly damaging an expensive piece of equipment. The archery parcours are, of course, an entirely different matter. Some call them a hunting simulation. Others refer to them as 3D archery on uneven terrain. Regardless of the name, a 3D parcours is a unique experience. You go through a forest or a grassy plain, up- or downhill, the important thing is you are out in the nature. The targets are not the familiar colourful concentric rings, but rather life-sized animal models made from a porous material and painted as truthfully as possible. They are not only your usual forest friends like wolves, bears and goats, but can also include giant spiders, dinosaurs and everything else your fantasy can come up with. The shooting distances are always different, you have to stay stable in a generally slippery environment, sometimes you have to shoot at sharp angles up or down. And if that is not a challenge enough for you, you can try your aim at moving and half-hidden targets.
We of Arco-Vienna love 3D parours. We also love to visit different ones with our archers. It just so happens that they are not very close to Vienna. A day trip is more of a rule rather than an exception, and when you do not know where to go and what to do, your experience can be somewhat spoiled. Therefore, we make scouting trips to different parcours and share our experiences. These reviews on this page were written by Robert Ertl (top). Robert is one of our most enthusiastic archers and our private web design guru. He rides a motorbike and is really really cool. Here you can find detailed descriptions of several 3D parcours in Austria and Bavaria. Robert has put a lot of effort into making his reviews, and has included arrival instructions, pictures, landscape, elevation profile and even an up-to-date weather map of the parcours.
We of Arco-Vienna love 3D parours. We also love to visit different ones with our archers. It just so happens that they are not very close to Vienna. A day trip is more of a rule rather than an exception, and when you do not know where to go and what to do, your experience can be somewhat spoiled. Therefore, we make scouting trips to different parcours and share our experiences. These reviews on this page were written by Robert Ertl (top). Robert is one of our most enthusiastic archers and our private web design guru. He rides a motorbike and is really really cool. Here you can find detailed descriptions of several 3D parcours in Austria and Bavaria. Robert has put a lot of effort into making his reviews, and has included arrival instructions, pictures, landscape, elevation profile and even an up-to-date weather map of the parcours.
Lower Austria Salzburg Tirol
Aggsbach Markt
The Aggsbach Markt parcours is managed by WBU Aggsbach Markt. It is close to Melk in Lower Austria. Click here for detailed arrival instructions. The parking place is in front of the club house and has its own WC. Right next to the club house, there is a small practice range with targets at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 metres. There is also a large table with two benches, where you can have a wonderful view over the practice range. The Red Route starts on the left side and should be navigated clockwise. The Blue Route is on the right side and should be navigated counter-clockwise. They have 15 targets each and they both end a bit above the club house. In this way, you can take a short rest in between, which is not a bad idea after the Red Route – it is quite difficult to follow it. The animals are very nicely blended into the landscape and in a good condition, as well as very varied. There are some trick shots and nice long shots. (I was there shortly after a tournament and they told me that the targets are usually placed... Read more
The Aggsbach Markt parcours is managed by WBU Aggsbach Markt. It is close to Melk in Lower Austria. Click here for detailed arrival instructions. The parking place is in front of the club house and has its own WC. Right next to the club house, there is a small practice range with targets at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 metres. There is also a large table with two benches, where you can have a wonderful view over the practice range. The Red Route starts on the left side and should be navigated clockwise. The Blue Route is on the right side and should be navigated counter-clockwise. They have 15 targets each and they both end a bit above the club house. In this way, you can take a short rest in between, which is not a bad idea after the Red Route – it is quite difficult to follow it. The animals are very nicely blended into the landscape and in a good condition, as well as very varied. There are some trick shots and nice long shots. (I was there shortly after a tournament and they told me that the targets are usually placed... Read more
Irenental
The Irenental Parcours, owned by Club NaturAktiv, is close to Unter Tullnerbach (Purkersdorf). The start/finish points and the practice range are by the club house, at Irenentalstraße 6. You can hire equipment and there should be at least one person from the club every day. Training sessions or target practice at the spacious practice range are also possible. The targets are usually equipped with backstops. The backstops are rarely well integrated into the scenery, except behind the buffalo at parcours 2, where it is hidden in the bush. Some targets have natural earth backstops. The line of sight is always direct, without obstacles, so trick shots are not needed... Read more.
