We are here on the edge of the Bohemian Massif, whose subsoil consists of granite and gneiss. The Mauthausen - Schwertberg - Perg region was the centre of granite mining for centuries.

Millions of granite cubes for the paving of the capitals Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest were produced here and transported down the Danube on rowing boats. Quarries are often habitats for birds that have become rare. The Donausteig now enters the basin landscape of the Machland. Formed by deposits from the Danube and its tributaries, it is one of the oldest settlement areas in Europe.