Already the Empress Elisabeth of Austria walked through the area of the Emperor’s Gorge nearly two centuries ago
Image gallery: Emperor’s Gorge
10 km from Brandenberg, after the district of Pinegg, there is the Emperor's Gorge, the second canyon of this area besides the Tiefenbach Gorge. The walk takes about 1.5 hours.
The gorge served to transport wood on the Brandenberger Ache river down to the valley. The trail starts at the eponymous parking space near the 500-year old Kaiserhaus (Emperor's House), which today is a tavern. It is a real attraction, as already the Empress Elisabeth of Austria and her husband sojourned in this place, in order to walk the gorge and to go hunting. This room is still preserved in its original state: The canyon took its name from Franz Joseph I of Austria.
From the tavern, a forested road takes you to the Emperor's Gorge (Kaiserklamm) which is characterized by the rushing Brandenberger Ache river in the depth. Today, it is famous for rafting and kayaking, for whitewater swimming and tubing. Sturdy shoes and surefootedness are absolutely necessary for the trail which is dug into the rocks!
Contact info
- Locality Pinegg - 6234 - Brandenberg
- +43 5337 21200
- info@alpbachtal.at
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
Emperor's Gorge freely accessible
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parking space near the gorge:
€ 3.00 car (up to 6 hours)
€ 5.00 car (whole day)
€ 10.00 bus (whole day)
More information
Emperor's Gorge Round Tour (easy):
hiking time: 1 hour
total length: 4.18 km
altitude difference (ascent): 198 metres
starting point: Kaiserhaus, Brandenberg
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Emperor's Gorge - Erzherzog Johann Klause snack station (medium):
hiking time: 4 hours
total length: 14.73 km
altitude difference (ascent): 187 metres
starting point: Kaiserhaus, Brandenberg
A hike through the Emperor's Gorge with dog is not recommended due to the presence of steel grating bridges (especially not feasible for small dogs).
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The Emperor's Gorge is accessible every year from early May to the end of October, winter closure from the end of October to the end of April. Season start 2025 on the 1st of May.
The opening of the gorge depends on the weather, short-term changes or closures are possible.
The Kaiserhaus tavern, the starting point of the hikes, stays open from Wednesday to Monday from 10 am to 6 pm, warm dishes are served from 10.30 am to 5.30 pm, Tuesday rest day. In case of continuous rain it remains closed during the week. It can be reached by calling +43 5331 52 71, or writing at info@kaiserhaus.eu. Only cash payment, as there is no net coverage for transactions.
The Erzherzog Johann Klause snack station, however, stays closed in the 2025 season.