The Irenental Parcours, owned by Club NaturAktiv, is close to Unter Tullnerbach (Purkersdorf). The start/finish points and the practice range are by the club house, at Irenentalstraße 6. You can hire equipment and there should be at least one person from the club every day. Training sessions or target practice at the spacious practice range are also possible. The targets are usually equipped with backstops. The backstops are rarely well integrated into the scenery, except behind the buffalo at parcours 2, where it is hidden in the bush. Some targets have natural earth backstops. The line of sight is always direct, without obstacles, so trick shots are not needed... Read more.
Kreuttal
Parcours Kreuttal is managed by the Archery Club Russbach close to Wolkersdorf. The start/end of and the practice range are in the forest, around 500 m after Hornsbach in Kreuttal, left of the gravel parking. The practice range is rather small and some of the targets are old enough to allow an arrow to pass right through. Be careful. The parcours targets are usually in a good condition and nicely positioned in the surroundings. Most of them have a naturally looking backstop or an earthen wall. There are some exceptions, especially target 2 (a wild boar with thick scrubs behind it) and several others, where an arrow loss is quite possible. You may want to skip one or the other target if... Read more.
Parcours Kreuttal is managed by the Archery Club Russbach close to Wolkersdorf. The start/end of and the practice range are in the forest, around 500 m after Hornsbach in Kreuttal, left of the gravel parking. The practice range is rather small and some of the targets are old enough to allow an arrow to pass right through. Be careful. The parcours targets are usually in a good condition and nicely positioned in the surroundings. Most of them have a naturally looking backstop or an earthen wall. There are some exceptions, especially target 2 (a wild boar with thick scrubs behind it) and several others, where an arrow loss is quite possible. You may want to skip one or the other target if... Read more.
Muthmannsdorf
Parcours Muthmannsdorf is owned by Archery Club Diana (Traxler). Arrival via highway exit Wöllersdorf in the direction of Wöllersdorf, then left towards Dreistetten and on towards Muthmanssdorf. At Gasthof Friedrich (Hauptstraße 40, in the curve) fill out the Archery Booklet and pay the ticket – you will receive a yellow piece of paper as a confirmation. Then drive back (towards Dreistetten) for about 50 m and turn right in the Mühlweg, then take the second right. Continue 100 m along a dirt road into the forest until you reach a small parking area with three tables and benches. Walk along the leftmost road towards the practice range. The targets are placed up to 60m distance and are very hard; you may need a puller to take your arrows out. They are mostly made of straw, some are foam. The practice range is not... Read more
Parcours Muthmannsdorf is owned by Archery Club Diana (Traxler). Arrival via highway exit Wöllersdorf in the direction of Wöllersdorf, then left towards Dreistetten and on towards Muthmanssdorf. At Gasthof Friedrich (Hauptstraße 40, in the curve) fill out the Archery Booklet and pay the ticket – you will receive a yellow piece of paper as a confirmation. Then drive back (towards Dreistetten) for about 50 m and turn right in the Mühlweg, then take the second right. Continue 100 m along a dirt road into the forest until you reach a small parking area with three tables and benches. Walk along the leftmost road towards the practice range. The targets are placed up to 60m distance and are very hard; you may need a puller to take your arrows out. They are mostly made of straw, some are foam. The practice range is not... Read more
Puchberg (Forellenhof)
Parcours Losenheim at Forellenhof is around 5.5 km from Puchberg. The start and the practice range are next to the fish ponds, directly by the parking place of Forellenhof. You pay in the Gasthaus Forellenhof – 10 €, 2 of which are for a drink. The targets are in a mostly good condition. Some have suffered a lot, but this is only visible close up, so it is not so tragic yet. They are nicely situated in the surroundings. The targets around the fish pond have straw rolls as backstops, and the others are positioned in such a way, so that an arrow loss is not probable (unless you miscalculate the elevation). The practice range offers larger distances of up to 60 m. The targets there are also straw rolls, there some animals as well... Read more.
