The entry point to EuroVelo 14 is Zell am See, which is also very conveniently accessible by train. With the Schmittenhöhe ski area and the surrounding mountain scenery on one side and Lake Zell on the other, the town is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Salzburger Land. From here, the tour initially follows the Tauern Cycle Path eastwards via Taxenbach to St. Johann in Salzburg and Bischofshofen. Schwarzach is a good place for a stopover, with the Tauernbahn Museum offering lovingly curated original exhibits and vivid insights into the history of the railway.
We then arrive in Bischofshofen, known not only as one of the venues of the Four Hills Tournament but also as one of Austria’s most important railway hubs. About three kilometres after Bischofshofen we turn right onto the B99 road through the Fritztal valley towards Hüttau and Eben – a road with only light traffic thanks to the parallel motorway above the valley. Through Eben, a cycle path takes us to Altenmarkt, where we join the well-known Enns Cycle Path.
From Altenmarkt, the route continues downstream via the historic old town of Radstadt, with the Dachstein massif as a backdrop, to Schladming. Here, a trip up the modern new gondola to the Planai is highly recommended, offering magnificent views of the Enns Valley and the Dachstein mountains opposite. From Schladming we continue on cycle paths and quiet roads along the Enns, through the Gröbming region to Irdning at the foot of the mighty Trautenfels Castle. Just a few kilometres further on, the spectacular Wörschach Gorge invites all nature lovers to stop and explore. Here the water cascades down with thunderous force. It is hard to believe that more than a hundred years ago traders and carters once passed through the gorge with horse-drawn wagons. Today, secure walkways lead through this wild and romantic natural monument. From the town of Liezen, we reach an unmistakable transport hub at the small village of Selzthal.
Here we switch to the Rastland Cycle Path, which takes us through the Palten and Liesing valleys to the Murradweg. From Selzthal, culture enthusiasts can make a detour into the Gesäuse National Park to Admont. The Benedictine Abbey of Admont, the oldest existing monastery in Steiermark, is home to the world’s largest monastic library – a unique treasure that has captivated generations of visitors for centuries. Returning to the Rastland Cycle Path, the route passes the “Wilder Berg” adventure park in Mautern before reaching St. Michael in Upper Styria, where we join the famous Murradweg.
Following the Mur downstream, we pass through small villages and historic towns such as Leoben and Bruck an der Mur before arriving in Graz. For those wishing to divide EuroVelo 14 across several holidays, Bruck an der Mur – one of Austria’s major railway hubs – is an ideal point to join or leave the route. From here, excellent connections are available to Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, or Italy. The next stop: Graz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and UNESCO City of Design – always worth a visit. The design district on the west side of the Mur, centred around the futuristic Kunsthaus, and the old town with its Schlossberg, lie side by side and simply demand to be explored further.
From Graz, we continue along the Mostwärts Cycle Path via Laßnitzhöhe to Gleisdorf in Eastern Styria, where we switch to the Raabtal Cycle Path. This leads us all the way to our destination in Szentgotthárd. Along the way we encounter artisan producers, vineyards, romantic villages, and charming small towns. Finally, near Jennersdorf, we cross Southern Burgenland before reaching the Austrian-Hungarian border at Szentgotthárd. From here, EuroVelo 14 continues via Lake Balaton, Budapest, and on to Debrecen.