East-Austrian Border Trail 07 through Styria

The following stage layout is just one of many variations - our tip: just start walking and let the impressions, whether landscapes or culinary temptations, drive and guide you. And if you find a place you particularly like, settle down.

1st stage of the day

Friedberg (600 m) - St. Lorenzen am Wechsel (728 m) - Vorau (659 m)

From Friedberg, the route first takes us via the settlement of Ortgraben to the enchanting village of St. Lorenzen am Wechsel with its Aerosolium, an open-air inhalatorium. The route then continues to Vorau with its imposing Augustinian monastery, which shapes the lifestyle of the entire region and welcomes not only traditional visitors but also holidaymakers who want to treat themselves to a break every year.

Length: approx. 28 km

2nd stage of the day

Vorau (659 m) - Masenberg (1,261 m) - Schwaig (929 m) - Hartberg (359 m)

Today's stage starts on the Masenberg in the heart of Joglland, a beautiful panoramic mountain with views of Hochwechsel, Stuhleck, Veitsch and Hochschwab. From the Masenberg, we take the same route for a very short distance back to the alp of the same name, where we branch off to the southeast. Following an ancient wine road, we soon see the local mountain of Hartberg, the Ringkogel with its viewing platform. We climb the 30 m high lookout point to enjoy the panoramic view and then hike downhill to the historic town of Hartberg, which is our destination for today with its pedestrian zones and beautiful main square.

Length: about 23 km

3rd stage of the day

Hartberg (359 m) - St. Magdalena am Lemberg (454 m) - Bad Waltersdorf (291 m)

Right at the start, the tour leads through the Natura 2000 European nature reserve Hartberger Gmoos on the outskirts of Hartberg. The route then takes us through shady forests, across meadows and along fertile fields right into the heart of Thermenland to Bad Waltersdorf. In between, on the ridge of the Burgstall, we are treated to distant views as far as the Koralm and Gleinalm.

Length: approx. 17 km

4th stage of the day

Bad Waltersdorf (291 m) - Bierbaumer Eiche (327 m) - Fürstenfeld (280 m) - Söchau (273 m)

We now head south to Bad Blumau with the famous Rogner Therme spa, which was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. A detour to this beautiful town is worthwhile, even though we have to leave the main route for a short stretch. One thing we definitely shouldn't miss is the 1,000-year-old oak tree on the Bierbaumer Höhe near Bad Blumau. This natural monument is said to be the oldest oak tree in Europe and is truly impressive. We now head towards Fürstenfeld on forest paths, a small town just as beautiful as Hartberg with an accessible historic town wall and impressive architecture. Finally, the route takes us to Söchau, the herb village in Styria.

Length: approx. 22 km

5th stage of the day

Söchau (273 m) - Riegersburg (377 m) - Fehring (272 m)

Today we cycle through forests, across meadows and past orchards to Riegersburg Castle with its seven gates, which sits imposingly on a volcanic cone. In all the centuries of its existence, Riegersburg Castle has never been conquered and was therefore rightly regarded as the strongest fortress in the West. Nowadays, the climb up to the castle is much easier, but always an experience. Kilometers of defensive walls with countless embrasures line the historic footpath, which winds its way up along eleven bastions through seven gates. A modern inclined elevator is available as an energy-saving alternative. The route then leads to the small town of Fehring in the Raabtal valley, with vineyards and the first Klapotetze trees increasingly becoming our companions along the way.

Length: about 22 km

6th stage of the day

Fehring (272 m) - Kapfenstein (405 m) - St. Anna am Aigen (403 m)

Today's stage takes us right into the heart of the volcanic region, where the trail leads us through beautiful deciduous forests, past vineyards and about halfway to the beautiful village of Kapfenstein, situated at the foot of a castle. One of our next stops is the old "Maria Theresa Stone" at the small border triangle between Styria, Slovenia and Burgenland. We then soon reach the idyllic hilltop village of St. Anna am Aigen, which is particularly famous for the Gesamtsteirische Vinothek on the main square and will delight any wine lover.

Length: about 18 km

7th stage of the day

St. Anna am Aigen (403 m) - Klöch (291 m) - Bad Radkersburg (208 m)

The last stage takes us through this beautiful vineyard landscape to the famous wine village of Klöch with its numerous wine taverns and accommodation establishments and on to the pretty Pannonian village of Zelting with its unspoilt architecture. The last section of the route then takes us to Bad Radkersburg with its beautiful historic old town and the Parktherme spa, which invites us to relax.

Length: approx. 26 km

In Thermen- & Vulkanland, Eastern Styria, Southern Styria and the Graz Adventure Region, the GenussCard opens the door to over 280 excursion destinations when you stay overnight in one of the Genusscard partner businesses. Countless of these Genusscard excursion destinations, ranging from culinary manufactories to bathing lakes and museums, are located directly on the East Austrian Borderland Trail 07!

 

ÖBB www.oebb.at/en or Verbundlinie Steiermark www.busbahnbim.at

With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train and streetcar connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store ,

Steiermark Tourismus, Tel. +43 316 4003, www.steiermark.com

Detailed informationen: www.alpenverein.at/weitwanderer

Fritz und Erika Käfer: Österreichischer Weitwanderweg 07 - Vom Nordwald in das oststeirische Wein- und Vulkanbergland, Sektion Weitwanderer des OEAV, www.alpenverein.at/weitwanderer, weitwanderer@sektion.alpenverein.at