Graz
Recommended Tours

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The Steiermark region, which is also known as "The Green Heart of Austria" is a wonderful place. The area around Graz offers countless opportunities for sightseeing, as well as areas of natural beauty. What follows are just a few suggestions of how you could make use of your time.

Seckau Benedictine Abbey

To get to the Seckau Benedictine Abbey near Graz, take the A9 towards Salzburg or the S36 in the direction of Klagenfurt and exit at St. Laurenzen. There is an on-site museum on monastic life, and you can also admire a range of beautiful artwork. Afterwards, you can also enjoy something delicious to eat in the restaurant.

Steirische Schlösserstraße

Here you will gain a unique insight into the past. You can admire castles from different epochs, ranging from the Gothic to the Renaissance to the Baroque, and they have all been built into the beatuiful Austrian hills. Schloss Schielleiten next to the idyllic Stubenberg Lake is more picturesque than words can describe, Schloss Pöllau near Feldbach and Schloss Kornberg also hint at the entreaging past this region has lived. If you only have time to see one castle then make it the Riegersburg, which stands proudly on top of a former volcano that rises 428m high. The Turks once described it as ‘Christendoms mightiest fort’.

Schloss Herberstein

The foundations of Schloss Herberstein, which is an hours car ride away from Graz (A2, direction Vienna, exit Gleisdorf East), date from the 13th century. Today, you can visit the ‘Life in the Castle’ exhibition. Many rooms have been renovated and they depict what life was like for one of the regions most influential families.

The castle grounds have also been home to a vast zoological garden since the 17th century. There are over 600 different animals from 5 different continents that roam the spacious grounds. Children and adults alike can enjoy finding out about the animal kingdom. If you can’t wait to go to the castle, check out the website at http://www.herberstein.co.at.

If you love horses then you would be well advised to visit the Piper Lippizaner Stud Farm near Voitsberg in the western Steiermark region.
Lippizzaner horses, which are famous for their graceful natures, are jet black when they are born. They are taken to the Vienna Court riding school at a young age and as time goes on, they become snow white. The tradition of keeping this breed of horse in Austria dates back to the last spanish Habsburg, Karl II, who lived in the 16th century.

A visit to the west of the Steiermark region is rewarding, even if you don’t go to the stud farm. In Bärnbach you can see how Hundertwasser, the famous Austrian artist, transformed a church into a feast of colour and if you reach Fort Deutschlandsberg on a clear day you can enjoy splendid views.

Südsteirische Weinstraße (Southern Wine Route)

There are eight wine routes in the Steiermark region, the most famous of which is the Südsteirische Weinstraße. It is also known as the ‘Steiermark’s Tuscany’. You may wonder why, but if you drive through this region, which produces Muskat Sylvaner, Weißburgunder, Morillon, Müller-Thürgau, Muskatteller, Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling, you will soon see why. The wind carries a subtle scent of vines, the vineyards spread out as far as the eye can see and the climate is relatively mild.

If you are in the southern part of the Steiermark and you like learning about the past, then the Flavia Solva (Wagna) roman village and the Frauenberg Temple Museum are nearby.

Maribor (Marburg)

Maribor (Marburg) is actually a slovenian city and a very lively one at that. The city’s history, which spans over one thousand years has been tumultuous to say the least .

During the Austrian Empire, Marburg was usually overshadowed by Graz, which was the Steiermark’s capital and after the end of the monarchy, Marburg had to try and counter its steady economic decline. The majority of the city’s citizens stayed true to their Austrian heritage and after the First World War, their was an attempt to make the city the cultural and social capital of northern Slovenia.

‘Maribor’ actually means ‘Castle in the border regions’. It has entered the 21st century as a lively and vibrant university city. You will find numerous bars near the River Drau and lovely shops in the city centre and before you know it, Marburg will have won you over with its charm.

Mur Cycle Route and the Thermenland

Sporty visitors will enjoy the Mur Cycle Path, and water babies and keen swimmers will feel at home at the Thermenland Steirmark. The region is famous for its hot springs. If you are in need of relaxation and pampering the Bad Radkersburg is where you should settle. Architecture buffs should head to the Blumau Spa, which was designed by Hundertwasser. If it rains while you are in Graz, you could always go to the Schwarzl Freizeitzentrumor the Copacabana.

Photo: Graz Tourismus, Hans Wiesenhofer