Parcours Losenheim at Forellenhof is around 5.5 km from Puchberg. The start and the practice range are next to the fish ponds, directly by the parking place of Forellenhof. You pay in the Gasthaus Forellenhof – 10 €, 2 of which are for a drink. The targets are in a mostly good condition. Some have suffered a lot, but this is only visible close up, so it is not so tragic yet. They are nicely situated in the surroundings. The targets around the fish pond have straw rolls as backstops, and the others are positioned in such a way, so that an arrow loss is not probable (unless you miscalculate the elevation). The practice range offers larger distances of up to 60 m. The targets there are also straw rolls, there some animals as well... Read more.
Reichenau
Archery Parcours Reichenau at Gasthof Flackl in Reichenau near Gloggnitz is operated by archers sportsclub Schwarzatal - Directions Motorway Gloggnitz then direction Payerbach / Reichenau / Hoellental. Turn left at the roundabout in Reichenau and follow the signs Gasthof Flackl, take the upper car park to the left. The fee is payable at the inn in the dining room - there is a book and a red cashbox which can be found on the green tiled stove. Then you have to go down the little gravel road behind the right parking lot to the forest and there is already the first target. The bullet place is at the second target and has further two bullet slices and a pink panther. The targets are not unpleasant to look at from a long distance and... Read more
Archery Parcours Reichenau at Gasthof Flackl in Reichenau near Gloggnitz is operated by archers sportsclub Schwarzatal - Directions Motorway Gloggnitz then direction Payerbach / Reichenau / Hoellental. Turn left at the roundabout in Reichenau and follow the signs Gasthof Flackl, take the upper car park to the left. The fee is payable at the inn in the dining room - there is a book and a red cashbox which can be found on the green tiled stove. Then you have to go down the little gravel road behind the right parking lot to the forest and there is already the first target. The bullet place is at the second target and has further two bullet slices and a pink panther. The targets are not unpleasant to look at from a long distance and... Read more
Schlagl
The Schlagl parcours is managed by Gashof Westermayer, close to Gloggnitz. To reach it, exit the highway towards Gloggnitz and continue in the direction of Wechselgebiet. You have to turn twice and follow the green sign “Wechselgebiet”. Afterwards, drive uphill for 4 km along several curves, and after you enter Wechselgebiet, turn left into the parking in front of the Westermayer hotel. There, you pay the parcours fee and are ready to go. The small practice range is right behind the hotel, and there is a bigger one below, on the big meadow. From there, you go until the end of the meadow and turn right into the forest to see the first target. The majority of the parcours is well marked with red-white tape, but you really have to search on several occasions. Develop that tracking skill and Read more
The Schlagl parcours is managed by Gashof Westermayer, close to Gloggnitz. To reach it, exit the highway towards Gloggnitz and continue in the direction of Wechselgebiet. You have to turn twice and follow the green sign “Wechselgebiet”. Afterwards, drive uphill for 4 km along several curves, and after you enter Wechselgebiet, turn left into the parking in front of the Westermayer hotel. There, you pay the parcours fee and are ready to go. The small practice range is right behind the hotel, and there is a bigger one below, on the big meadow. From there, you go until the end of the meadow and turn right into the forest to see the first target. The majority of the parcours is well marked with red-white tape, but you really have to search on several occasions. Develop that tracking skill and Read more
Wobachtal
The Parcours Wobachtal is managed by the outdoor club Seil und Bogen (Rope and Bow). It is close to St. Veit an der Gölsen (between Hainfeld and Traisen) in Lower Austria. For detailed arrival instructions, see their web page: http://www.seilundbogen.at/cms/anfahrt. The parking place is just below the hut, a toilet is available. Go past the hut to reach the practice range. From there on, go left and down towards the first target. Initially, the route takes you downhill and then up again almost until the hut. There, you can make a short rest and resupply your body with fluids. Then you keep going uphill and finally down towards the hut. The whole parcours is situated in the forest, which means that some places are particularly hard to navigate, especially when it rains or when it has recently rained. So... Read more.
