Core chapel trail

Name: Core chapel trail
Brand: Steiermark
Rating: 4 (2 reviews)

This circular hike takes us through beautiful forest passages to the Core Chapel, which invites you to linger with its wood-carved life-size "Emmaus Jesus" and wonderful 360° view. Take a deep breath when you hike back to St. Ruprecht via the so-called "Arndorf Forest".

The core chapel gives its name to the core chapel trail. Built in 1838, this listed chapel has been renovated several times. Since the last renovation in 2015 by the Hans and Angela Unger family, an approximately 1.95 tall "Emmaus Jesus" welcomes visitors with open arms, at eye level so to speak. This Emmaus Jesus was carved by Hans Pendl, a very well-known and active wood carver from St. Ruprecht.

The chapel had and has a very important role in the religious life of the surrounding inhabitants. During the war, when religious education was forbidden in schools, it was held in the chapel. Today, Christian teachings and May devotions are still held in the chapel. The chapel bell is still rung three times a day and when there are deaths in the area.

In addition to the core chapel, we also find the "Stoarieglkreiz" and the Arndorf village cross along the way. At our starting and end point, the main square in St. Ruprecht, you should definitely visit the Peace Grotto - a special spiritual place - below the church.

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

8,4 km

Route

2:30 h

Time

180 hm

Uphill

180 hm

Downhill

503 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

Download GPX data

Download KML data

More information

The market town of St.Ruprecht is located in Eastern Styria and is easily accessible via the A2 motorway from Vienna (approx. 2 hours) and Graz (approx. 30 minutes).

Arrival from Vienna and from Graz:

On the A2 coming from Vienna and from Graz, take motorway exit 161 / Gleisdorf West in the direction of B54/B64. Follow the B65 / Gleisdorf federal road until you reach the B54 / Wechselbundesstraße. At the roundabout take the second exit to the B64 / Rechberg-Bundesstraße. After about 6 km turn left to St. Ruprecht an der Raab.

Route planner

The circular hiking tour "core chapel trail" starts at the main square of St. Ruprecht an der Raab, the central starting point of the hike. It first leads together with the Panoramaweg past the fire brigade over the Weizbach bridge into Gartengasse, which we follow straight on to soon cross the main road.
Here we first turn right and then immediately left, where after a short ascent we reach the Hubertus Chapel, a popular resting place with a beautiful view of the centre of St. Ruprecht an der Raab and Breitegg.
The trail continues across a meadow directly into one of the beautiful high forests that line the ridge. We then cross a road and after about 100 metres turn left into the forest at a house.

Via a particularly idyllic spot - the Salmbachbrückerl and the Marienruhe - we continue through the forest a little uphill until we come to a junction where the Panoramaweg and the core chapel trail separate.
We continue straight ahead following the yellow signs towards the Kernkapelle (the Panoramaweg turns right) until we reach the end of the forest. There the "Stoarieglkreuz" is waiting for us and invites us to take a short rest.

We walk past beautiful detached houses towards the road. At the road, we turn left and follow it for a few hundred metres.
After a few hundred metres, we take a forest path to the left into a small wood. After a few metres, turn right again and continue towards the ridge. At the edge of the forest, right next to beautiful apple orchards, we continue uphill for a bit until we reach the road via a meadow path.
Once there, you will be surprised by a wonderful 360° panoramic view. At 450 m above sea level, directly on the Styrian Apple Road, we have a magnificent view of the Schöckl, the local mountain of Graz, the Kulm, the Koralpe and the mountains of the Wechsel region.
Enjoying this wonderful view, we already have the core chapel - the destination - in view to the left. The core chapel - a special place of spiritual life - invites us to linger. Here, the life-size Emmaus Jesus, carved by Hans Pendl, welcomes us at eye level, so to speak. Take a little time to calm down in the core chapel and enjoy the beautiful view.

With fresh strength we start the way back. We continue to follow the asphalt road westwards until we come to a crossroads. Here we turn left. We pass well-kept family homes and farms for about one kilometre until we turn right following a forest road.
We walk a few metres through fragrant apple orchards until we reach the so-called "Arndorfer Wald". This forest road was once the connection between St. Ruprecht and Kühwiesen, but is no longer used today. We hike downhill through this beautiful forest until we arrive in the St. Ruprecht district of Arndorf.
There we reach the asphalt road and turn left at the first crossroads to the Arndorf village chapel, an open prayer chapel that was redesigned in 2015. We follow the road until we come to a larger crossroads again.
Here we turn left towards "Lieb Bau", a large local construction company. Directly at the Lieb Bau company we make a sharp right turn and walk back to the St. Ruprechter main square via a level crossing and a subway.

Marking:

Our hiking trails are marked red-white-red, as is common in the Alpine region, and at the crossing points you will find yellow boards with black lettering and time information. At the Kernkapellenweg please follow the signs "Kernkapellenweg". At the main square - the general hiking starting point in St. Ruprecht an der Raab - a stand with many yellow signs marks the direction. Our cycling and hiking map "A Region on the Move" is available at the municipal office, at the Raiffeisenbank St. Ruprecht an der Raab and at all catering and accommodation establishments.

You can find refreshment in the numerous restaurants in St. Ruprecht an der Raab.

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.

For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark.

There are several parking spaces available on the main square in St. Ruprecht. Alternatively, about 150 m away, past the Hotel Locker & Legere and the Marktheurigen Strobl, there are numerous parking spaces at the large park in the middle of St. Ruprecht an der Raab.

Information about the region, places to stop and stay, excursion destinations etc. can be found here:

Eastern Styria Tourist Board
St. Ruprecht an der Raab office
Lower main road 27
8181 St. Ruprecht an der Raab
Tel. +43 664 2353414
www.oststeiermark.com
ruprecht@oststeiermark.com

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Find out about maps, hiking brochures and other tour tips at the tourist office.

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