The legendary Schöckl is Graz's local mountain and offers a wide range of leisure fun from summer toboggan run, barrier-free hiking trail, motor skills path, trail area to leisurely gondola rides, everything for young and old.
Even though the Schöckl, at 1,445 metres, is not one of the highest mountains in Styria, it offers a unique panoramic view.
Schöckl - nature experience, action, enjoyment, adventure, leisure fun, sports and fitness.
- a lot of hiking trails (altogether about 40 km) lead up to and around the Schöckl.
- less sporty people prefer to enjoy the Schöckl cable car from St. Radegund.
- Take a leisurely walk and enjoy the wonderful view and a stop at one of the rustic inns or huts.
- A ride on the "Hexenexpress", the winding summer toboggan run, is a thrilling experience, especially for children.
- Schöckl is known as an Eldorado for mountain bikers and downhillers. As a permanent downhill course, the Schöckl Trail Area is one of the most demanding in Austria and is a popular terrain for training and international competitions.
- You can experience the joy of movement in the "Balance" motor parkour, on the new nature play trail or at the foot of the Schöckl in the climbing park with high ropes course.
- Paragliders and hang-gliders appreciate the excellent thermals and like to take to the skies from Schöckl.
- Guests of the Magna Steyr company, on the other hand, are fascinated by the rocky steep test track for all-wheel drive vehicles, which only the best off-roaders (and drivers) can master.
Worth knowing:
From a geological point of view, the Schöckl is a limestone stock standing on crystalline bedrock. Springs come to light at the interface of the rock layers.
Thanks to radioactive springs and healing air, the village of St. Radegund at the southern foot of the Schöckl developed into an internationally renowned health resort in the 19th century. Today, St. Radegund offers state-of-the-art health facilities such as the St. Radegund Special Hospital, which is one of the pioneers of cardiological rehabilitation.
The special gentle climate, aristocratic flair and soothing water can be experienced on the relaxing and romantic spring paths.
The panoramic view from Schöckl stretches from Triglav on the Slovenian-Italian border and Slemen near Zagreb across the depths of Pannonia, to Wechsel, Rax and Hochschwab in the north and Stubalpe, Gleinalpe and Koralpe in the west. The distinctive 100 m high steel tower on the Schöckl has been broadcasting radio and television programmes to all of southern Styria and southern Burgenland since 1956. They can also be received in top quality in large parts of Slovenia and Hungary.
There are numerous legends about the Schöckl, especially about the weather witches who supposedly live here and brew the hail that threatens eastern Styria in summer. In the past, farmers threw scythes, sickles and pitchforks out of their barns when a storm was coming to ward off the witches and thus the bad weather. Today they protect their apple orchards and vineyards with hail nets.
Public transport to the Schöckl:
- On weekends, the RegioBus line 250 runs via St. Radegund to the Schöcklkreuz.
- The Schöckl cable car, a modern six-seater gondola lift, takes visitors from St. Radegund up to the high plateau in just seven minutes.