The Parcours Wobachtal is managed by the outdoor club Seil und Bogen (Rope and Bow). It is close to St. Veit an der Gölsen (between Hainfeld and Traisen) in Lower Austria. For detailed arrival instructions, see their web page: http://www.seilundbogen.at/cms/anfahrt. The parking place is just below the hut, a toilet is available. Go past the hut to reach the practice range. From there on, go left and down towards the first target. Initially, the route takes you downhill and then up again almost until the hut. There, you can make a short rest and resupply your body with fluids. Then you keep going uphill and finally down towards the hut. The whole parcours is situated in the forest, which means that some places are particularly hard to navigate, especially when it rains or when it has recently rained. So... Read more.
Wöllersdorf
Parcours Wöllersdorf is managed by the Army Sports Club in Fischaberg. To get there exit the highway towards Wöllersdorf. Turn sharply left at the next traffic light and drive uphill, following the “Sportplatz” signs. Keep going past the “No entry” sign along a narrow street through the forest. “Ausnahme Anrainer” means except locals. Archers are local and welcome everywhere. The start/end of the parcours and the practice range are close to the sport field. There is ample parking, but you may have to drive a bit farther on weekends. Fill in the parcours book with your name, date and start time, and do not forget to fill the exit time when you are done. Again, security reasons. There is a small stand with drinks and a couple of tables and benches. It is (likely) open only during weekends, and you can also hire equipment then. The practice range offers many targets... Read more.
Parcours Wöllersdorf is managed by the Army Sports Club in Fischaberg. To get there exit the highway towards Wöllersdorf. Turn sharply left at the next traffic light and drive uphill, following the “Sportplatz” signs. Keep going past the “No entry” sign along a narrow street through the forest. “Ausnahme Anrainer” means except locals. Archers are local and welcome everywhere. The start/end of the parcours and the practice range are close to the sport field. There is ample parking, but you may have to drive a bit farther on weekends. Fill in the parcours book with your name, date and start time, and do not forget to fill the exit time when you are done. Again, security reasons. There is a small stand with drinks and a couple of tables and benches. It is (likely) open only during weekends, and you can also hire equipment then. The practice range offers many targets... Read more.
Yspertal
The Parcous Yspertal is in the vicinity of Persenbeug in Lower Austria and is managed by the Archery Club Yspertal. For directions, see their webpage: http://www.bogensportverein-yspertal.at/anfahrt.html. You can park in front of the horse stables. From there, you continue on foot, left past the building and behind it towards the club house – there is a parcours book there and, sometimes, envelopes to pay and throw in the post box. The practice range is behind the club house, and from there on you go right in front of the barn and through the gates to the first target. Initially, you will move across several meadows along the road. There are several shot across the road, so be wary of drivers. Anyway ... Read more
The Parcous Yspertal is in the vicinity of Persenbeug in Lower Austria and is managed by the Archery Club Yspertal. For directions, see their webpage: http://www.bogensportverein-yspertal.at/anfahrt.html. You can park in front of the horse stables. From there, you continue on foot, left past the building and behind it towards the club house – there is a parcours book there and, sometimes, envelopes to pay and throw in the post box. The practice range is behind the club house, and from there on you go right in front of the barn and through the gates to the first target. Initially, you will move across several meadows along the road. There are several shot across the road, so be wary of drivers. Anyway ... Read more
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